Welcome to Guest Hollow’s Little Kids’ Modern American History Curriculum Book and Resource List! This list is to give you an idea of what will be needed if you are using Guest Hollow’s Little Kids’ Modern American History Curriculum along with some helpful tips and other information. For details about the curriculum itself, please click here.

Literature-based history that’s engaging and fun!

In order to use Guest Hollow’s Little Kids’ Modern American History Curriculum, you will need to obtain the scheduled books and other items separately. You may be able to borrow many for FREE from your local library! Check out the F.A.Q. below for tips on how to save money when using a literature-based curriculum.

The printable version of the book list features:

• The ISBN number and author’s name
  You can make sure your copy of the book matches the one in the schedule.
• Notification of when each book or item is used
  You can plan ahead when to check out books from the library. Books used throughout the year are marked “multiple weeks,” so you can decide whether you want to purchase them vs. borrow them.
• Books are ranked in order of importance
  Books are ranked in order of importance to help you choose which books you need the most and which can potentially be skipped.
• Checklists for planning
  A handy checklist helps you plan if you are going to buy or borrow a book. It can also help you choose the format of your books (physical copy, e-book, or audiobook).
• Consumables are marked
  You’ll get advance notice of which items are consumable, so you’ll know what you may need to purchase and how many copies you may want to get if you are using the curriculum with multiple students.

Here’s an example of the printable book list:

Keep scrolling to see the full online book list (below the F.A.Q. on this page).

We’ve scheduled in lots of colorful, fact-filled, interesting and engaging books for this year’s early American history study! Before taking a look, we’ve addressed some common questions:

Book and Resource F.A.Q.

Warning! Preview all materials! We strongly recommend you preview all items to see if they are appropriate for your student. Every family is different in what they find offensive! Additional notes about some of the books are in the descriptions below.

Scheduled Books and Materials
Note: If you need to sub out a book or want to add additional books, check out the Big Bad Beautiful Booklist -History Edition! We have hundreds of suggestions and link to legal free copies of many titles.

When you purchase Guest Hollow’s Little Kids’s Modern American History Curriculum, you get a coupon code for 50% off the Big Bad Beautiful Booklist -History Edition! Be sure to look in your downloads for the coupon!

*Spine book *A spine book is the backbone of a study.	Beowulf’s Modern American History Adventure and Activity Book This book is included for FREE with a purchase of Little Kids’ Modern American History Curriculum. Have your youngest students learn about early American history with this fantastic and lavishly illustrated early reader style book full of true stories and simple activities. Beowulf’s Early American History Adventure and Activity Book is appropriate for kindergarten to 3rd grade (or “young” 4th graders who are reluctant or struggling readers). Inside the book are easy-to-understand history stories that can be read aloud by parents or silently by young readers (who are proficient but still need a simpler text). Click here for sample pages.
History, fiction	All-of-a-Kind Family This book is free at the Open Library. This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla as an audiobook. This book is available as an audiobook on Everand.  Meet the All-of-a-Kind Family — Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie — who live with their parents in New York City at the turn of the century. Together they share adventures that find them searching for hidden buttons while dusting Mama’s front parlor and visiting with the peddlers in Papa’s shop on rainy days. The girls enjoy doing everything together, especially when it involves holidays and surprises. But no one could have prepared them for the biggest surprise of all!
History, fiction based on true stories	Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story  This book is on Hoopla as an ebook and audiobook. This book is available as an audiobook on Everand.  This book is on YouTube. Gittel and her mother were supposed to immigrate to America together, but when her mother is stopped by the health inspector, Gittel must make the journey alone. Her mother writes her cousin’s address in New York on a piece of paper. However, when Gittel arrives at Ellis Island, she discovers the ink has run and the address is illegible! How will she find her family? Both a heart-wrenching and heartwarming story, Gittel’s Journey offers a fresh perspective on the immigration journey to Ellis Island. The book includes an author’s note explaining how Gittel’s story is based on the journey to America taken by Lesléa Newman’s grandmother and family friend.
History, nonfiction, reader	National Geographic Readers: Ellis Island This book is on YouTube. Explore the history of Ellis Island, one of the most recognized landmarks in American history. Kids will learn about its early history as a Mohegan island and rest spot for fishermen through its time as a famous immigration station to today’s museum. The level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for independent readers.
History, biography	The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. purple mountains’ majesty, mauvelous, jungle green, razzmatazz… What child doesn’t love to hold a crayon in their hands?  But children didn’t always have such magical boxes of crayons.  Before Edwin Binney set out to change things, children couldn’t really even draw in color. Here’s the true story of an inventor who so loved nature’s vibrant colors that he found a way to bring the outside world to children – in a bright green box for only a nickel! With experimentation, and a special knack for listening, Edwin Binney and his dynamic team at Crayola created one of the world’s most enduring, best-loved childhood toys – empowering children to dream in COLOR!
Science, art	Optional science book related to history topics: Mix It Up! This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. Follow the artist’s simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear . . . mix . . . splatter . . . and vanish in a vivid world powered only by the reader’s imagination. The result is not only enchantment and giggles, but a real and deeper understanding of colors brought by a true master of his craft. Just as in his mega-selling classic Press Here, Tullet sets readers on an extraordinary journey of color, motion, and interactivity. Mix It Up! is the perfect gift book for parents and kids to cherish and read again and again, as well as an invaluable teaching tool
	Optional science kit: Color Fizzing Tablets
History, nonfiction Note: Evolution is mentioned in this book. Ideas on how to change the text on the fly for creationists is provided in the schedule.	The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks This book is on YouTube. Caldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein captures the majestic redwoods of Yosemite in this little-known but important story from our nation’s history. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt joined naturalist John Muir on a trip to Yosemite. Camping by themselves in the uncharted woods, the two men saw sights and held discussions that would ultimately lead to the establishment of our National Parks.
Science	Optional science book related to history topics: Listen to the Language of the Trees: A story of how forests communicate underground This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. This captivating book explores the real connection and communication that runs underground between trees in the forest via mycorrhizal fungi.
	Liquid bluing This is an optional item for a science experiment.
History	Harry and the Highwire: Houdini’s First Amazing Act This book is available as an audiobook on Everand.  This is a fun, illustrated story of Harry Houdini’s first trick for young readers. “Julie Carpenter’s inspiring story of Houdini shows how, like him, we can open the locks and dance on the high wire. It’s only a matter of practice. And believing in yourself.” — Eric Kimmel
History	Hey, Charleston!: The True Story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band This book is free at the Open Library. This book is available via Kindle Unlimited. New subscribers can get a 30 day free trial. This book is available at Hoopla. What happened when a former enslaved man took beat-up old instruments and gave them to a bunch of orphans? Thousands of futures got a little brighter and a great American art form was born. The Jenkins Orphanage Band caused a sensation on the streets of Charleston. People called the band’s style of music “rag”—a rhythm inspired by the African American people who lived on the South Carolina and Georgia coast. The children performed as far away as Paris and London, and they earned enough money to support the orphanage that still exists today. They also helped launch the music we now know as jazz. Hey, Charleston! is a wonderful, uplifting story!
