Avan Thayn
Library Media Teacher
James Madison Elementary
Ogden School District
Getting Confident and Comfortable with the Common Core
Using the Best Fiction Books from 2012
Title:
Each Kindness
By Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Common Core Connection:
Literature 2.3+ Describe how
characters in a story respond to
major events and challenges.
Literature 3.5+ Refer to parts of
stories, dramas, and poems when
writing or speaking about a text,
using terms such as chapter,
scene, and stanza; describe how
each successive part builds on
earlier sections.
Literature 4.5+ Refer to details
and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says
explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
Literature 3.7+ Explain how
specific aspects of a text’s
illustrations contribute to what is
conveyed by the words in a story
(e.g., create mood, emphasize
aspects of a character or setting).
Literature 2.2+ Recount stories,
including fables and folktales from
diverse cultures, and determine
their central message, lesson, or
moral.
I, Too, Am America
By Langston Hughes
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Literature 3.5+ Refer to parts of
stories, dramas, and poems when
writing or speaking about a text,
using terms such as chapter,
scene, and stanza; describe how
each successive part builds on
earlier sections.
Notes:
Extra Yarn
By Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
This is Not My Hat
By Jon Klassen
Literature 3.7+ Explain how
specific aspects of a text’s
illustrations contribute to what is
conveyed by the words in a story
(e.g., create mood, emphasize
aspects of a character or setting).
Literature 3.4+ Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text,
distinguishing literal from
nonliteral language.
Literature 5.5+ Explain how a
series of chapters, scenes, or
stanzas fits together to provide
the overall structure of a
particular story or drama.
Literature 3.7+ Explain how
specific aspects of a text’s
illustrations contribute to what is
conveyed by the words in a story
(e.g., create mood, emphasize
aspects of a character or setting).
Literature 5.5+ Explain how a
series of scenes fits together to
provide the overall structure of a
story.
Literature 2.7+ Use information
gained from the illustrations and
words in a text to demonstrate
understanding of its characters,
setting, or plot.
Literature 4.9+ Compare and
contrast the treatment of similar
themes and topics (e.g.,
opposition of good and evil) and
patterns of events (e.g., the quest)
in stories, and traditional
literature from different cultures.
Literature 4.6 Compare and
contrast the point of view from
which different stories are
narrated, including the difference
between first- and third-person.
Infinity and Me
By Kate Hosford
Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Goldilocks and the Three
Dinosaurs
By Mo Willems
Fox Tails, Four Fables from Aesop
By Amy Lowry
And
The Town Mouse and the Country
Mouse by Helen Ward
Literature 4.1+ Refer to details
and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says
explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
Literature 2.5+ Describe the
overall structure of a story,
including describing how the
beginning introduces the story
and the ending concludes the
action.
Literature 2.2+ Recount stories,
including fables and folktales from
diverse cultures, and determine
their central message, lesson, or
moral.
Literature 2.9+ Compare and
contrast two or more versions of
the same story (e.g., Cinderella
stories) by different authors or
from different cultures.
Literature 2.2+ Recount stories,
including fables and folktales from
diverse cultures, and determine
their central message, lesson, or
moral
Literature 3.3+ Describe
characters in a story (e.g., their
traits, motivations, or feelings)
and explain how their actions
contribute to the sequence of
events.
A Path of Stars
By Anne Sibley O’Brien
Literature 5.5+ Explain how a
series of chapters, scenes, or
stanzas fits together to provide
the overall structure of a story.
Beach Feet
By Kiyomikonagaya
Illustrated by Masanitsu Saito
Writing 4.3+ Use concrete words
and phrases and sensory details to
convey experiences and events
precisely.
Literature 1.4+ Identify words and
phrases in stories or poems that
suggest feelings or appeal to the
senses.
Literature 4.6+ Compare and
contrast the point of view from
which different stories are
narrated, including the difference
between first- and third-person
narrations.
Cold Snap
By Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Marjorie Pakeman
Literature 2.5 Describe the overall
structure of a story, including
describing how the beginning
introduces the story and the
ending concludes the action.
and then it’s spring
By Julie Fogliano
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Literature 2.4+ Describe how
words and phrases (e.g., regular
beats, alliteration, rhymes,
repeated lines) supply rhythm and
meaning in a story, poem, or song.
Literature 3.7 Explain how aspects
of a text’s illustrations contribute
to what is conveyed by the words
in a story (e.g., create mood,
emphasize aspects of a character
or setting).
Green
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Literature 2.4+ Describe how
words and phrases (e.g., regular
beats, alliteration, rhymes,
repeated lines) supply rhythm and
meaning in a story, poem, or song.
Literature 3.4+ Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text,
distinguishing literal from
nonliteral language.
Bear Has a Story to Tell
By Phillip C. Stead
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
(Another book by Phillip Stead
where friendship is the theme is A
Home for Bird.)
Writing 2.5+ With guidance and
support from adults and peers,
focus on a topic and strengthen
writing as needed by revising and
editing.
Literature 2.2+ Recount stories,
including fables and folktales from
diverse cultures, and determine
their central message, lesson, or
moral.
Literature 2.5+ Describe the
overall structure of a story,
including describing how the
beginning introduces the story
and the ending concludes the
action.
Dog and Bear
Two Friends, Three Stories
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Literature 4.1+ Refer to details
and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says
explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
Literature 4.4+ Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text, including
those that allude to significant
characters found in mythology
(e.g., Herculean).
Virginia Wolf
By Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
One Cool Friend
By Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by David Small
Literature 4.4+ Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text, including
those that allude to characters
found in mythology (e.g.,
Herculean).
