Top Ten 2020 - 2021

It's been one hell of a year, but despite all of the COVID related hardships - and there were many - I found joy in teaching my incredible students. Together, we created an energized classroom community full of activity and purpose. We shared and created stories. We explored and questioned. We not only got through a difficult year, we prospered.

At the end of the school year, as in years past, I asked the children to think back to the stories that meant the most to them. Which children's books packed the biggest punch? Which ones left a lasting impact? It turns out our deep dive into Greek mythology ignited everyone's imaginations (three titles made our top ten list). And another strong showing were books showcasing characters who defied stereotypical gender roles (two titles made the cut) and similar books with strong messages about identity, self-love, and individuality. 

So, here it is. The first grade student picks for the TOP TEN children's books of the 2020 -2021 school year. 

Number One on our Top Ten list

 

#1. Nat's Cats written by two time Tony Award nominee Alison Fraser. This came as no surprise because it's a great story about the merits of pet adoption, but it's also illustrated by the students themselves! 

Alison, who is a frequent guest artist with my Broadway Books First Class program, sent me the story because she thought the children might like it. I knew they would, so I invited Alison to read it to the class. I also suggested turning the story into a children's book and inviting the class to create the illustrations. Alison loved the idea, so we ran with it. 

After months of work, Nat's Cats made its way to print (via Shutterfly). We celebrated with a publishing party, which included a reading, book signing, and snacks. It was a tricky thing to pull off with COVID restrictions, but we did it and had the best time.  (A more in-depth post about the making of Nat's Cats is in the works.)

Greek mythology came in strong with the next three entries. 

#2.  Young Zeus by G. Brian Karas.

This is the origin story of Zeus (and his brothers and sisters) with lots of action and engaging illustrations to go with the exposition. It has monsters, Titans, Olympians, battles, bickering, tension, love, hope, despair, defeat, and triumph all mixed together for an oddly relatable tale. 

It isn't the first time this title has landed on an end-of-year top ten list and I'm sure it won't be the last.

#3. Why Spiders Spin: A Story of Arachne retold by Jamie and Scott Simons with illustrations by Deborah Winograd. 

Interactive read alouds are my stock-in-trade and when a story lifts off the page and gets on its feet we really soar! How fun it is for the children to act out the immovable arrogance of Arachne and the fiery wrath of Athena. The illustrations allow for lively debates about which tapestry was the finest and the plot leads to discussions about power and privilege. 

The description and imagery of Arachne's punishment is the stuff of legend - literally!

#4.  Let's Go, Pegasus! retold and illustrated by Jean Marzollo. 

This is the book that starts it all for us! The story that hooks my students into the Greek myths every time. Medusa is playful and terrifying as she taunts Perseus into gazing into her eyes (Spoiler: He doesn't.) This retelling ushers us into an exploration of perspective and starts us analyzing the ways stories change over time. We begin to compare different versions of this myth, which is an excellent way to explore power dynamics with a critical eye. Question everything, kids!

An added bonus is our introduction to Athena (here as a wise protector) and my current favorite God, Hermes. 

#5.  The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce. 

I've written about my love for this book in previous posts. It speaks to an aesthetic I cannot resist. There is a nostalgic feel that brings me comfort. It is easy to imagine myself as Morris, getting lost in words and images, appreciating and relishing time alone with books, and thinking of them as friends. 

But, why do the kids like it so much? I think the brilliant Academy Award Winning Short Film helps pull them into the story. I certainly appreciate that it is a visual treat without words, so it is easily accessible to all of my students. Ultimately though, I believe they like it for the same reasons I do. To think children miss the power of getting lost in a good book is to underestimate them. And I never want to do that.

#6.  The Sound of All Things written by Myron Ulberg with stunning illustrations by Ted Papoulas. 

It's easy to see why this book was selected. The book portrays the story of Myron's childhood growing up in Brooklyn with deaf parents. The author recounts how his father would ask him to describe, in fine detail, the sounds around them - like Coney Island's famed Cyclone or the explosive fireworks soaring from the pier on the Fourth of July - using American Sign Language. 

