2012 Teacher's Choices-Primary Readers (Grade K-2)

Playing a variety of musical instruments, an all-animal touring concert group introduces words that are spelled the same but sound differently and have different meanings, such as tear (to cry) and tear (to rip).

Minna's family pitches in to help her come up with the perfect project for the hundredth day of school, from twenty sets of five sticks to two sets of fifty pieces of pasta.

Angela Farris Watkins, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr., recounts her uncle's work to promote racial equality and introduces key events during the civil rights era.

Through his imaginative journey, Alexander discovers how great men become heroes: a tough president has a soft spot for nature, a proud warrior is also the most peaceful, and sometimes, being brave about what makes you different will not only help you break records, but inspire others.

What's better than spending the day with Dad doing something you both love? Like coin collecting! In this follow-up to the bestselling The Button Box, a young boy discovers the joys of being a numismatist. He finds out about the value of coins, what people used before coins, and why historical images and people appear on coins. Margarette S. Reid and True Kelley present a colorful and exuberant look at one of America's favorite hobbies. Educators and parents will appreciate how Lots and Lots of Coins introduces math, language arts, and social studies concepts.

From the snug sleeping bags made out of leaves constructed by Honduran white bats to the thirty-feet-high towers filled with passageways and rooms that termites build, animals have impressive abodes. Nature lovers will be fascinated by how animals solve the problem of locating safe places in which to live and raise families.

Award-winning artist Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America--the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“This immigration story is universal.” —School Library Journal, Starred Dan Yaccarino’s great-grandfather arrived at Ellis Island with a small shovel and his parents’ good advice: “Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family.” With simple text and warm, colorful illustrations, Yaccarino recounts how the little shovel was passed down through four generations of this Italian-American family—along with the good advice. It’s a story that will have kids asking their parents and grandparents: Where did we come from? How did our family make the journey all the way to America? “A shovel is just a shovel, but in Dan Yaccarino’s hands it becomes a way to dig deep into the past and honor all those who helped make us who we are.” —Eric Rohmann, winner of the Caldecott Medal for My Friend Rabbit “All the Way to America is a charmer. Yaccarino’s heartwarming story rings clearly with truth, good cheer, and love.” —Tomie dePaola, winner of a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona

All the water in the world is all the water in the world. We are all connected by water, and this message is beautifully, lyrically delivered from poet-musician-author George Ella Lyon. Where does water come from? Where does water go? Find out in this exploration of oceans and waterways that highlights an important reality: Our water supply is limited, and it is up to us to protect it. Dynamic, fluid art paired with pitch-perfect verse makes for a wise and remarkable read-aloud that will resonate with any audience.On sale: 03.22.11