Reader, history	First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers This book is on YouTube. When Tom Tate hears that Wilbur and Orville Wright are building a flying machine, he can’t wait to try it. Tom’s dad thinks it’s dangerous. Some people think the Wrights are crazy. Can Tom help the brothers get their dream off the ground? “Children will identify with the spirit of this boy who enthusiastically volunteered to try out the glider when there wasn’t enough wind to lift the grown men,” commented School Library Journal, which also praised the “carefully researched” illustrations. First Flight helps build reading confidence and pleasure while engaging young readers with compelling historical fiction.
History, science	Optional science book related to history topics: How People Learned to Fly (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) This book is free at the Open Library. This book is on YouTube. People have taken dangerous risks trying to fly. Some inventors built wings for their arms and flapped them like birds. Others tried to fly with balloons or tried to glide with the wind. This book describes the creative, fascinating, and wacky experiments that people tried before the airplane was invented.
History, nonfiction Note: There is mention of death and other war related topics (in a way that is age-appropriate for most students in this age range). You may want to summarize pages for the youngest learners and let them look at the pictures.	DKfindout! World War I  This photo-filled book for kids ages 6–9 is the ultimate guide to the key facts, figures, and players of World War I. Educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits, it’s the perfect book for any kid who wants to learn more about military history. How did World War I start? Which statue was damaged in the lead-up to the United States entering the war? Which countries had the biggest army and the best weapons? Find out the answers to these questions and more in DKfindout! World War I, which features photographs and illustrations of war machines, battlefields, and world leaders from throughout the span of this widespread conflict.
History, nonfiction	Stubby the Dog Soldier: World War I Hero This book is available via Kindle Unlimited. New subscribers can get a 30 day free trial. A stray dog named Stubby braves the World War I battlefields alongside Private J. Robert Conroy. See the story unfold as this brave little canine makes a big difference in the lives of many World War I soldiers.
Science, nonfiction	Optional science book related to history topics: The Everything Book of Dogs and Puppies Everything a child wants to know about dogs and puppies, from breeds, features, pet care, and grooming, to discovering how their dogs communicate with us and one another. This book is for anyone who loves dogs and puppies, whether they’re dog owners or want-to-be owners. Learn what dogs are showing with their body language, what are they dreaming about, and what they are trying to say to you. Packed with wonderful pictures and adorable dog and puppy facts, this book takes you into their world.
History, nonfiction	Cher Ami: Based on the World War I Legend of the Fearless Pigeon This book is on YouTube. An inspiring picture book that explores the true story of Cher Ami: a heroic messenger pigeon who saved the lives of soldiers during World War I.  In October 1918, during World War I, nearly seven hundred American soldiers were trapped behind enemy lines with no prospect of rescue. Allied troops did not have access to their location, and every attempt at communication provoked more casualties. Their only hope—to dispatch a trained messenger pigeon to reach help miles away.  This unforgettable story celebrates courage and determination in its most vulnerable form. Cher Ami was shot down during her mission yet managed to save many lives, proving her fearless flight was a remarkable one.
Reader, science	Why Do Birds Sing? (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3) Do you love birds? If you do, you’re not alone! Birds are fun to watch and they make great pets. There is so much to know about birds. Why do they have feathers? Can parrots really talk? Why do birds build nests? Do birds like toys? Beginning readers will find the answers to these questions—and many more—in this lively, fact-filled book. Filled with colorful illustrations and photographs of wild and domestic birds, this is a perfect selection for any young bird-watcher or bird lover.
Science, interactive nonfiction	Optional science book related to history topics: Listen to the Birds Discover North America’s birds and their varied and beautiful songs with this informative, brightly illustrated picture book and its easy-to-use app. Take a dawn walk through the pages of Listen to the Birds and discover forty species of North American birds, guided by expertly informed text and gorgeous illustrations. Then, hold a phone with the paired (free) app up to the art and watch―and listen―as the birds spring to life and sing.
Reader, history, nonfiction	Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles This book is free at the Open Library. This book is available as an audiobook at Hoopla. This book is available as an audiobook on Everand.  In April 1916, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke set out from New York City in a little yellow car, embarking on a bumpy, muddy, unmapped journey ten thousand miles long. They took with them a teeny typewriter, a tiny sewing machine, a wee black kitten, and a message for Americans all across the country: Votes for Women! One hundred years after Nell and Alice set off on their trip, Mara Rockliff revives their spirit in a lively and whimsical picture book, with exuberant illustrations by Hadley Hooper bringing their inspiring historical trek to life.
History, nonfiction	Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. This book is available on Hoopla as an audiobook and an eBook. Meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Melissa Sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual parade celebrating Thanksgiving. This nonfiction illustrated book will capture the hearts of all ages.
Science, nonfiction	Optional science book related to history topics: Balloons (There’s Science in …) For curious and creative kids, this series introducing basic scientific principles with experiments using everyday objects makes for plenty of learning, and fun for the whole family! Celebrate a host of scientific properties by performing ten fun activities with a balloon.
History, nonfiction	The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!) This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla as an audiobook and an eBook. 1920s cotton buyer Earle Dickson worked for Johnson & Johnson and had a klutzy wife who often cut herself. The son of a doctor, Earle set out to create an easier way for her to bandage her injuries. Band-Aids were born, but Earle’s bosses at the pharmaceutical giant weren’t convinced, and it wasn’t until the Boy Scouts of America tested Earle’s prototype that this ubiquitous household staple was made available to the public. Soon Band-Aids were selling like hotcakes, and the rest is boo-boo history.
Science, history, nonfiction	The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. Frank William Epperson is a curious boy who wants to be an inventor when he grows up. Since inventing begins with experimenting, Frank spends a lot of time in his “laboratory” (i.e. his back porch) trying out his ideas, such as building a double-handled handcar that whizzes past the single-handled cars in his neighborhood. What Frank loves most, though, is experimenting with liquids. When he invents his own yummy flavored soda water drink, his friends love it! And this gets him to thinking: “I wonder what this drink would taste like frozen?” Though he doesn’t yet realize it, his curiosity will lead to his best invention ever: the Popsicle! Interwoven within the story are full-page illustrated instructions for four science experiments that Frank performs, so readers can try them at home!
