Children's Literature: Lesson Plans and Resources

This site contains links to lesson plans and resources for children's literature (grades K-6). Since there is considerable overlap between authors and titles for children and adolescents, go to my site for adolescent literature if you do not find what you need on this page.

Site Index:
Sources for Lesson Plans on Multiple Children's Books
Children's Literature Resources
Specific Children's Books and Authors (Listed Alphabetically by Title):
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, XYZ
Lesson Plans for Drama, Mythology, and Poetry
Rubrics for the Language Arts
Return to Educational Resources and Lesson Plans

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Lesson Plans for Sonlight Books
A long list of lesson plans for specific children's books organized by grade level.

Can Teach: Specific Novel & Picture Book Activities
Another collection of activities for specific children's books.

Children's Literature Lesson Plans
Over 20 lesson plans on specific books including Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and The Call of the Wild.

Literature-Based Units
Also from A to Z Teacher Stuff, this site provides links to 15 children's literature units.

Index to Internet Sites: Children's and Young Adults' Authors & Illustrators
An alphabetical index to information on children's authors. Many of the author sites include lesson plans.

Picture Story Books
A unit with activities on four different children's books.

Children's Literature and U.S. History
Good source for lesson plans and children's books integrating literature and history.

World War II as Seen Through the Eyes of Children's Literature
An elaborate unit.

American Children's Literature
A collection of 12 units from the Yale-New Haven Teacher's Institute.

Traditional Literature: Lesson Plans
A large collection of lesson plans on tall tales, myths and legends, folktales, fables, and nursery rhymes.

Discussing Immigration Through Literature
A unit on Asian-American immigrants using the following books: Coming to America, Betsy Maestro; The Lotus Seed, Sherry Garland, and Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say. Also, take a take a look at A Melting Pot of Immigrants, which is a literature-based 2nd-grade unit using these same books as well as several others.

Changing Borders
Similar to the above, but examining emigration form Europe as well as Asia, this unit uses Coming to America by Betsy Maestro, How Many Days To America by Eve Bunting, and The Long Way To A New Land by Joan Sandin.

Introduction to the Study of American Tall Tales
A 4th-grade unit including samples of students' work.

Paul Bunyon
A lesson plan for grades 4-5.

Folktales
A collection of 12 units.

Folk Tales from Around the World
A 1st-grade unit with a multicultural component.

Examining African-American Culture Through the Use of Children’s Literature
A 3rd-grade unit plan.

Deep in the Bush Where Teachers Rarely Ever Go
A lesson plan on African folktales for grades 4-6.

A Moroccan Fairy Tale vs. European Folk/Fairy Tale
A 2nd-grade lesson plan examining similarities and differences between The Girl Who Lived with the Gazelles, an African folk tale from Morocco, and Snow White.

Teaching With Asian Children's Literature
A thematic unit for K-6.

An Integrated Unit on Classic Philippine Folk Tales About Fruits
A unit from TASSI.

An Integrated Unit on Friendship Implementing Asian-American Children's Literature
A unit integrating Asian-American children's literature and the theme of friendship.

Integrating Japanese Folk Tales into the Classroom Using Japanese Kamishibai
An interdisciplinary unit for grades 2-6.

Traveling on the Sea of Gold: An Adventure in Japan Through Literature
A unit for grades 3-5.

Understanding Hispanic/Latino Culture and History Through Children’s Literature
An elaborate unit plan with three sample lesson plans and a bibliography.

Puerto Rican Folktales
A unit for grades 7-12.

Expanding Fifth Grade Ethnic Awareness Through Literature
A unit on Native American and Latino literature from the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.

Favorite Fairy Tales
A 1st-grade unit designed to foster children's appreciation for this literary genre through listening, story telling, reading, and writing.

American Girls Through Time and Trial
An elementary unit focusing on women of different cultures, races, and religions. It includes three books featuring diverse American women from specific time periods.

The Civil War
An upper-elementary or middle grade unit using trade books to integrate history and literature.

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
Great site for reviews and ideas for teaching with children's literature. Click on curriculum areas for links to sites connecting children's literature with other subjects.

Similes
A literature-based lesson plan for grade 3-6.