As educators, we strive to select books that mirror the lives of our students. We want them to be able to see themselves in the characters they read about. This can include race, culture, class, etc. The Sound of All Things does this because many of my students have parents or family members who are D/deaf and can relate to it on a personal level. 

#7.  Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman. 

This year I introduced a new study focusing on gender identity and expression. It was inspired by family circumstances within the student population, but is a topic that is worth exploring even without those connections. 

Sparkle Boy is about a young boy who likes sparkly, shimmery, glittery things. It causes a bit of a stir until his family comes to understand that freedom of expression should be accepted, respected, and even celebrated. 

I asked legendary drag performer and Tony Award nominated playwright, Charles Busch, to read it to the students. He was, of course, brilliant, and helped deliver the message that being true to yourself is the only way to find happiness and success.

#8.  Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers.

Oh. My. Goodness! This book! It is so breathtakingly beautiful. Do yourself a favor and get this book. It is the story of a young boy named Finn who is mourning the loss of his beloved grandfather. When he dozes off, he enters a magical landscape where the ocean meets the sky and they are reunited. 

The Fan Brothers have moved into the top spot of my favorite children's book authors/illustrators. This book continues their streak of high-quality children's books and my students obviously get the appeal.

#9. Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. 

This was another book in our study of gender identity and expression. It is the story of Julian who sees some beautiful mermaids on the subway and falls in love with their outfits. When he arrives home he finds a way to recreate the costume using his Abuela's curtains and a potted plant. This is a moment of tension when she finds him posing, but she is fully supportive and shows it by bringing him to the Coney Island mermaid parade.

The book and its sequel, Julian at the Wedding, showcase the importance of self-love and individuality. 

#10. Firenze's Light by Jessica Collaco.

A children's book about gratitude, compassion, and self-appreciation rounds out our Top Ten list. This is another instance where the read aloud added a touch of something special. 

I invited three-time Tony Award nominee, Mary Testa, to read it to my students (you can watch it by clicking here). Mary's inspired interpretation brought a deeper understanding of the message and encouraged the children to "let their lights shine". 

*Honorable mention goes to The Olympians series of graphic novels by George O'Connor. 

My first graders devoured these books and learned so much about Greek Mythology from them. Students even purchased the boxed sets and spent hours reading them. Many of the titles were represented on individual student lists, but, like the selection process for the Academy Awards, they canceled themselves out of the final cut because nobody could decide on an overall favorite. We all have our favorite god or goddess in the Olympic pantheon. 

Who is your favorite?

Top Ten 2015 - 2016

A first grade top ten list of favorite books

The Top Ten list is actually a Top Eleven this year!

Our dynamic group of first grade children displayed an admirable love of books, both fiction and nonfiction, giving us educators great reason to celebrate. I am also thrilled that all twelve books read by the Broadway Books First Class visitors appeared on the children's lists, even if just four of them made it to the final count. That is a testament to the power of my fledgling program and motivation to continue this work in the coming years.

Students complied individual lists from the many books we read together during the 2015 - 2016 school year and a master list was constructed using a simple tally system to track the titles. Our final catalog contained favorites from years past, some novel additions and some surprises.

Number One

Naughty Mabel by Nathan Lane and Devlin Elliott came out on top as the Number One choice this year.

We had the great privilege of listening to the book read aloud by its coauthor Devlin Elliott. His smooth delivery - full of joy and patience - provided the perfect welcome to usher the children into Mabel's rapscallion ways. Devlin appeared to get as much enjoyment from sharing the book as the delighted children took in watching.

Naughty Mabel has that magical blend of humor and heart present in the best children's books. Fantasia wrote her opinion about the book as such, "I love Naughty Mabel because Mabel is funny and cute! That's why I love Naughty Mabel."

It was wonderful to distribute signed copies of the book to the students during Devlin's visit and watch them giggle while turning the pages. In the end, love saves the day.