	Popsicle molds Choose 1 you like for an optional activity.
Reader, history, nonfiction	The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto This book is on YouTube. It is one of the worst storms ever – the snow has not stopped for days and it is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of his sled team. And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. He is their only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story that happened in 1925!
History, biography	A Boy Named FDR: How Franklin D. Roosevelt Grew Up to Change America Franklin D. Roosevelt was born into one of the wealthiest families in America, yet this ultimate rich kid grew up to do more for ordinary Americans than any other president. This appealing picture book biography shows how, from childhood on, FDR  was compassionate, cheerful, determined, and enormously likable. Though he had private tutors as a young boy and later attended an elite boys’ school, he played pranks and had down-to-earth fun just like any boy today.  Kathleen Krull’s animated picture book biography focuses on FDR’s childhood years through his entry as a young man into politics and his battle with polio. A summary of his achievements as president and a chronology of his life are included.
History (inspired by a true story)	Home in the Woods This book is on YouTube. This stunningly beautiful picture book from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Eliza Wheeler is based on her grandmother’s childhood during the Great Depression and pays homage to a family’s fortitude as they discover the meaning of home.
	Summer of the Tree Army: A Civilian Conservation Corps Story (Tales of Young Americans) This book is available at Hoopla. When young Charlie Brightelot first spies the mysterious barracks in the woods near his home, he’s not sure what to think. His father explains that the barracks will soon house young men serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the work relief program to help employ millions of young men during the Great Depression. Not everyone is happy to see these young men and Charlie’s father questions their value. But when a fire threatens the forest, Roosevelt’s “Tree Army” springs into action.
Science	Optional science book (and reader) related to history topics: National Geographic Readers: Wildfires This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. This book is available at Hoopla. Learn all about wildfires—how they happen, why they’re important, and when they’re dangerous—in this fascinating level 3 reader. It’s sure to ignite your interest, with color photographs, interesting facts, and more.
History, science	Erosion: How Hugh Bennett Saved America’s Soil and Ended the Dust Bowl (Moments in Science) This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. This book is available as an audiobook on Everand.  When the dust storms of the 1930s threatened to destroy U.S. farming and agriculture, Hugh Bennett knew what to do. For decades, he had studied the soils in every state, creating maps showing soil composition nationwide. He knew what should be grown in each area, and how to manage the land to conserve the soil. He knew what to do for weathering and erosion. This is the exciting story of a soil scientist confronting politicians to encourage them to pass a law to protect the land, the soil. When the U.S. Congress passed a law establishing the Soil Conservation Service, it was the first government agency in the world dedicated to protecting the land, to protecting the Earth.
History, reader	Dust for Dinner (I Can Read Book – Level 3) This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. Jake and Maggy lived on a farm where they loved to sing and dance to the music from Mama’s radio. Then terrible dust storms came and ruined the land. The family had no choice but to auction off the farm and make the long, hard journey west to California-away from the dust storms, where the land is still green. Along the way, Papa tries to find work, and Jake and Maggy try to help too. But what if Papa can’t find a job? What if California isn’t better after all? Ann Turner’s dramatic story about the dust bowl, set during the Great Depression and beautifully captured in Robert Barrett’s paintings, shows how one family stays together during difficult times.
Science, reader	Optional science book related to history topics: Jump Into Science: Dirt This book is free at the Open Library. This book is on YouTube. What is soil? Who lives in dirt? How does earth help things grow? The answers are within this fun- and fact-filled picture book. Just follow the gardening, star-nosed mole in the colorful outfits . . . and dig in!
History, fiction	Ruby’s Hope: A Story of How the Famous “Migrant Mother” Photograph Became the Face of the Great Depression This book is on YouTube. Dust storms and dismal farming conditions force young Ruby’s family to leave their home in Oklahoma and travel to California to find work. As they move from camp to camp, Ruby sometimes finds it hard to hold on to hope. But on one fateful day, Dorothea Lange arrives with her camera and takes six photographs of the young family. When one of the photographs appears in the newspaper, it opens the country’s eyes to the reality of the migrant workers’ plight and inspires an outpouring of much needed support. Bleak yet beautiful illustrations depict this fictionalized story of a key piece of history, about hope in the face of hardship and the family that became a symbol of the Great Depression.
History	How the Cookie Crumbled: The True (and Not-So-True) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie This book is on YouTube. Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies! But not everyone knows where they came from. Meet Ruth Wakefield, the talented chef and entrepreneur who started a restaurant, wrote a cookbook, and invented this delicious dessert in the 1930s.
Reader	Choose a reader: Option 1: May I Please Have a Cookie? (Scholastic Readers, Level 1) This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. This book is available at Hoopla. Option 2: Who Stole the Cookies? (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) This book is on YouTube. Option 3: The Way the Cookie Crumbled: Ready-to-Read Level 3
Cooking/recipes	Optional activity book related to history topics: My Very First Cookbook: Joyful Recipes to Make Together! This book is available at Hoopla. Family time in the kitchen is special. Celebrate all the joyful moments in the kitchen with your little chef with this adorable keepsake cookbook! Learning to cook is sure to boost kids’ confidence in the kitchen, but most importantly, it helps create special memories of your time together! Whether your little chef has never ventured into the kitchen or they’re ready to have their own cooking show, these delightful and delicious recipes can be shared with the whole family for generations.
History, fiction	The Gardener: (Caldecott Honor Book) This book is on YouTube. The Gardener is a 1997 New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year and a 1998 Caldecott Honor Book. Lydia Grace Finch brings a suitcase full of seeds to the big gray city, where she goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. There she initiates a gradual transformation, bit by bit brightening the shop and bringing smiles to customers’ faces with the flowers she grows. But it is in a secret place that Lydia Grace works on her masterpiece — an ambitious rooftop garden — which she hopes will make even Uncle Jim smile. Sarah Stewart introduces readers to an engaging and determined young heroine, whose story is told through letters written home, while David Small’s illustrations beautifully evoke the Depression-era setting.
Science, reader	From Seed to Plant This book is on YouTube. This book is available as an eBook and audiobook at Hoopla. With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination.  Important vocabulary is reinforced with accessible explanation and colorful, clear diagrams showing the parts of plants, the wide variety of seeds, and how they grow.    The book includes instructions for a seed-growing project, and a page of interesting facts about plants, seeds, and flowers.   A nonfiction classic, and a perfect companion for early science lessons and curious young gardeners.