Children's Literature Resources
Children's Books from About.com
Though this page is designed primarily for children, it is an excellent resource with featured books and authors as well as information on books of nearly all topics and genres.

Aesop's Fables
An on-line collection!

Tales of Wonder
An archive of folk and fairy tales from around the world.

How Literature Circles Work
An excellent site providing information on using literature circles in the classroom including group size, roles of students and teachers, and ideas for assessment projects.

A Teacher's Guide to Afro-American Children's Literature and History
From the Children's Literature Nook, this site offers an annotated bibliography of African-American children's books, criteria for selecting books for classroom use, lesson ideas, and many links.

Native-American Bedtime Story Collection
Native-American stories with background information and links to related sites.

Native American Children's Literature in the Classroom: An Annotated Bibliography

Webtime Stories
Interactive children's stories with graphics and sound.

Children's Literature Links and Sites
Great site for children's literature and writing.

Vandergrift's Children's Literature Page
An excellent resource with bibliographies and links to sites on topics related to children's literature, including censorship.

Author Biographies
Biographies of some favorite authors of children's books.

Author Links
Links to information on more authors of children's books.

Children's Literature Web Guide
Links to children's literature sites.

Children's Literature Links
Another excellent site for information on children's literature.

Lesson Plans for Specific Children's Books (Listed Alphabetically by Title):
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, XYZ  If the book or author for which you are looking is not listed here, please try The Doucette Index, Literature Activities from A to Z Teacher Stuff, Can Teach: Specific Novel & Picture Book Activities, Random House Teacher's Resource Center, The Gateway, Literature-Based Lesson Plans and Activities, or Lesson Plans for Sonlight Books.

A
Alice in Wonderland
Click above for lesson plans and resources on Lewis Carroll's famous work.

Amazing Grace
A review and primary-grade activities for this book by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch.

Amelia Bedelia
This 2nd-grade lesson plan titled "Figurative Language," in which students read a variety of Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parish, focuses on figurative and literal meanings of words.

Amelia Bedelia - Measuring Real Stuff
A 1st-grade lesson plan integrating literature and math.

Animalia
An intermediate-grade lesson plan for this book by Graeme Base.

Annie and the Old One
A teacher CyberGuide with lessons and Internet-based activities for this book by Miska Miles. Click here for related lesson plan links.

Armadillo Rodeo
Two lesson plans for grade 3. Also, go to the Jan Brett Teacher Resource File for information on this author as well as lesson plans and resources for her other works.

Arthur
A long list of activities based on Mark Brown's Arthur. Click here to go to the author's homepage.

Arthur's Reading Race: Sprouting Books
A primary-grade lesson in which students create pop-up books for favorite tales.

B
Baseball In April & Living Up The Street
A Score CyberGuide unit on these works by Gary Soto for grades 6-8. Also, see Gary Soto: A Teacher Resource File.

A Bear Called Paddington
Study Guide, activities, and questions for grades 2-5 for this book by Michael Bond.

Be Good to Eddie Lee
This lesson plan for 1st or 2nd grade titled "Dealing with Differences" uses Virginia Fleming's Be Good to Eddie Lee  to help teach tolerance of students with disabilities. It is part of a unit titled "Differences: Opening Doors to Social Studies with Children's Literature." Click here for other reviews of this book as well as ordering information.

Beezus and Ramona
A review and suggested teaching activities for this Beverly Cleary book

Ben and Me
A CyberGuide with a 5th-grade unit for this book about Ben Franklin by Robert Lawson. For a modified version of this unit, click here, then go to Lesson Plan Objectives to access the five lessons and unit test.

The Best School Year Ever
A "Literature Guide" with questions and activities for this book by Barbara Robinson.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
A TeacherView with a review and activity for this book by Barbara Robinson.

Point of View and Unreliable Narrators with The Boy Trap
A 3rd to 5th-grade lesson on Nancy Matson's book. Go to Nancy Matson's Website for information about the author as well as more lesson plans. See also The Root and Application of Prejudice with The Boy Trap, another lesson plan for grades 3-5.

The Bracelet
A 5th-grade lesson plan integrating language arts and the social studies using this book by Yoshiko Uchida. Scroll past the end of this lesson for other lesson plans related to Japanese-American internment during WW II. Click here for another 5th-grade lesson plan using this book to connect children's literature and the visual arts.