Photo Credit: Kim Weild

Number Two

Young Zeus by G. Brian Faras took the Number Two spot. This book actually topped the list in the past and it is great to see that it also resonates with another class.

The charm may rest in the fact that we share this book towards the end of our Greek mythology study. Suddenly, all of the gods and goddesses the students know so well are introduced as children.

Young Zeus along with his brothers and sisters are underdogs who must set the world right against all odds. They struggle with authority. They are siblings who fight with one another. They are playful, headstrong and uncertain.

As seen through this lens each first grade child can relate in a way that was simply not possible before. They see themselves and their struggles mirrored in the characters. Plus, there is an epic battle with a satisfactory conclusion and what child doesn't enjoy that?

Mylo writes, "I like the book Young Zeus because Zeus saves the day. Young Zeus is brave and nice to people and helps people."

Number Three

Let's Go, Pegasus! by Jean Marzollo appears for the fourth year on the Top Ten. What a great book!

I use it to kick off the study into Greek mythology because Medusa is such a thrilling character. In this version, she is playful and taunting while tempting Perseus to take a peek into her evil eyes.

Medusa inspires children into deliciously creative art projects and drawings. The tale of Medusa and Perseus is played out in the school yard and talked about in hushed whispers during choice time. The story ignites the imagination and this retelling by Jean Marzollo sets the stage beautifully for the 6-year-old crowd.

Miguel reading Let's Go, Pegasus!

Miguel writes, "I like Let's Go, Pegasus! because it's a cool book. Perseus tries to cut off Medusa's head and he tries to put Medusa's head in the bag!"

Dark, yes, but somehow endearing.

Number Four

There is definitely a "Whew!" factor surrounding the inclusion of Franklin Goes to the Hospital by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark.

I worked for months with Broadway Books First Class visitor Oneika Phillips to find the right book to fit her theme of injury and healing.

It seems that our research and stubborn determination not to settle for anything less than perfection payed off.

Franklin encapsulates the message that, "Being brave means doing what you have to do, no matter how scared you feel".  It wasn't lost on the children as evidenced by Adonis who writes, "I like this book because he is brave".

Number Five

Interestingly, My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett came out as the Number Five pick on last year's list as well.

This is the only true chapter book on the list. It tells the story of Elmer Elevator, a clever young boy who travels to a far away island to rescue a baby dragon from his cruel captors.

We read one chapter every day, which took two weeks to complete. At the start of each new chapter we'd ask the children to recap what took place in the previous chapter so they all had an opportunity to play with summarizing and retelling. These are both areas in need of attention in first grade.

Sadly, we did not have an opportunity to read the other two books in the series but in my optimistic heart I envision boys and girls asking mommies and daddies to provide copies and assistance with the challenging words throughout the dog days of summer.

Aron writes, "I like the part when the alligators got in order then all the animals got together" and Gabby writes, "I love My Father's Dragon because it has a happy ending".

Number Six

The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers is such a gorgeous book I want to frame each and every illustration.

To top it off, it was read to us by Broadway royalty Alison Fraser!

It is a story about creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary. The lasting message pertains to beauty and innovation and how those ripples change lives forever.

Zuni writes, "I like The Night Gardener because I like how it is designed and I like that this tree is an owl. I like the part when the boy saw the tree."

Zuni's art inspired by the cover of The Night Gardener

Number Seven

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown makes its Top Ten debut this year and along with Naughty Mabel, Franklin Goes to the Hospital and The Night Gardener it was also a featured Broadway Books First Class book selection read by Gregory Jbara.

This book is cleverly illustrated in a film noir fashion with the orange carrots standing out against a black and white landscape.  It tells the hair-raising (or hare-raising) tale of Jasper Rabbit as he grapples with his paranoia. Are the carrots out to get him or is it simply his imagination?

The small details in the outstanding illustrations are both humorous and scary.  It is the perfect book to read to young children at Halloween but it really works at any time.