Science	Optional science book related to history topics: Gail Gibbons’ From Seed to Plant Workbook Note: You may want to preview the Amazon sample of this book to see if it’s too simple for an older student. It features simple copywork, diagrams, some drawing, mazes, circle the items/draw lines to work, etc. It’s a cross between a science/story book and an activity book. As they follow the key lessons in Gail Gibbons’ best-selling From Seed to Plant, children will be able to draw, color, trace and sort as they learn basic curricula, including the parts of a plant, pollination, what plants are used for, and the life cycle of plant. Everything is included that a parent will need to use the book with their child, and a page that encourages further discussion, exploration and writing is included.
History, nonfiction	DKfindout! World War II This photo-filled book is perfect for teaching kids ages 6–9 about the conflict and its lasting impact. Entertaining and educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits, it’s the ultimate guide for any kid who is hungry to learn more about military history. When did World War II begin? How were people protected during an air raid? How did the Allies crack the enemy’s secret code? Find out the answers to these questions and more in DKfindout! World War II.
Choose 1 of the following 2 books:
Book 1 (for younger students): Otto’s Tales: Let’s Visit Pearl Harbor Memorial This book is on YouTube. Note: Death is mentioned, but not in a scary or detailed way. December 7, 1941, is a day that lives in infamy for the American people. It was the day the Japanese attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor, launching the United States into World War II. Join Otto the bulldog and Smidge the kitten as they travel to Hawaii to learn about this historic event and honor those who sacrificed their lives to keep America safe and free. Your elementary readers will appreciate this storytime book with a meaningful message about heroism, bravery, and coming together amidst crisis.	Book 2 (for older students): The History of Pearl Harbor: A World War II Book for New Readers Note: Death is mentioned. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack against the Pearl Harbor naval base in Oahu, Hawaii. The next day, President Roosevelt declared war and America entered into World War 2. Go on a suspenseful journey with this colorfully illustrated story about World War 2 for kids. It takes you through all the events that led up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the attack itself, and the impact it had on the future of the war.
Reader related to history topics	I Want to Be an Engineer (I Can Read Level 1) This book is on YouTube. This book is available on Everand.  This book is available at Hoopla. For the child who says, “I want to be an engineer when I grow up!” And for any child who wants a gentle behind-the-scenes look at being an engineer. I never knew that there were so many different ways to be an engineer. When my big brother goes to school for engineering, I learn that there are engineers who build buildings and design big rockets. Did you know that there are other kinds of engineers too? There are environmental engineers, plumbing engineers, robotic engineers—and many more! Maybe I’ll be an engineer, too?
Science, history	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Lonely Planet Kids How Ships Work Coming about! From dinghies to freight liners, pirate ships to submarines, across oceans and up rivers, set sail on a fascinating journey through the world of ships in this new book from illustrator James Gulliver Hancock. Lift the flaps to unfurl papyrus sails on an Ancient Egyptian ship sailing up the Nile, tour a historic Spanish galleon, zoom across the water at almost 320 miles per hour in a speedboat, and much more. See how ships stay afloat, cultivate wind power, and navigate using the stars. How Ships Work is jam-packed with amazing facts and awesome illustrations, and was created in consultation with the National Maritime Museum, UK
History, fiction Note: The dad in the story smokes a pipe. Girls tease a boy for having a crush on a girl.	Meet Molly This book is free at the Open Library. This book is on YouTube. For Molly McIntire, life seems full of change. It’s 1944 and the world is at war. Her father is far away caring for wounded soldiers. Her mother is busy working for the Red Cross. And everyone in America is so serious and practical that glamorous Halloween costumes are hard to get. Molly’s special hula skirt is a huge success–until Ricky, her pesty big brother, plays a mean trick. Molly and her friends are determined to get back at him. One mean trick leads to another until the fighting goes too far.
History, science	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors This book is free at the Open Library. This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. A discovery that made the world a brighter place! Joe and Bob Switzer were very different brothers. Bob was a studious planner who wanted to grow up to be a doctor. Joe dreamed of making his fortune in show business and loved magic tricks and problem-solving. When an accident left Bob recovering in a darkened basement, the brothers began experimenting with ultraviolet light and fluorescent paints. Together they invented a whole new kind of color, one that glows with an extra-special intensity—Day-Glo. This cover reproduction is not printed with Day-Glo colors. The actual book, however, is printed using three Day-Glo colors: Saturn Yellow, Fire Orange, and Signal Green.
History, biography	Harry S. Truman: Thirty-Third President of the United States This book is availabe at Hoopla. This book is available on Everand.  I like biographies like this one. They let young students learn that important people like presidents were children just like them at one time with faults, struggles, and strengths. This biography covers Truman’s childhood and the end gives a peek into his presidency.
History, nonfiction	Gertie, The Darling Duck of WWII This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. In 1945, the attention of the United States, along with the rest of the world, was focused on World War II. After more than five years of fighting, downcast, war-weary people were looking for signs of hope of a better future. One April morning, a duck searching for a nesting spot lands on a tall post sticking out of the Milwaukee River. Situated near a busy drawbridge and the noisy city of Milwaukee, this was an unlikely, precarious spot for a soon-to-be-mama duck to build her nest. But that is exactly where Gertie (named by a local reporter) decides to make her home and lay her eggs. Once local newspapers report the story, crowds begin visiting the bridge to watch Gertie and speculate how she will safely hatch her babies. Soon, news outlets around the world are carrying the hopeful tale of the plucky duck, raising spirits, and giving readers a shared sense of community.
Choose 1 of the following 2 optional science books:
Book 1: Ducks Don’t Get Wet This book is on YouTube. You can read an older version of this book for free at the Open Library. Read and find out about how ducks spend the whole day in the water and never get wet in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.Did you know that ducks can dive 100 feet deep and still come up dry? Why don’t ducks get wet? Ducks dip and dive, but they stay dry because they spread oil over their feathers to make them waterproof. Learn more inside and get to know different kinds of ducks.	Book 2: Just Ducks!: Read and Wonder This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. The young girl in this story may live in the city, but outside her window there’s a river full of mallard ducks! She hears them as soon as she wakes up, and on the way to school she sees them upside down bobbing for food. Interspersed with fun facts, her enthusiastic commentary about her feathered neighbors — what they look like, how they behave, where they nest, where they sleep — pairs swimmingly with cheerful watercolor illustrations.
History, nonfiction, autobiography	My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story This book is on YouTube. February 19, 1942. George Takei is four years old when his world changes forever. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States. George and his family were American in every way. They had done nothing wrong. But because of their Japanese ancestry, they were removed from their home in California and forced into camps with thousands of other families who looked like theirs. In My Lost Freedom, George Takei looks back at his own memories to help children today understand what it feels like to be treated as an enemy by your own country. Featuring powerful, meticulously researched watercolor paintings, this is a story of a family’s courage, a young boy’s resilience, and the importance of staying true to yourself in the face of injustice.