Bridge to Terabithia
A lesson plan for grades 3-6 on this book by Katherine Paterson.

By the Great Horn Spoon
A Cyberguide with lessons and activities for this book by Sid Fleischman.

C
Caddie Woodlawn
An Internet-based grade 5 unit on this famous book by Carol Ryrie Brink.

The Call of the Wild
A lesson integrating a study of dogs with the reading of Jack London's famous novel.

Carry On Mr. Bowditch
An intermediate-grade unit based on this book by Jean Lee Latham.

Catherine Called Birdie
A Cyberguide with lesson ideas and web-based activities for this book by Karen
Cushman. See also School House Teachers' Guides to find additional ideas for teaching about this book and others by Karen Cushman.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
A chocolate-making activity to accompany a read-aloud of this book by Roald Dahl.

Charlotte's Web
A 4th-grade unit on this classic book by E.B. White.

Charlotte's Web
A lesson plan for grades 4-5.

Holiday Rhyming Lesson Using the Christmas Tree Tangle
A lesson plan for grades 1-3.

Cinderella Stories
Internet resources and teaching ideas from the Children's Literature Web Guide. For the text of 15 Cinderella variants, click here.

Whole Language Cinderella for ESL Students
A lesson for entry level ESL students in grades 7-12 involving the study of various literary and fine arts versions of Cinderella. The lesson could also be adapted for younger students.

Cinderella Lesson Plan
A lesson plan comparing three versions of Cinderella. Also, see Cinderella Around the World, a 2nd-grade lesson plan.

Cap o' Rushes
An intermediate or junior high lesson on this English Cinderella variant, "Cap o' Rushes."

Cinderella and Yeh-Shen
A lesson plan comparing fairy tales from different cultures. Also, go to The Story of Tam and Cam, a Cinderella story from Vietnam.

The Rough-Faced Girl
A 4th-grade lesson plan on yet another Cinderella variant. This one, titled The Rough-Faced Girl and written by Rafe Martin, is based on an Algonquin Indian story. Click here for another site about this author.

Comparing Cultures
A lesson plan for grade 1-5 using Shirley Climo's The Egyptian Cinderella.

Tattercoats Lesson Plan
An elementary or junior high lesson plan on Cinderella variants. Also, see The Cinderella Project for a text and image archive containing a dozen English versions of the fairy tale.

The Princess and the Golden Shoes
A lesson plan for the middle grades or junior high school for this Scottish Cinderella    variant.

Beverly Cleary
Information about Beverly Cleary and lesson plans for her books.

Counting Wildflowers
A primary-grade lesson plan integrating literature and math, using this book by Bruce McMillan.

Crictor
A lesson plan for grades 1-3 using this book about a snake by Tomi Ungerer. For lesson plans about reptiles, click here.

Curious George
Grade 2 lesson plans based on the Curious George books. Also, visit The World of Curious George for a tribute to author Margaret Rey and other information related to Curious George.

D
Dateline: Troy
A review as well as discussion topics and teaching ideas for this book by Paul Fleischman. For an Internet-based lesson on Troy, check out Trekking to Troy.

The Day of the Dinosaur
An elaborate lesson plan on dinosaurs using this book by S. & J. Berenstain. Click here for other lesson plans on dinosaurs. Also, scroll down the page to Dinotopia and Dinosaurs of Long Ago.

Tomie DePaola: Teacher Resource Unit
A biography, links, and nine lesson plans.

Dear Mr. Henshaw
Activities and questions for teaching with this book by Beverly Cleary.

The Desert Is Theirs
A Teacher View with a review and suggested teaching activities for the 3rd grade. Also, take a look at the Teacher Resource File for Byrd Baylor. It includes links to a biography, reviews, and lesson plans for this and other works. For lesson plans on deserts, click here.