We created some of our own creepy carrots using construction paper and googly eyes. Adorable!

Samara writes, "I like the book Creepy Carrots because the carrots are funny. They have funny faces. I like when Jasper the rabbit eats a lot of carrots in the carrot field."

Jasper Rabbit and the Creepy Carrots

Number Eight

Todd Parr is a perennial favorite.  Otto has a Birthday Party is a book we read at every birthday celebration. Only when we read it we substitute the birthday boy or girl's name for Otto's.

These classroom traditions help build continuity and community.

Phillip writes, "I like this book because it is funny and it is fun and he is cute".

Number Nine

The last three books are all surprises.  I did not expect to see any of them on the Top Ten (or Top Eleven in this case) but yet, here they are!

The Stupids Take Off by Harry Allard and James Marshall derives its humor from the fact that the family's last name is Stupid. Therefore, they live in the Stupid house, ride a Stupid plane, etc. The name is also extremely fitting as they have an unusual (i.e. stupid) take on things with plenty of low-humor sight gags.

In first grade children love to tell on each other for using inappropriate language (e.g. "Komden just said the "S" word!") The "S" word in their minds is stupid, not the word your adult mind might expect. So, to see it repeated again and again in a book is very taboo and very, very thrilling for a child.

Number Ten

One Stormy Night by the prolific writer Joy Cowley truly came out of nowhere. Ms. Cowley has a million titles out there that aren't really high quality literature. Her books are generally short and serve a purpose, which is to engage emergent and beginning readers in the act of reading.

Still, we used this simple book as a mentor text in one of our writing units to show how an author makes use of features such as bold print, sound words and repetition.

There is an element of suspense that students found entertaining. It reminds me of that scary story that was popular when I was a boy wherein the monster slowly creeps closer and closer to your bedroom (i.e. Johnny, I'm on the first step! Johnny, I'm on the second step! etc.).

It looks as though this gem will remain in our lesson plans next year.

Ricky writes, "I like One Stormy Night because it has animals and rain. I like rain because rain helps plants and flowers".

Number Eleven

Completing the list is another unlikely choice - Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marcesani.

It is a strange little book that inserts vampires into the traditional Dick and Jane stories of the 1930s.

This compilation of collected stories are only about a page or two long each so we would read it in-between lessons or just before the children lined up for lunch.

It is more proof that children are wildly humorous and up for a bit of fright. Mikayla writes, "I love Dick and Jane and Vampires because I like how they run away".

I will never tire of them.

Finally, George O'Connor and his Olympians Series deserves a mention. The graphic novels appeared on every list but because there are so many titles, one specific title did not gain enough votes to put it into the top.

Thank you to all the children's book authors and illustrators who make teaching and learning so much fun. Hats off to you all!

Top Ten 2014 - 2015

A sample Top Ten list from a First Grade student

The Top Ten posts are my favorite to write because they serve as a time capsule showcasing the uniqueness of a particular class.  The books and the children's writing bring back memories of our time together and the dynamic moments we shared.

This year, as in years past, our students created individual top ten lists (see above) from the many books we read together.  Each book was then voted on by the whole class until we settled on just ten.

Number One

Number One: Washington Irving's The Headless Horseman (adapted by Natalie Standiford) topped the list this year.

Our class was so enraptured by the dark mystery of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that they created their own version.

It is a testament to the staying power of the story that it survived in the children's minds and hearts throughout the year.

It was as popular in June as it was in October and remained the number one selection for independent reading.  Luckily, this year I bought an extra copy so it cut down on the quarreling.

Marilyn wrote, "I think my favorite book is The Headless Horseman because the character Icabod is funny.  And I like scary stories. That's why I like The Headless Horseman".

Number Two

Number Two: Otto Has a Birthday Party by Todd Parr.

This book was read at every single birthday celebration this year.  Over time the boys and girls began to substitute their names for Otto's as in "Today is Gabriel's birthday, and he is going to make his cake all by himself" (That conceit became a little more complicated when a girl read the book and had to remember to change all the pronouns).

