Book picks similar to
Beyond Pretty by B.C. Hatch


5th-grade
multi-cultural
7th-grade
childrens

My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Christine King Farris - 2003
    Martin Luther King Jr., joins with celebrated illustrator Chris Soentpiet to tell this “outstanding” (School Library Journal) and inspirational story of how one boyhood experience inspired a movement that would change the world as we know it.Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside down. Long before he became a world-famous dreamer, Martin Luther King Jr. was a little boy who played jokes and practiced the piano and made friends without considering race. But growing up in the segregated south of the 1930s taught young Martin a bitter lesson—little white children and little black children were not to play with one another. Martin decided then and there that something had to be done. And so he began the journey that would change the course of American history.

Who Was Anne Frank?


Ann Abramson - 2007
    But Hitler brought her childhood to an end and forced her and her family into hiding. Who Was Anne Frank? looks closely at Anne's life before the secret annex, what life was like in hiding, and the legacy of her diary. Black-and-white illustrations including maps and diagrams provide historical and visual reference in an easy-to-read biography written in a way that is appropriate and accessible for younger readers.

Maps and Globes


Jack Knowlton - 1985
    Maps tell you about the world: where various countries are located, where the jungles and deserts are, even how to find your way around your own hometown. If you take a fancy to any place on earth, you can go there today and still be home in time for dinner. So open a map, spin a globe. The wide world awaits you.Supports the Common Core State Standards

Uncle Jed's Barbershop


Margaree King Mitchell - 1993
    Saving his money to build his very own barbershop was a dream that had to be postponed because of his generous heart and the Depression. Then one glorious day, on his 79th birthday, Uncle Jed finally opened the doors of his new shop. Full color.

Justin Bieber


Kathleen Tracy - 2010
    His meteoric rise to the top of the music charts is a Cinderella storywith a digital-age twist. Before he was famous, Justin had to overcome many struggles. His parents divorced when he was young. At school, he was frequently bullied because he was smaller than the other kids his age. But his decision to participate in a local talent contestand then to post his performance online for familywould change his life forever. Discover the behind-the-scenes story of Justins journey from growing up in a small Canadian town to becoming a global teenage heartthrob. Meet the people who helped get him his break, and find out what Justin says you should never do on a first date.

The Boy of a Thousand Faces


Brian Selznick - 2000
    But no one would ever guess that he lives in a haunted house with a graveyard out back, communicates with the dead, turns into a six-armed, slime-covered creature, or is a walking encyclopedia on horror films! However, when The Beast arrives, not even Alonzo can track it down. Will he be able to solve the mystery of the creature stalking his town and make his dream of becoming The Boy of a Thousand Faces come true?

Play, Mozart, Play!


Peter Sís - 2006
    "Listen."A little boy namedWolfgang Amadeus Mozartis playing the piano."Look."He is playing backward!He is playing blindfolded!"Imagine."What must his life be like? "Play, Mozart, play!"Acclaimed artist Peter Sis introduces very young children to the child genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this picture book tribute to the beauty of listening, looking, imagining, and -- most of all -- playing!

Lenny & Lucy


Philip C. Stead - 2015
    When they arrive at their new home, Peter wants to turn back. Fortunately, he has Harold for company, but Harold is just a dog and can't help Peter. Scared of the things hidden in the woods, Peter makes a tall pile of pillows. He stitches and sews. He pushes and pulls. And when he is done, he has Lenny, Guardian of the Bridge, to protect him and Harold.Lenny is a good guard but Peter worries that Lenny will get lonely out by the woods all by himself, so he makes Lucy, who is a good friend. Together, Lenny, Lucy, Peter, and Harold discover that this new place isn't so scary after all.

Baseball Saved Us


Ken Mochizuki - 1993
    Fighting the heat and dust of the desert, Shorty and his father decide to build a baseball diamond and form a league in order to boost the spirits of the internees. Shorty quickly learns that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well.Baseball Saved Us is the ultimate rite of passage story. It will appeal again and again to readers who enjoy cheering for the underdog.

Everybody Cooks Rice


Norah Dooley - 1991
    Nifty book--The New York Times Book ReviewIn this multicultural picture book, Carrie goes from one neighbor's house to the next looking for her brother, who is late for dinner. She discovers that although each family is from a different country, everyone makes a rice dish at dinnertime. Readers will enjoy trying the simple recipes that correspond to each family's unique rice dish.

Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems


Brian P. Cleary - 2014
    They can look like objects, animals, or even people. You won't find many straight lines here! Award-winning author Brian P. Cleary explains how concrete poems work--and uses them to create all sorts of wild wordplay. Ode to a Commode is packed with mind-bending poems to make you puzzle and ponder. And when you've finished reading, you can try your hand at writing your own concrete poems!

Peanut Butter & Cupcake


Terry Border - 2014
    But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soulmate? Young readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each mismatched pairing.In a story that pairs silliness with poignancy, and friendship with anthropomorphic food, Terry Border, the photography mastermind behind the Bent Objects project, makes a triumphant entrance into the children's book world. Complete with a rhyming refrain, this is sure to be a favorite family read-aloud--and laugh-aloud.Praise for PEANUT BUTTER & CUPCAKE"Border’s witty food comedy will lure children who are hungry for clever visual entertainment."--Publishers Weekly"[T]he creatively zany photographs...will make this a read-aloud hit."--School Library Journal"This book would be a great read-aloud on friendship and food."--Library Media Connection

Pirate Pete


Kim Kennedy - 2002
    With the map in hand, Pete and his parrot hit the high seas. Along the way, however, Pete cannot pass up a chance to plunder gold, and so he sets ashore a various islands in search of riches.

The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone


James Cross Giblin - 1990
    Packed with illustrations, engravings, and historical photographs, The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone is an informative yet accessible overview perfect for aspiring young Egyptologists, kids interested in archaeology, and students in grades 3 to 7.This ALA Notable Children's Book also includes excerpts from the translated text of the Rosetta Stone and a bibliography with suggestions for further reading, making it an ideal starting point for Ancient Egyptian research and reports.Supports the Common Core State Standards

Clouds


Anne Rockwell - 2008
    How do you know what type of clouds can forecast a change of weather? Read and find out.