History, nonfiction, reader	Peace Tree from Hiroshima: A Little Bonsai with a Big Story This book is on YouTube. This true award-winning children’s story is told by a little bonsai tree, called Miyajima, that lived with the same family in the Japanese city of Hiroshima for more than 300 years and survived the atomic bomb. The tree was donated to the National Arboretum in Washington DC in 1976 as a gesture of friendship between America and Japan to celebrate the American Bicentennial.
Science, reader	A Tree Is a Plant (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)  This book is on YouTube. An older version of this book (with different illustrations) is free at the Open Library. This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Plus it includes instructions for two simple experiments—to learn about evaporation and tree rings—to engage budding botanists. Questions addressed in this book include: How does a tree get the food it needs? What happens to trees in the winter? Did you know that a tree is the biggest plant that grows?  Read and find out in the proven winner A Tree Is a Plant!
History, nonfiction	Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. The inspiring true story of Reckless, the brave little horse who became a Marine.  When a group of US Marines fighting in the Korean War found a bedraggled mare, they wondered if she could be trained to as a packhorse. They had no idea that the skinny, underfed horse had one of the biggest and bravest hearts they’d ever known. And one of the biggest appetites! Soon Reckless showed herself more than willing to carry ammunition too heavy for the soldiers to haul. As cannons thundered and shells flew through the air, she marched into battle—again and again—becoming the only animal ever to officially hold military rank—becoming Sgt. Reckless—and receive two Purple Hearts.
Science, animals	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: The Everything Book of Horses and Ponies A must-have for every animal-loving child, this is the cutest introduction to everything kids want to know about horses and ponies. Discover the secrets of gorgeous horses and ponies in this fun, lively book. Packed with colorful photos, fur-tastic facts, and bite-sized information, The Everything Book of Horses and Ponies takes you into their fascinating world. Find out about favorite breeds from Shire horse to Shetland pony. Learn about horses and ponies from around the globe, and be amazed by their beautiful colorings and patterns. Young equine enthusiasts will be champing at the bit to read this wonderful treasury of horses and ponies.
History, fiction, mystery	The Happy Hollisters This book is on YouTube. This classic, family-oriented 33-book series has been faithfully reissued in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats by the author’s family for a new generation of young readers, with a timeless accent on humor and good, clean fun set in the 1950s. Integrity always pays off, and right wins over wrong. Parents, grandparents, and teachers love these books for their celebration of life in simpler times and family discussions that may ensue. Kids love the fast-paced action and will not want to put them down.
History, biography	I am Jackie Robinson (Ordinary People Change the World) This book is on YouTube. Jackie Robinson always loved sports, especially baseball. But he lived at a time before the Civil Rights Movement, when the rules weren’t fair to African Americans. Even though Jackie was a great athlete, he wasn’t allowed on the best teams just because of the color of his skin. Jackie knew that sports were best when everyone, of every color, played together. He became the first Black player in Major League Baseball, and his bravery changed American history and led the way to equality in all sports in America.
Reader	Choose 1 of the following readers: Option 1: The Littlest Leaguer (I Can Read Level 1) This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. Option 2: This book is on YouTube. Marley: Strike Three, Marley! (I Can Read Level 2) Option 3: The Berenstain Bears Go Out for the Team This book is on YouTube.
Science	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Science, Matter and the Baseball Park This book is on YouTube. A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year selection (2024) There is much to see at the ballpark, and it all matters because it’s all matter. In this fast-paced rhyming story, baseball and science fans alike will be delighted to see all the solids, liquids and gases that make game day extra special. As the camera zooms in on instant replay, things slow down long enough to see all those atoms in motion. The scoreboard, a slushie, and even the air – wherever you look, it’s matter in there.
History, biography	I am Rosa Parks This book is on YouTube. Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks is the 3rd hero in in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8.  Each picture book in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person heroic. The heros are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. And each book ends with a line of encouragement, a direct quote, and photos on the last page. This story focuses on Rosa Parks and how she always stood up for what’s right.
History, reader	Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story (Scholastic Reader, Level 2) This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. The extraordinary true story of Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to integrate a New Orleans school — now with simple text for young readers! In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked through an angry crowd and into a school, changing history. This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who became the first Black person to attend an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. With simple text and historical photographs, this easy reader explores an amazing moment in history and celebrates the courage of a young girl who stayed strong in the face of racism.
Science	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Forces Make Things Move This book is on YouTube. Read and find out about force and how it works in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. When a toy car rolls or a boulder falls, it’s force that makes them move. But what is force and how does it work? There are forces at work whenever you throw a ball, run up the stairs, or push your big brother off the couch. Want to learn more about the forces around you? Read and find out! This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, uses simple, fun language, easy-to-understand examples, and cartoon-like art to make basic physics concepts understandable and fun. This book also includes a kid-friendly experiment in friction.
History, nonfiction, reader	John F. Kennedy the Brave This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. The life of President John F. Kennedy is explored in this early reader biography. “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” When he was a young boy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy wondered about what happened in the world. He wanted to change the world when he grew up, and he did just that! Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in John F. Kennedy’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which combines a traditional, illustrated narrative with historical photographs at the back of book. Complete with a timeline, photographs, and little-known facts about the United States’ thirty-fifth president, the brave John F. Kennedy.
Fiction (set in the mid-20th century)	Henry Huggins This book is on YouTube (you have to search a bit to find all the chapters.) This book is available as an ebook and audiobook at Hoopla. This book is available as an ebook and audiobook on Everand.  In the first novel from Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary, boys and girls alike will be charmed instantly by an average boy whose life is turned upside down when he meets a lovable puppy with a nose for mischief.Just as Henry Huggins is complaining that nothing exciting ever happens, a friendly dog sits down beside him and looks pleadingly at his ice-cream cone. From that moment on, the two are inseparable. But when Ribsy’s original owner appears, trying to reclaim his dog, Henry’s faced with the possibility of losing his new best friend. Has Klickitat Street seen the last of rambunctious Ribsy?
Science Note: On p. 103, the book states, “Stars are born, or form, and last for billions of years.”	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space This book is on YouTube. This book is available via Kindle Unlimited. This book is available at Hoopla. Get ready to blast off on an outer space adventure! Featuring stunning illustrations and engaging interactivity, this reference book will tap into 4-to-8-year-olds’ curiosity about everything under the sun and beyond. This beautiful book is the latest addition to the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series. These colorful pages will introduce young children to the wonders of space, with out-of-this-world illustrations by David Aguilar and simple text that is perfect for beginning readers or for reading aloud. The book will explain basic concepts of space, beginning with what is most familiar to kids and expanding out into the universe.