Speaking of Gabriel, he wrote...

"My favorite book is Otto has a birthday party because it was funny when Otto put a cootie bug and mud for frosting. I hope you loved my opinion writing." 

Number Three

Number Three: I used to take issue with Teachers Pay Teachers. I was of the opinion that teachers should share ideas freely and the thought of making a buck off of one another just did not sit right with me.

My feelings about the site changed this year when I discovered that there are many fantastic free resources.  Plus, the items that require payment are absolutely worth the small fee.

It was on Teachers Pay Teachers that I found a free reader's theater script for The Stinky Cheese Man.  I used it during small group work with children who needed to develop fluency. What fun!

They happily performed the "fairly stupid tale" for the rest of the class and learned some interesting vocabulary along the way.

Number Four

Number Four: Usually when we do a read aloud I sit next to Oni (my co-teacher) and voice while she signs.  However, we changed things up a bit when we read A Night in Santa's Great Big Bag by Kristin Kladstrup and Tim Jessell.

Oni projected the story onto our large SMART Board and stood in the front of the class to sign the book while I sat in the back and quietly voiced for those who needed it.  The large visual display made an impact on the students who interacted with the text in a way we hadn't seen before.  It drew them in and they didn't forget it.

Number Five

Number Five: This was a new one for me.  I had never heard of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett until Oni introduced it to me with fond reminiscence of her childhood.

It turns out there are three books in the trilogy (My Father's Dragon, Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland).

We read all of the chapter books to a rapt audience over several weeks.  I don't think the children were ever so attentive as they were during those readings.

Number Six

Number Six: Greek Mythology makes its first appearance on the list at Number Six.

Let's Go, Pegasus! by Jean Marzollo retells one version of the story of Perseus and Medusa (we highlight that these are old stories and as it gets passed down through the generations some details change).

This is the myth that launches us into an in-depth study of Greek mythology because the story is chock full of intrigue and action.

Variations of Medusa's head by Elyssa

Elyssa wrote, "My favorite book is Let's Go, Pegasus! because I like the colorful pictures.  And the story. And it's interesting."

This knowledge is put to good use when we visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art to view and sketch the exquisite Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova and the equally stunning Andromeda and the Sea Monster by Domenico Guidi.

Andromeda and the Sea Monster at The Met

Number Seven

Number Seven: Oinky! Oink! Oink!

That means Happy Pig Day!

This charming book by Mo Willems was another reader's theater script I downloaded from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Honestly, I do not know what could make someone smile more than a bunch of pigs together celebrating the joy of simply being a pig.

The Elephant & Piggie books are a great resource for teaching about character and the use of speech bubbles. With a limited range of words they are easily accessible and non-intimidating for beginning readers.

Number Eight

Number Eight: Exclamation Mark! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld is a bright, happy book centering on the journey of self acceptance.


Although it certainly works on that deeper level, it is also perfect for teaching young children the proper usage of an exclamation point...and a question mark.

The authors make their point in simple, clear terms that are extremely engaging.  A touch of humor is never a bad idea in a children's book!

Number Nine: The Chef and the Baker by Clayton Suttles with art by Nate Suttles and Christy Sexton is an as-of-yet unpublished children's book that I was fortunate enough to get my hands on this year.

Number Nine

This is the story of a chef and a baker (naturally) who are angsting over the imminent arrival of an intimidating food critic.  The conflict arises when they must decide whether to bake or to "chef".  Which delicious delicacy will the food critic prefer?

With humor and dazzling illustrations the message becomes clear - it is best to work together even though it can sometimes get messy.

It is a perfect lesson for children in First Grade to learn and that message carried over into our dramatic play area where they created a menu I simply couldn't resist.

Why was I cast as the flamboyant food critic?  Hmmm....

Anny wrote, "My favorite part of the story is when the chef and the baker  try to make the best food in the whole world!

Number Ten

Number Ten: I have a friend - and former college professor - who always tells me, "Don't forget about the goddesses!"