Diary of Anne Frank (Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945: Teacher Workbook)
Lesson plans for grades 5-8 for teaching about Anne Frank and Holocaust-related subjects. See also Diary of Anne Frank: Victim of the Holocaust, a unit for grades 6-8; We Remember the Holocaust, a 5th-grade lesson using the video that is part of a Holocaust Unit; Teaching the Holocaust, literature-based lesson plans for grades 4 and up; Anne Frank WebQuest, an excellent Internet activity for grades 7-9; Trackstar: Anne Frank, another Internet-based lesson; The Anne Frank Internet Guide, an excellent resource; Anne Frank: Her Life and Times, photographs and information about Anne's journal and how it survived World War II; and Cybrary of the Holocaust, a comprehensive site with images, recollections of survivors, a teacher's guide, and links.

Dinosaurs of Long Ago
A 1st-grade unit using the books Digging Up Dinosaurs and Fossils of Long Ago by Aliki.

Dinotopia
This is the official Jim Gurney Dinotopia site. Use the pull-down menu on the right to access the Teacher's Resource Page. Also see Gurneytopia for a preview of his new book, The World of Dinosaurs. Click here for lesson plans on dinosaurs.

Lesson Plans on Dr. Seuss Books
Dr. Seuss
K-2 cross-curricular activities for 15 Dr. Seuss books.
The Dr. Seuss Page for Teachers
Information and teaching activities for 4 Dr. Seuss books, including The Cat in the Hat.
Green Eggs and Ham
A lesson plan for grades K-2.
Green Eggs and Ham
A K-6 lesson.
My Many Coloured Days
A synopsis and an primary-level activity.
Phonics with Dr. Seuss
A grade 1 lesson plan using One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
Teaching Phonograms through The Sneetches
Another grade 1 lesson plan.
Discovering the World of Dr. Seuss
A lesson plan for grades 2-4.
Oh, the Places We Went
A 5th-grade unit.

E
The Elephant's Child
Lesson plans on this work by Rudyard Kipling.

The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig
A unit plan for grade 6-8 using this book to tell the story of how East European refugees and deportees lived in Russia during World War II. Also, take a look at World War II As Seen Through Children’s Literature, an extensive unit, Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig, a list of classroom activities used with this book, and read a synopsis, reviews, and a brief author biography from Amazon.com.

Escape From Slavery: Five Journeys to Freedom
A teacher's guide for this book by Doreen Rappaport and No Turning Back by Beverly Naidoo.

F
The Face on the Milk Carton
An Internet-based 8th-grade unit for this book by Caroline B. Cooney.

Families are Different
Kindergarten-level activities for this book by Nina Pellegrini. For other lesson plans and units on families, click here.

Feelings
A review and primary-grade activity for this book by Aliki.

Come Fly With Me
An elementary lesson using the book A Fly Went By.

Freedom Train
An intermediate-grade unit based on Dorothy Sterling's historical novel.

Frog and Toad Are Friends
Teacher CyberGuide for this book by Arnold Lobel with suggested activities and links to other sites.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Teacher's guides from Random house on E. L. Konigsburg's Newbery Medal-winning book.

From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: Social Dilemmas
More teaching ideas for Konigsburg's book.

G
A Gift for Mama
A lesson plan based on this book by Esther Hautzig. Click here to find ideas for Mother's Day projects and activities.

The Giving Tree
A lesson plan on apple trees using this book by Shel Silverstein. See also Giving - Service Learning, a 3rd-grade lesson using this book to emphasize the importance of giving. Click here for a lesson plan using this book to teach story elements and social skills to students receiving special education.

The Goat in the Rug: An Economics and Literature Lesson
A lesson plan for grades 1-3 using this children's book. Click here for other Native American stories.

Good Night Moon
A TeacherView with a 1st-grade read-aloud activity for this book by Margaret Wise Brown.

Goosebumps
An activity and assignments for using R. L. Stine's  Goosebumps books

Grandfather's Journey
A review and 3rd-grade activities for this book by Allen Say. See also Grandfather's Journey Teacher CyberGuide and Discussing Immigration Through Literature, a unit using this book and two others.

Grandfather Tang's Story
An upper-elementary, literature based, math activity involving manipulation of geometric figures for teaching with this book by Ann Tompert.

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher
A TeacherView including a review and suggested teaching activities for this book by Molly Bang.

The Grouchy Lady Bug
A 1st-grade lesson plan using shadow puppet activities based on this book by  Eric Carle.

H
Virginia Hamilton
Information, links, and lesson plans for teaching with the books of this Newbery Medal-winning author.