History, science	Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. As a child, Rachel Carson lived by the rhythms of the natural world. Spring after spring, year after year, she observed how all living things are connected. And as an adult, Rachel watched and listened as the natural world she loved so much began to fall silent. Spring After Spring traces Rachel’s journey as scientist and writer, courageously speaking truth to an often hostile world through her book, and ultimately paving the way for the modern environmental movement.
Reader, science	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: I Want to Be a Scientist (I Can Read Level 1) “An informative and accessible child’s-eye view of STEM careers” —Kirkus Reviews
History	I Have a Dream This book is on YouTube. 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.
History	The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read This book is on YouTube. Imagine learning to read at the age of 116! Discover the true story of Mary Walker, the nation’s oldest student who did just that! In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read. From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and rising star Oge More comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who–with perseverance and dedication–proved that you’re never too old to learn.
Choose 1 of the following 2 books:
History, nonfiction Book 1: Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 This book is on YouTube. Simply told, grandly shown, and now with eight additional pages of brand-new art and more in-depth information about the historic moon landing, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts clicking themselves into gloves and helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery—a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.	Book 2: My Little Golden Book About the First Moon Landing This book is on YouTube. The exciting story of the Apollo 11 mission! In this engaging Little Golden Book, kids will enjoy the fascinating story behind what happened on July 20, 1969, when two human beings walked on the moon for the very first time. Little ones will learn about the rocket Saturn V, the command module Columbia, and of course the famous lunar lander Eagle, and how they each served to send astronauts into space. They will learn who the astronauts were and how they were chosen for the mission. And they’ll hear Neil Armstrong’s unforgettable words in his message back to Earth: “one giant leap for mankind.” Fun facts about the astronauts’ space suits and their work in space round out this exciting picture book.
History, biography	Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 This book is on YouTube. You’ve likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home? As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe. From Katherine’s early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.
Reader, science	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: What the Moon is Like This book is on YouTube. We recommend this video. There is an older version of this book read out loud on YouTube. The older version is also available at the Open Library. We do not recommend the older version. The newer version has been updated with new information and some of the old text was changed (billions of years was removed, etc.). Imagine that you’re walking on the moon. What is it like? For thousands of years people looked up at the moon and wondered about it. Now we know what the moon is like. There is no air on the moon and nothing grows, but there are towering mountains and deep craters—and much more. Colder than the desert, the hotter than the desert, the moon is an amazing place to explore.
History	The Wall This book is on YouTube. This is the wall, my grandfather’s wall. On it are the names of those killed in a war, long ago. “A father and his young son have come to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find the name of the grandfather the little boy never knew. They share the sadness as well as the pride of having Grandpa’s name there. This moving account is beautifully told from a young child’s point of view.” (The Horn Book, starred review).
History, biography, reader	The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. NSTA Best STEM Books for K-12 Selection NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books Selection Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award Recipient A Mighty Girl Book of the Year If you’ve ever felt different, if you’ve ever been low, if you don’t quite fit in, there’s a name you should know. Meet Dr. Temple Grandin-one of the world’s quirkiest science heroes! When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe.
Science, social issues	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You This book is on YouTube. *You can use any book about being neurodivergent that works best for your child. Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful. In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges–and looks at the special powers those kids have as well.
History, biography	Truth and Honor: The President Ford Story This book is available at Hoopla. When Gerald Ford became president after the turmoil of the early 70s, Americans were ready for an honest, hardworking politician. And that is just what they got with President Ford. He was a man of integrity and honesty, who cared deeply about all Americans. His life, tougher than some and filled with character-building lessons, had prepared him for the job–from his childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan to his days on the University of Michigan football team and in the Navy to his many years representing the Great Lakes State in congress.
History, biography	I am Jim Henson (Ordinary People Change the World)  This book is on YouTube. Jim Henson, was always dreaming up something new, and always expressing his belief in the goodness of people. Henson was a born performer with a terrific sense of humor, and he used those talents to help create two of the most beloved programs in television history: The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. Through his Muppets, Jim showed the world that there’s nothing more beautiful than imagination, especially when it’s accompanied by laughter and kindness.
Choose 1 of the following 2 books (optional science books that have to do with history topics):
Book 1: Rosa’s Big Shadow Puppet Experiment This book is on YouTube. Rosa and friends return! A simple story in each book shows this diverse group of children making exciting discoveries about their world. Ideal for STEM enrichment.	Using Light to Make Shadow Puppets This book is only available in Kindle format. This book is available at Hoopla. Note: This book has a bit of text you will need to debunk: ” It’s bad luck to say “good luck” to a performer. Say “break a leg” instead. You don’t really want them to get hurt. You are saying something bad so that something good will happen instead.” All it takes to create your own exciting puppet show is the right lighting and a good stage. Through simple text written to foster creativity and problem solving, students will learn the art of innovation. Large, colorful images show students how to complete activities.
History, biography	Jimmy Carter: A Little Golden Book Biography This book is on YouTube.  This Little Golden Book about Jimmy Carter—the 39th president of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize recipient from Plains, Georgia, who continued to help people well into his nineties by building houses with Habitat for Humanity—is an inspiring read-aloud for young girls and boys.
History, science	Science and history mixed: DKfindout! Coding How much did the first laptop weigh? What exactly is a computer bug? How many calculations can the world’s fastest computer perform in a single second? Find out the answers to these questions and more in DKfindout! Coding, which features photographs and illustrations of gadgets, games, and coding geniuses like Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing. Beginning in the mid-1800s, readers can trace the path of coding pioneers from the birth of the first computer all the way to today’s tech boom. Along the way, they’ll learn about the fundamentals of coding languages like Java and Python―including their application in everything from cars to calculators―and how coding continues to revolutionize tech, gaming, medicine, space travel, and more.
Reader	If You Love Video Games, You Could Be…: Ready-to-Read Level 2 Learn all about the careers you could have if you love video games in this fascinating nonfiction Level 2 Ready-to-Read, part of a new series that gives readers a sneak peek at how they can turn their passions into careers! Do you love playing video games? Then you could be a video game writer, animator, or programmer! Learn about these careers and more in this book that includes a glossary and backmatter section of even more cool jobs for kids who like gaming!
History, biography	Ronald Reagan: A Little Golden Book Biography This book is on YouTube. This Little Golden Book about Ronald Reagan—the 40th president of the United States who loved horses and jellybeans—is an inspiring read-aloud for young girls and boys.