Well, Marilyn will be happy to see that Aphrodite: Goddess of Love by George O'Connor has made the Top Ten.  This is the first year that a goddess from the Olympians series has made the list but the gods weren't far behind.

Boys and girls were equally attracted to the story of Aphrodite but one little girl had more questions for the talented Mr. O'Connor.

Cydney wrote, "I like Aphrodite because she is beautiful.  And it is cool that she was born in the sea.  Is Zeus her father? Why does Ares love Aphrodite?"

I adore when they want to know more!

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators who worked to create the wonderful books in our Top Ten this year.  We appreciate all of you!

Top Ten 2013 - 2014

It is with great pleasure that I share the top ten books for the 2013-2014 school year.

Our first grade students diligently and thoughtfully compiled a list of all their favorite stories. The books with the most votes made it into the Top Ten.

The process began with a discussion of the rules.  First, the book must be one that was introduced this school year.  That meant Curious George was ineligible for consideration (although the little monkey did appear on most lists anyway).  Second, each title had to be one that we experienced together.  This meant personal favorites, read alone, were disqualified.  Third, each student must support his or her opinion with a reason.  "I like it because I like it" simply didn't make the cut.

I was thrilled to see that when all of the choices were voted on and tallied, we had six books in the top ten representing Greek Mythology. These kids certainly know how to identify a good yarn.

The Number One selection was Young Zeus by G. Brian Karas.  We read this book after the children already had amassed a great deal of knowledge about Zeus.  This fresh perspective on a character they had grown to love provided a sense of connection.  "Zeus was a little kid too?!"

The book contains a lot of details and backstory of the Gods and Goddesses presented in a fun, accessible way.  It was the perfect way to cap off our study of the Greeks and I am not surprised it came out on top.  Camella wrote, "I like Young Zeus because I was happy when he got to see his brothers and sisters".

Lyana's rendering of the cover art for "Young Zeus"

The Number Two choice was Exclamation Mark! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.

This is a bright, happy book about the journey of self acceptance.

Although it certainly works on that deeper level, it is also perfect for teaching young children the proper usage of an exclamation point...and a question mark.  The authors make their point in simple, clear terms that are extremely engaging.  A touch of humor is never a bad idea in a children's book.

Leo wrote, "I liked this book because it taught me some punctuation and it made me laugh".

Joe thought the book "was so good when the ! said 'Hi!' and the ? went 'Who are you?'"

Number Three is a favorite whose author, the incredible Todd Parr,  has been represented on the Top Ten since 2006.  However, this is the first time that Otto has a Birthday Party made an appearance.

We read this book at every birthday celebration, including mine!

Cristina wrote, "I like this book because Otto makes a cake and that is my favorite!  Otto makes a mistake like me.  That's the same as me!" (Notice her use of the exclamation point...see above)

Lina wrote, "My favorite part was when the mud splattered all over Otto.  Read this book because you will laugh a lot".

And she is right, you will laugh a lot!  Click on the book title above to watch Todd read the book and find out for yourself.

Cristina shows Otto baking his birthday cake.  "Yay, Otto."

We got into a bit of a gray area with Number Four.  This is where the line between favorite story and favorite book began to blur a little.

The kids loved, loved, loved the story of Medusa but we told and read about her using many different sources (including the 1981 movie masterpiece Clash of the Titans).

We decided to go with Medusa (World Mythology) by Xavier W. Niz for our list because we used it quite frequently in the classroom.  What I adore most about the Medusa story this year is that the children actually had sympathy for her because they knew how she was just a casualty in Poseidon's game of life and love.

The Gods and Goddesses (I'm looking at you Athena) can be quite vengeful when they want to be.  And there are two sides to every argument.  It's a good lesson to learn in first grade.

The kids had quite a bit to share about the snake-haired Gorgon.

Emily wrote, "I like Medusa because she has snake hair and she is spooky.  Example: Her eyes make you turn into a stone.  And that's why I like Medusa.  The End."