Harriet and the Garden
A 1st-grade lesson plan using Nancy Carlson's book.

Harry Potter Teacher Resources
This site includes a webquest, five Harry Potter lesson plans, crossword puzzles, links to other Harry Potter sites, and links to sites with lesson plans related to the Harry Potter story lines. See also Scholastic's Harry Potter Page for discussion guides and other Harry Potter resources.

The Hobbit
An extensive unit from Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. See also the Ballantine Teacher's Guide for the Hobbit. Click here for information on J. R. R. Tolkien

The House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros)
Teacher's Guide from Vintage Books. Click here to access a Teacher's Resource File with other lesson plans for this author. Also, see Understanding Hispanic/Latino Culture and History Through Children’s Literature.

From Fractions to Percentages with A Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
A lesson plan for grades 4-6 integrating math and literature.

I
If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most
A lesson plan for grades K-1. Click here for other lesson plans on dinosaurs. Also, scroll up the page to Dinotopia, If Dinosaurs came Back, and Dinosaurs of Long Ago.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
A CyberGuide with ideas for using this book about an immigrant Chinese girl by Bette Bao Lord. See also Crossing the Border, A Study of Immigration Through Literature, a unit for grades 6-8 which also uses this book. For other lessons on Asian and Asian-American literature, see Teaching With Asian Children's Literature, a thematic unit for K-6, and An Integrated Unit on Friendship Implementing Asian-American Children's Literature, a unit integrating Asian-American children's literature and the theme of friendship. For information on Chinese-American immigrants, see Contributions of Chinese-Americans, which includes four lesson plans on Chinese-Americans and their impact on California and the US.

Island of the Blue Dolphins Teacher CyberGuide
Internet-based activities for grade 5. Also, take a look at the Cyber Guide for Zia, by Scott O'Dell. Zia is a sequel to the Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Charting the Island of the Blue Dolphins
A lesson plan integrating literature and map skills using this famous work by Scott O'Dell. See also The Novels of Scott O'Dell, a teacher's guide from Random House.

J
Jack and the Bean Stalk
Suggested activities for this version of the classic tale illustrated by Val Biro. For a unit on folktales from around the world, click here.

Jack, Criminal or Victim?
A middle-grade lesson in which students use all levels of Bloom's Taxonomy to look at the case of Jack and the Beanstalk through the eyes of our present legal system.

James and the Giant Peach
A 3rd-grade "focus unit" for this book by Roald Dahl. Click here for an "Anticipation Guide" for this book.

Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato
A brief summary and an activity in which students make potato pancakes after reading this book by Tommy DePaola.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
Reviews, booktalks, and teaching activities for this book by Bruce Coville.

Journey
Activities for grades 4-8 for this book about a child's search for his identity through family photos. For a large selection of lesson plans on photography, click here.

Julie of the Wolves
A synopsis and discussion questions as well as a link to information about Jean Craighead George. Also, see American Girls Through Time and Trial, an elementary unit using this book as well as A picture of Freedom and Plain Girl.

K
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie
An elementary lesson plan involving reading and writing about fiction and character plots using this story about the daughter of a lighthouse keeper. For links to sites about lighthouses, click here.

L
The Last Safe Place on Earth
A teacher's guide from Random House for this book by Richard Peck dealing with censorship, hypocrisy, and responsibility.

Lazy Ozzi by Michael Coleman
A K-1 lesson plan in which students explain the story line and analyze the characters' possible motives and feelings.

Letters From Rifka
An intermediate-grade lesson plan using this book by Karen Hesse. For lesson plans and resources on immigration, click here.

Libby Bloom
This teaching guide offers a synopsis as well as thematic and interdisciplinary teaching ideas for using this book by Susan Rowan Masters in grades 3 to 6.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
An interdisciplinary unit for grades 4-8 titled "A Journey Into Make Believe" which uses this book by C. S. Lewis. For a review and other teaching ideas, see TeacherView: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Click here for a 5th or 6th-grade cooperative learning lesson plan using this book.

Little House in the Big Woods
A unit for grade 3 using this work by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Teacher's Resource File
Information, links, and lesson plans/units. Click here for The Little House on the Prairie Home Page to access tons of information on Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The Long Way to a New Land
A Teacher CyberGuide with 2nd-grade lessons and activities for this book by Joan Sandin. See also Changing Borders, a unit exploring immigration that uses this book and others.