History, nonfiction	Flashback to the . . . Awesome ’80s! In the 1980s, boom boxes and breakdancing were all the rage, Cabbage Patch Kids were flying off the shelves, and a new TV station called MTV was launched. Kids will love learning about all things 80s, like the first at-home video game consoles, jelly shoes, leg warmers, eighties slang, and VCRs! Lighthearted illustrations, photographs of the fashion and fads, and approachable language introduce young readers to all this and even more hallmarks of the awesome decade.
History, fiction	Maribel Versus the Volcano: A Mount St. Helens Survival Story In 1980s Washington state, Mt. St. Helens is rumbling. Twelve-year-old Maribel isn’t concerned at first, despite officials evacuating her neighborhood. Her family is convinced it’s just a precaution, even as the mountain continues to rumble. Maribel decides to disobey orders and return home for items she and her sister left behind – just as the volcano finally erupts. As ash rains down, Maribel realizes she must learn to focus if she’s going to survive.
Science, some history	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: DKfindout! Volcanoes Supporting STEM-based learning, this fact-filled book for kids ages 6–9 is the ultimate guide to the potent power of volcanoes, from landslides to lava bombs. Entertaining and educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, quirky trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits, it’s the perfect book for any kid who can’t get enough of these fearsome landforms.
History, nonfiction	Flashback to the . . . Fly ’90s!: Ready-to-Read Level 2 In the 1990s, grunge music and clothing were all the rage, lunchboxes held Crystal Pepsi and Lunchables, and a strange thing called the internet was just about to take over the world. Kids will love learning about all things 90s, from the Beanie Babies craze to must-see preschool shows like Barney & Friends and Teletubbies! Lighthearted illustrations, photographs of the fashion and fads, and approachable language introduce young readers to all this and more hallmarks of the fly decade.
History, biography	Think Smart, Be Fearless: A Biography of Bill Gates This book is on YouTube. How do fearless ideas begin? Travel along with young Bill Gates on his life’s journey full of curiosity, discovery, hard work, and most important, fearlessness–the inability to see limits. The book invites young readers to pursue their passions and awaken a sense of ambition and responsibility for others as they grow.
Reader, science	How to Talk to Your Computer (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. Have you ever wondered how to get a computer to do something? First you need to speak in a way it can understand! Read and find out all about how to talk to your computer in this updated edition with new illustrations and simple engaging text that introduces conditions, loops, and functions.
History, biography	Bill Clinton (American Presidents) This book is available at Hoopla. Bill Clinton was the 42nd president! Not only is he a successful politician, but he is also a talented saxophone player. Throughout this title for young readers, leveled text introduces Bill Clintons journey to the presidency as well as some of the challenges and successes he had while leading the country. Additional features will highlight Clintons birthplace, favorite things, and much more.
History	From an Idea to Google: How Innovation at Google Changed the World This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. From an Idea to Google is a behind-the-computer-screen look into the history, business, and brand of the world’s largest search engine. With humorous black & white illustrations throughout, learn about the company that even earned its own catchphrase: Google it! Today, Google is the number one internet search engine and the most visited website in the world. But a long time ago, two college friends, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, started out with just an idea. Find out more about Google’s history, the business, and the brand in this illustrated nonfiction book!
history, fiction	Escape from the Twin Towers (Ranger in Time #11) This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. Ranger has never needed his search-and-rescue training more than when he arrives at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. There he meets Risha Scott and her friend Max who have come to work with Risha’s mother for a school project. But when the unthinkable happens and the building is evacuated, Risha is separated from her mom. Can Ranger lead Risha to safety and help reunite her family? Optional extra for this book: Ranger in Time: Escape from the Twin Towers Book Guide. You can see a video preview of the guide here.
Reader	Doggy Defenders: Stella the Search Dog This book is on YouTube. Calling Paw Patrol fans and all dog lovers! Follow the real-life adventures of dogs with jobs as they help their communities and save the day. In this endearing read-aloud picture book, meet courageous canine Stella and follow along as she spends an exciting day at work with the police department. Gorgeous photography brings to life the true stories of brave Stella’s role as a search dog in Virginia. Simple, lyrical text lets readers journey along as Stella trains to track scent trails, rides in a helicopter, and saves a lost hiker. Young readers will fall for this witty and daring tale of heroism, along with aww-some photographs. Good dog, Stella!
Science, some history	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Search and Rescue Robots This book is available at Hoopla. Robots help search and rescue teams take quick action during disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Search and rescue robots can crawl through small spaces, fly high over forests, and go into areas unsafe for first responders. Learn about robots such as Spot, micro-VGTV, and EMILY, and meet the creators of these amazing robots.
Choose 1 of the following books:
Book 1: This book is more “gentle” and probably more appropriate for a sensitive child. Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree This book is on YouTube. Remember and honor the events of 9/11 and celebrate how hope appears in the midst of hardship. The Survivor Tree found at Ground Zero was rescued, rehabilitated, and then replanted at the 9/11 Memorial site in 2011. This is its story. In this moving tribute to a city and its people, a wordless story of a young child accompanies the tree’s history. As the tree heals, the girl grows into an adult, and by the 20th anniversary of 9/11, she has become a firefighter like her first-responder uncle. A life-affirming introduction to how 9/11 affected the United States and how we recovered together.	Book 2: This book is good for an older child. It’s filled with amazing photos and more detailed information about 9/11. Be aware that it mentions deaths (no graphic details). National Geographic Readers: September 11 (Level 3)  This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla. The events of September 11, 2001, changed the world forever. With compelling photographs and sensitive, age-appropriate text, this Level 3 reader recounts the shocking attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, explains who was behind the attacks, and celebrates the spirit of hope that emerged through the inspiring story of rescue and recovery and the heroes who raced to save lives.
Science, some history	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: DKfindout! Robots This fun, fact-filled book for kids ages 6–9 guides readers through the science behind the abilities of life-like robots, and how these humanoids might become even more advanced in the future. Supporting STEM-based learning and educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, quirky trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits, it’s the perfect book for any reader who can’t get enough of robots.
Science kit	STEM Robotics Science Kit This robot kit contains 5 projects for beginners. Younger children may need some assistance from adults.
History, Nonfiction	Flashback to the . . . Chill 2000s!: Ready-to-Read Level 2 In the 2000s, Juicy Couture velour sweatsuits and trucker hats were all the rage, American Idol was the show to watch, social media sites like Facebook and YouTube were launched, and a little thing called Y2K threatened to shut down the world! Kids will love learning about what was cool in the aughts, from popular toys like Bratz dolls to must-see TV like Dora the Explorer and The Powerpuff Girls—not to mention off-the-wall food trends like Heinz green and purple ketchup, popular fashion like Uggs, and technology like Netflix DVDs. Lighthearted illustrations, photographs of the fashion and fads, and approachable language introduce young readers to all this and more hallmarks of the chill decade.