"I think Medusa is scary.  Medusa is scary because she has snakes for hair.
If you look into her eyes you will turn to stone.  That is why Medusa is so scary".
Joe

Samantha wrote, "I think Medusa is interesting because she has snakes for hair.  My first reason is that Pegasus comes out of Medusa's body.  My second reason is that her snakes say, 'Hiss Hiss' and that is scary.  My third reason is that when you look into Medusa's eyes you turn to stone.  My fourth reason is that her blood is so hot you can get a burn and you would say, 'Ow'.  My fifth reason is she slithers like a snake and it scares me.  My sixth reason is I like where she lives in a cave.  Outside of her cave there are statues of people and animals.  That's why I think Medusa is interesting."

We were ushered back to the cooler days of winter with the Number Five pick.

I was a little surprised to see Margaret Moorman's Light the Lights! A story about celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas in the running.  It is a fantastic book but by the end of June it had been six months since we read it.  It may have helped that the main character is named Emma.  That obviously struck a chord with our Emma.

She wrote, "I liked this book because the book make me remember about Hanukkah.  And lighting my families candles together".

Samantha wrote, "I think it was interesting because I like learning about Hanukkah. And I think you will too".

Speaking of vengeful goddesses, Athena is at it again in the Number Six selection, Why Spiders Spin: A Story of Arachne retold by Jamie and Scott Simons with pictures by Deborah Winograd.

In this tale however, Arachne is kinda asking for it.  Here is a lesson in humility if ever there was one.

Natalie gave it high praise when she wrote, "It is not boring.  It has details".

Emily gets right to the point.  "My favorite part was when Arachne turned into a spider because it was cool." Indeed!

It's best not to mess with Athena!

Let's Go, Pegasus! A Greek Myth retold and illustrated by Jean Marzollo enters the list at Number Seven.

This is a wonderful book to introduce the myth of Medusa and Perseus.  All of the important characters (Athena, Hermes, Pegasus) are there and it provides an easily accessible, colorful retelling that is a bit playful.

Joe captures Medusa at a quiet moment

We used the many faces of Medusa illustrated on the end pages to launch our own art project about how to visualize Medusa. The children created incredible art using soft aluminum squares and wooden sticks.

I couldn't get some of the haunting images out of my head.

Poseidon may have given up the Number One spot to his little brother but he pushed his way into the Top Ten at Number Eight.

Poseidon: Earth Shaker by author/illustrator George O'Connor is part of the New York Times Bestselling Olympians Series.

I must admit that Poseidon is my favorite Greek God and this book includes many mesmerizing tales including Theseus and the Minotaur (see our Number Ten pick).

The illustrations are alive and vibrant and the storytelling top notch. I also love the author's note and other cool information at the back of the graphic novel.

I am eagerly awaiting the Olympians poster (To be released in October with the Boxed Set).

The Number Nine book was Our World in Space: Planets by Erin Dealey.  Oddly enough I cannot find any information about this book on the Internet.  It appears to only exist as part of our reading curriculum, ReadyGen.  Hmmm...

It is the only nonfiction selection on our Top Ten and a worthy addition.  But, good luck finding it.

The planets rendered in Play-Doh with a plastic orange sun.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Theseus and the Minotaur (Graphic Greek Myths and Legends) by Gilly Cameron Cooper.

This, like the story of Medusa, is another example of blurred lines between the story and the book.  This story was first told to our class by Sara, our librarian.  She created a visceral experience for the children who struggled to find their way out of a makeshift labyrinth using Ariadne's magical ball of thread.  The Minotaur himself is a powerful figure not easily dismissed.

It wasn't until after her retelling that we dove into artwork, illustrations and books to explore the topic even further.

We chose this book by Gilly Cameron Cooper but any of the related titles in our Greek Mythology bookbin, including Theseus and the Minotaur by Scott R. Welvaert, could just as easily been substituted.

So, there it is!  Our Top Ten list for 2013 - 2014.

I wonder what next year will bring.