The Lotus Seed
A Teacher CyberGuide with 2nd-grade lessons and activities for this book by Sherry Garland. See also Discussing Immigration Through Literature, a unit using this book and two others.

Lyddie
A Teacher Cyberguide with middle-grade lessons and activities. Also, take a look at the Katherine Paterson Teacher Resource File. It provides links to sites about her as well as other lesson plans for her books.

M
Make Way for the Ducklings
A lesson plan for grades 1-3 for this classic book by Robert McCloskey. Also, take a look at Ducks, a unit using this and other children's books.

Maniac Magee
A teacher's guide for this book by Jerry Spinelli.

Matilda
An "Anticipation Guide" for this book by Roald Dahl. Click here for a worksheet on Matilda.

Medieval Feasts
A 3rd or 4th-grade lesson plan using Aliki's A Medieval Feast. See also The Middle Ages, a 3rd-grade collaborative, thematic unit which also uses this book.

The Midwife's Apprentice
A review and lesson for grades 1-5. For information about this author and other lesson plans using her books, go to the Karen Cushman Teacher Resource File.

Miss Nelson Is Missing
Information and suggested teaching activities for Harry Allard's famous children's book.  Click here for a review of this book.

Miss Rumphius
A unit for grades K-3 using this book by Barbara Cooney.

Mississippi Bridge
This 5th-grade unit from Opening Doors to Social Studies with Children's Literature uses the book Mississippi Bridge by Mildred D. Taylor.

The Mitten
Another K-3 unit. Also, go to the Jan Brett Teacher Resource File for information on this author as well as lesson plans and resources for her other works.

The Mitten Unit
A unit for special education students using this book by Jan Brett.

Molly's Pilgrim
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 using this book by Barbara Cohen.

Monkey Island
A lesson plan for the middle-grades and above using this novel by Paula Fox.

The Moon and I
A lesson plan on this book by Betsy Byars.

Morning Girl
A primary-grade lesson plan titled "The Treasures of Two Worlds" which utilizes this book by Michael Dorris as a class read-aloud.

Evelyn Clarke Mott
Lesson ideas for Mott's books (Steam Train Ride. Balloon Ride, and A Day at the Races).

Mr. Popper's Penguins
A TeacherView with a review and several activities for this book by Richard and Florence Atwater. For another book about Penguins, see Tacky the Penguin. Click here if you are doing a thematic unit on penguins.

My Side of the Mountain
Extensive materials including lesson plans and quizzes for this book by Jean Craighead George. Click here for chapter-by-chapter web resources to help students "extend their
understanding of the material within the novel."

N
Nancy Drew
This site contains lesson plans for grades 4-8 based on the Nancy Drew books. Click here to go to the Nancy Drew Homepage. For a lesson on the elements of a mystery, click here.

No Jumping On The Bed & No More Water In The Tub
A primary-grade lesson in which students visit Tedd Arnold's Home Page after becoming familiar with his books. Also, see the Tedd Arnold Teacher Resource File for other lesson plans using his books.

No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa
A teacher's guide for this novel by Beverly Naidoo and Escape From Slavery: Five Journeys to Freedom by Doreen Rappaport.

Nothing But the Truth
A lesson plan for grades 6-8. Also, see Avi's Homepage and a Teacher Resource File with other lesson plans for books by Avi.

Number the Stars
A lesson plan for grades 4-5 using this book by Lois Lowry.
O
On the Far Side of the Mountain
A review, discussion guide, and suggested activities from Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site for this book by Jean Craighead George.

Owls in the Family
A CyberGuide with intermediate-grade activities for this book by Farley Mowat.

P
Pancakes, Pancakes!
A primary-grade lesson plan using this book by Eric Carle to integrate geography, economics, and children's literature.

Gary Paulsen
A biography and lesson plans for several of this author's works including Canyons, Brian's Winter, and Hatchet. If you are interested in finding teaching ideas for Woodsong, go to the Woodsong Integration Unit. To see essays about Gary Paulson and his books written by 6th-graders, click here.

Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore
A brief review and two activities for this book by David McPhail. Click here for lesson plans and units on pigs and other farm animals.

Pink and Say
This site provides a "reading anticipation guide" and promises to offer lesson plans in the near future for this book by Patricia Polacco. Also, see Black Soldiers in the Civil War, a lesson plan using historical documents and  The Civil War, a middle grade unit using trade books.

The Polar Express
A review and suggested teaching activities for this Christmas book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Purple Hair? I Don't Care!
A brief synopsis followed by suggestions for using this book in a primary classroom.

Q
The Quilt
Reviews and activities for this book by Ana Jones.

R
The Rag Coat
A primary-grade unit titled "School and Community" which uses this book by Lauren Mills.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8
A TeacherView with a review and suggested activities for this book by Beverly Cleary.

Ramona the Pest
A review and suggested activities for this book by Beverly Cleary.

Reluctantly Alice
A lesson plan for grades 5-8 using this book by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen
A lesson plan for grades 5-8 using this book by Lloyd Alexander.

Riches by Esther Hautzig
A review and lesson activities.

Roxaboxen
A grade 3 lesson for this book written by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Barbara Cooney.  See also Learning from Roxaboxen: A Study of Community, which is a lesson plan for grades 2-5.

S
Sadako and the Thousand Cranes
A Teacher View for this book by Eleanor Coerr with a review and suggested activities for use with 3rd-grade students. Click on the underlined text to go other lesson plans using this book for the 1st grade, 4th grade, and 7th-grade.

Sarah Plain and Tall
Lesson plans for grade 5 on Charlotte Zolotow's famous work. For a 1st-grade lesson integrating the book with geography, see A Geography Theme Using the Book Sarah Plain and Tall.

The Secret Garden
A 6th-grade unit on this book by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Shades of Gray
Teacher's notes from Carolyn Reeder's Official Home Page. Click here to find a set of study questions for this book. For a literature-based, 4th or 5th-grade unit on the Civil War, go to Literature of the U.S. Civil War. Also see Making the Civil War Come Alive, another intermediate-grade unit that uses some literature, and Slavery & Emancipation, a 5th-grade thematic unit.

Sheep in a Jeep
A primary-grade lesson plan.

Shiloh
Teaching ideas for grades 3-5 using this book by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Shiloh
A 4th-grade unit for this book by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Sign of the Beaver
A review and grades 5-6 teaching activities for this book by Elizabeth George Speare. Click here for other lesson plans and links for this book.

The Slave Dancer
An extensive teacher's guide from Random House Publishers for this Newbery Medal-winning book by Paula Fox.

History of Slavery
A multiple intelligences lesson plan using The Slave Dancer for grades 6+. For another middle-grade lesson using this book, go to To Be a Slave. For an impressive middle-grade unit on slavery, check out The Middle Passage.

Smoky Night
An "Anticipation Guide" with questions to introduce issues and ideas from this book by Eve Bunting.

Snow White
The ultimate Snow White web site with teaching ideas, criticisms, illustrations, alternate versions, and links. See also A Moroccan Fairy Tale vs. European Folk/Fairy Tale, a 2nd-grade lesson plan examining similarities and differences between The Girl Who Lived with the Gazelles, an African folk tale from Morocco, and Snow White as well as Additional Assignments for Snow White, which includes lesson ideas for grades 4-5.

Stellaluna
A Teacher CyberGuide for grade 2 with activities and lessons for teaching with this book by Janell Cannon.

Stone Fox
A teacher's guide and intermediate-grade unit to supplement the teaching of this book by John Reynolds Gardiner.

Stories California Indians Told
A  lesson plan on Yokut Creation Lore using the above book by Anne Fisher.

How Did Johnny Appleseed Help the Pioneers Move West?
A kindergarten unit using Aliki's The Story of Johnny Appleseed. See also Apples, a primary-grade thematic unit in which this book could also be used.

The Summer of My German Soldier
A Web Quest exploring the historical backdrop for this novel. Also, see Bette Greene Teacher Resource File, for lessons, a biography, and criticism for The Summer of My German Soldier. For student study guides, click here. For further information on World War II literature, go to World War II as Seen Through the Eyes of Children's Literature.