Science	Additional (optional) science book and reader that matches a topic in the DKfindout Robots! book: My Five Senses (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) This book is on YouTube. Sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch—our five senses teach us about our world. Beloved author-illustrator Aliki’s simple, engaging text and colorful artwork show young readers how they use their senses to smell a rose or play with a puppy.
History, biography	George W. Bush: A Little Golden Book Biography This book is on YouTube. This Little Golden Book about George W. Bush–the forty-third president of the United States and a talented artist–is an inspiring read-aloud for young readers.
History, Fiction Note: The author’s note mentions how many pets died.	Hurricane Katrina Rescue (Ranger in Time #8) Ranger, the time-traveling golden retriever with search-and-rescue training, arrives in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approaches and residents start to evacuate the city. Ranger meets Clare Porter, who is searching for her grandmother. Once Ranger helps Clare find Nana, he takes shelter with them at their home in the Lower Ninth Ward, and they wait for Clare’s father to return from the gas station. But there’s no sign of him as hours pass and the weather gets worse. The wind picks up and rain pours down. And when the levees break, floodwaters dangerously rise, and Clare and Nana are separated. Can Ranger help Clare navigate the flooded streets to safety and back to her family?
Science	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Hurricanes! (New & Updated Edition) This book is on YouTube. This book is available as an audiobook on Hoopla. Imagine a force that can toss boats around like toys, wash away bridges, create waves as high as eighteen feet, and change the shape of a shoreline. With fierce winds and torrential rains, hurricanes can do all of these things. In this newly revised edition, vetted by weather experts, Gail Gibbons introduces readers to the concepts of hurricane formation, classification, weather preparedness, and the ever-evolving technology that helps us try to predict the behavior of these powerful storms.
Science, reader, some history	Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3) This book is on YouTube (look for the video title Strange Weather). Have you ever seen a hailstone with a turtle frozen inside? Learn all about the weirdest, wackiest, wildest weather ever–and what makes it happen–in this easy-to-read nonfiction reader.
History, biography	National Geographic Readers: Barack Obama This book is available via Amazon Kids+. This book is on YouTube. Learn all about our 44th President in this colorful leveled reader.
Science, reader	Optional science book that has to do with history topics: Feel the Wind (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)  This book is on YouTube. This book is free at the Open Library. Read and find out about the wind—what causes it, how it can be used to help us, and how it affects the weather—in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. Air is always moving. We can’t see air moving, though we can watch it push clouds across the sky, or shake the leaves of a tree. We call moving air the wind. In this clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, Arthur Dorros shows how to make your own weather vane, and in simple terms, with playful illustrations, he explains just what makes the wind that blows all around us.
History, biography	Mommy, Who is Donald J. Trump?: An Introduction to the 45th U.S. President  In clear, unbiased language, families can learn about the 45th president of the United States.
History, science Note: If you are an anti-vaxxer, you will want to discuss the statements about vaccines in this book. Parents may also wish to dispute or discuss the efficacy of masking, etc.	A Pandemic Is Worldwide This Level 2 Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out shares important facts about past and current pandemics, taking readers from the origin of the word “quarantine” and through history’s many pandemics, to milestones such as the first vaccine that helped end smallpox.
Note: Parents need to preview for intense scenes which may be scary to sensitive children. The main character’s dad has to go to jail for bank fraud. In the author’s notes, there is a mention of people dying in wildfires (no graphic details).	I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla as an audiobook and eBook. In the 20th I Survived book, readers join eleven-year-old Josh as he leaves his New Jersey home for the rural northern California town where his cousins live. Still reeling from the life-changing challenges that propelled him and his mother across the country, Josh struggles to adapt to a more rustic, down-to-earth lifestyle that couldn’t be more different from the one he is used to. Josh and his cousin bond over tacos and reptiles and jokes, but on a trip into the nearby forest, they suddenly find themselves in the path of a fast-moving firestorm, a super-heated monster that will soon lay waste to millions of acres of wilderness and — possibly — their town. Josh needs to confront the family issues burning him up inside, but first he’ll have to survive the flames blazing all around him
Choose 1 of the following 2 books:
Book 1 (for older students): They Hold the Line: Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters Who Brave Them This book is available at Hoopla (but the layout is not as nice as the physical book). They Hold the Line delivers a dramatic inside look at the work of the highly trained first responders who risk their lives to fight wildfires. From hotshot handcrews to those who support them, wildland firefighters serve as stewards of the land, managing the health of our forests and the safety of our communities. Powerfully written by Dan Paley and brought vividly to life by Caldecott Honor-winning artist Molly Mendoza, this compelling and informative book explores wildland firefighters’ complex jobs in a fascinating and approachable way. Thoroughly researched and packed with graphics, labels, sidebars, vocabulary, scientific concepts, historical facts, and so much more, They Hold the Line is an outstanding resource for young readers, families, communities, classrooms, and libraries.	Book 2  (for younger students): Wildfire! This book is on YouTube. With stunning, cinematic art, this fact-based picture book takes readers into the heart of a forest fire and shows how animals survive, how heroic first responders curb the flames, and how life gradually returns to the forest. There is a flash. Then a crack. Bluejay spreads the news: “Firefirefire in the forest!”There’s a wildfire on Spruce Mountain! High up in the Evergreen Tower, dispatcher Maria sees it, too. She calls on expert teams of pilots, smokejumpers, and firefighters to battle the blaze. Meanwhile, the animals of the forest, from bears to deer to turtles, take shelter from the smoke and flames.Featuring detailed end matter about forest fires and firefighting techniques and tools, this timely picture book is perfect for anyone interested in firefighting and protecting our natural spaces.
History, biography	Joey: The Story of Joe Biden This book is on YouTube. This book is available at Hoopla as an audiobook. Joey is the first ever picture book about the young life of Joe Biden, the 47th Vice President of the United States, and includes never before told family stories about the president-elect and former vice president’s childhood—written by Jill Biden, his spouse.
History, picture book	Farmhouse This book is on YouTube. Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artifacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. The last line in the book is, “…where they’ll live on, now, in the book that you hold, like your stories will, so long as they’re told.” This is the perfect book to wrap up our history studies for the year!

Scheduled Movies
Please note: The following movies may not be approrpriate for all children.

Note: This movie is rated PG. It may not be suitable for all children. Read the Common Sense Media parent’s guide here.	Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero A stray dog joins his master on the battlefields of World War I in this fact-based animated story.
This movie is rated G. Read the Common Sense Media parent’s guide here.	Balto Based on a true story, Balto is a dazzling animated adventure about one of the most courageous canines of all time who braved an Arctic storm to retrieve medicine for Alaska’s children.
	Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front