Literature 4.1+ Refer to details
and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says
explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
Literature 3.3+ Describe
characters in a story (e.g., traits,
motivations, feelings) & explain
how their actions contribute to
the sequence of events.
Literature 5.5+ Explain how a
series of chapters, scenes, or
stanzas fits together to provide
the overall structure of a
particular story.
Literature 3.7+ Explain how
specific aspects of a text’s
illustrations contribute to what is
conveyed by the words in a story
(e.g., create mood, emphasize
aspects of a character or setting.
Chloe and the Lion
By Mac Arnett
Illustrated by Adam Rex
Literature K.6+ With prompting
and support, name the author and
illustrator of a story and define the
role of each in telling the story.
Literature 4.6+ Compare and
contrast the point of view from
which different stories are
narrated, including the difference
between first- and third-person
narrations.
The Bear in the Book
By Kate Banks
Illustrated by Georg Hallensleben
Literature 1.3+ Describe
characters, settings, and major
events in a story, using key details.
Literature 2.9+ Compare and
contrast two or more versions of
the same story (e.g., Cinderella
stories) by different authors or
from different cultures.
Literature 3.4+ Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text,
distinguishing literal from
nonliteral language.
Baby Bear Sees Blue
By Ashley Wolff
Literature 1.9+ Compare and
contrast the adventures and
experiences of characters.
Z is for Moose (That’s Me)
By Kelly Bingham
Illustrated by Paul O Zelinsky
Writing 2.5+ With guidance and
support from adults and peers,
focus on a topic and strengthen
writing as needed by revising and
editing.
Creepy Carrots!
By Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by Peter Brown
Frankenstein, A Monstrous Parody
By Ludworst Bemonster
Good Night Goon, A Petrifying
Parody
By Michael Rex
The Runaway Mummy
By Michael Rex
Literature 5.5+ Explain how a
series of chapters, scenes, or
stanzas fits together to provide
the overall structure of a
particular story, drama, or poem.
Literature 4.9+ Compare and
contrast the treatment of similar
themes and topics (e.g.,
opposition of good and evil) and
patterns of events (e.g., the quest)
in stories, myths, and traditional
literature.
(Use Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak for writing
prompt.)
Writing 2.3+ Write narratives in
which they recount a wellelaborated event or short
sequence of events, include
details to describe actions,
thoughts, and feelings, use
temporal words to signal event
order, and provide a sense of
closure.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy
Buttons
By Eric Litwin
Illustrated by James Dean
Literature 2.2+ Recount stories,
including fables from diverse
cultures, and determine their
central message, lesson, or moral.
Literature 3.3+ Describe
characters in a story (e.g., their
traits, motivations, or feelings)
and explain how their actions
contribute to the sequence of
events
Olivia and the Fairy Princess
By Ian Falconer
Literature 2.7+ Use information
gained from the illustrations and
words in a print or digital text to
demonstrate understanding of its
characters, setting, or plot.
Chloe
By Peter McCarty
Literature 3.6+ Distinguish their
own point of view from that of the
narrator or those of the
characters.
Literature 4.2+ Determine a theme
of a story from details in the text;
summarize the text.
Hello! Hello!
By Matthew Cordell
Demolition
By Sally Sutton
Illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Literature 4.9+ Compare and
contrast the treatment of similar
themes and topics (e.g.,
opposition of good and evil) and
patterns of events (e.g., the quest)
in stories, myths, and traditional
literature.
Literature 3.7+ Explain how
specific aspects of a text’s
illustrations contribute to what is
conveyed by the words in a story
(e.g., create mood, emphasize
aspects of a character or setting).
Literature 2.4+ Describe how
words and phrases (e.g., regular
beats, alliteration, rhymes,
repeated lines) supply rhythm and
meaning in a story, poem, or song.
Literature 2.5+ Describe the
overall structure of a story,
including describing how the
beginning introduces the story
and the ending concludes the
action.
Squeak, rumble, whomp! whomp!
whomp! : a Sonic Adventure
By Wynton Marsalis
Illustrated by Paul Rogers
Literature 2.9+ Compare and
contrast two or more versions of
the same story (e.g., Cinderella
stories) by different authors or
from different cultures.
Other books that use
onomatopoeia:
Machines Go to Work in the City
By William Low
On No!
By Candace Fleming & Eric
Rohmann
Kel Gilligan’s Daredevil Stunt Show Literature 3.4+ Determine the
By Michael Buckley
Illustrated by Dan Santat
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text,
distinguishing literal from
nonliteral language.
The Santa Trap
By Jonathan Emmett
Illustrated by Poly Bernatene
Literature 2.4+ Describe how
words and phrases (e.g., regular
beats, alliteration, rhymes,
repeated lines) supply rhythm and
meaning in a story, poem, or song.
Cat Tale
By Michael Hall
Literature 2.3+ Describe how
characters in a story respond to
major events and challenges
Literature 3.4+ Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text,
distinguishing literal from
nonliteral language.
Literature 1.5+ Explain major
differences between books that
tell stories and books that give
information, drawing on a wide
reading of a range of text types.
The Quiet Place
By Sarah Stewart
Illustrated by David Small
Ballywhinney Girl
By Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Emily Arnold
McCully
Ellen’s Broom
By Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrated by Danile Minter
Unspoken, A Story from the
Underground Railroad
By Henry Cole
Little Dog Lost, The True Story of a
Brave Dog Named Baltic
By Monica Carnesi
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean
Picnic
By Ginnie Lo
Illustrated by Beth Lo