Summer Song
This teaching guide offers a synopsis as well as thematic and interdisciplinary teaching ideas for using this book by Susan Rowan Masters in grades 5 through 8.

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Tacky the Penguin
This primary-grade lesson plan titled "What Makes Us Different?" uses Helen Lester's Tacky the Penguin to explore individual differences. See also Reader's Theater - Tacky the Penguin.

There is a Nightmare in My Closet!
A 1st-grade lesson plan in which students do a creative art activity that links their own personal knowledge and the knowledge that they acquire from this book by Mercer Meyer.

There's an Alligator Under My Bed
A primary-grade activity using this book by Mercer Meyer.

Economics Lesson: The Three Little Pigs
A 3rd-grade lesson integrating economics with the familiar folktale The Three Little Pigs. See also Folktales, a collection of 12 units.

Stereotyping and Bias: The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf
A lesson plan for grades 5-7 designed to help students recognize and understand stereotyping and bias in literature and film.

Time Train
A lesson plan for grades for grade K-4 using this book by by Paul Fleischman.

Too Many Tamales
Cross-disciplinary lesson ideas for teaching with this Gary Soto book. Also, see Gary Soto: A Teacher Resource File.

Town Mouse and Country Mouse
A primary-grade activity in which students demonstrate their knowledge of the basic parts of a story by successfully completing a story map of Town Mouse Country Mouse by Jan Brett.

Treasure in the Stream
A 4th-grade unit.

Johnny Tremain
A 5th-grade unit for this book by Esther Forbes. See also Children's Literature and U.S. History, a good source for lesson plans and children's books integrating literature and history.

The Trumpet of the Swan
This Teacher CyberGuide provides resources and activities for students in grades 3 through 5 to more fully experience this story by E. B. White. See also A Sample Lesson from The Purple Student Book for another lesson plan using this book.

Tuck Everlasting
Social dilemmas and cooperative learning activities for grades 4-8 on this book by Natalie Babbitt.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
A lesson plan for grades 5-7 in which students read Tuck Everlasting and use the Internet to become more aware of life cycles in nature.

Turtle Knows Your Name
A primary-grade lesson plan using this book by Ashley Bryan to make multicultural connections.

Two Bad Ants
A Cyberguide with primary grade lessons and activities for this book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Two Tickets To Freedom
A lesson plan for grades 4-7 using this book by Florence B. Freedman. See also Abolitionists and the Underground Railroad, an Internet-based middle grade lesson plan.

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Under the Blood-Red Sun
A 4th or 5th-grade unit integrating literature and history using this book by Graham Salisbury about a Japanese-American boy living in Hawaii during World War II. For further information on World War II children's literature, go to World War II as Seen Through the Eyes of Children's Literature.

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Velveteen Rabbit
Teacher CyberGuide for grade 3 for this work by Margery Williams.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Information and lesson plans on this work and others by Eric Carle.

The View from Saturday
A CyberGuide for this book by E. L. Konigsburg for grade 6.

Voyage of the Frog
A unit titled "S.O.S. Survival on the Sea" emphasizing Gary Paulson's Voyage of the Frog.

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Walk Two Moons
A lesson plan for grades 4-6. Also, take a look at Sharon Creech: Teacher Resource File.

Where the Red Fern Grows
An elementary lesson plan about this famous book by Wilson Rawls.

Where the Wild Things Are
A lesson plan for grades K-2 for this book by Maurice Sendak.

Whipping Boy
A review and suggested teaching activities for this Newbery Medal-winning book written by Sid Fleischman.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond
A Teacher's Guide from Random House Publishers on this Newbery Medal-winning book by Elizabeth George Speare.

Wizard of Oz
Lots of lesson suggestions. Also visit The Man Behind the Curtain: L. Frank Baum, Wizard of Oz Links, and Learning Guide to The Wizard of Oz, a guide for using the movie in the classroom.

Wringer
A 6th-grade unit complete with an assessment. Click here for a teacher's guide for this book by Jerry Spinelli.

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The Z Was Zapped
A TeacherView with a review and suggested activity for this book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Zebra and the Dirty Planet
A lesson plan on recycling using the above children's book by  Kim Fernandes to integrate literature and science. Click here for a list of other children's books dealing with recycling and the environment.