Superintendent’s Reading List

Here is a list of reading materials suggested by the superintendent that provide valuable information about parent/child academic support, instruction and self-development.

Children’s Books With a Global Theme

In the April/May 2012 issue of Reading Today, Karen Hildebrand shares quick reviews of several children’s books that won awards from Notable Books for a Global Society:

  • Alicia Alonso, Prima Ballerina by Carmen Bernier-Grand (Marshall Cavendish) – The story of Cuba’s prima ballerina told in free-verse poetry in a picture-book format.
  • Better Than Weird by Anna Kerz (Orca) – A 12-year-old boy who is on the autism spectrum looks forward to a visit from his absent father while dealing with a bully in his class.
  • Migrant by Maxine Trottier (Groundwood) – Told from a child’s point of view, this is the story of a group of Low-German-speaking Mennonites who migrate from Canada to Mexico in the 1920’s.
  • Now Is the Time for Running by Michael Williams (Little, Brown) – Set in modern-day Zimbabwe, this book is about a 14-year-old boy and his mentally disabled older brother who flee their village after a vicious attack by soldiers.
  • Which Side Are You On? The Story of a Song by George Ella Lyon (Cinco Punto Press) – This book tells the story of the 1931 Harlan County (KY) coal miner strike and a protest song written by a union supporter. You can hear the actual song sung by Florence Reece at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzudto-FA5Y.
  • The No. 1 Car Spotter by Atinuke (Kane-Miller) – Set in rural Africa, this is the story of a boy and his grandfather, who become expert at identifying cars and save the day when trouble strikes.
  • Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl (Chronicle) – Set in colonial Kenya in 1910, this is the story of the female aviator and adventurer Beryl Markham.

Six Children’s Book Recommendations

In the October/November 2010 edition of Reading Today, Ohio-based writer David Richardson recommends these books:

  • Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean (Harper, 2010) for ages 2 and up – Pete loves his new white tennis shoes, but he steps in strawberries and they turn red. A book about dealing with life’s little setbacks.
  • Swim! Swim! by James Proimos (Scholastic, 2010) for ages 4 and up – A goldfish named Learch tries to communicate with a cat, who insists on calling him Lunch.
  • Bad Kitty v. Uncle Murray: The Uproar at the Front Door by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook, 2010) for ages 7 and up – Bad Kitty’s owners go on vacation and leave him with Uncle Murray, who thinks cats should be treated calmly and gently. He’s in for a surprise!
  • Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (Delacorte, 2010) for ages 10 and up – Mr. Terupt is a new and somewhat unconventional teacher who gets involved in a tragic event for which everyone must accept responsibility.
  • Scumble by Ingrid Law (Dial, 2010) for ages 10 and up – In this sequel toSavvy, someone in the Beaumont family is turning 13 and that can only mean trouble.
  • Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott (Walker, 2010) for all ages – A boy uses his father’s barbershop to cut monsters’ hair when the moon is full. Things get complicated when a human shows up for a trim – at least they all think he’s human.

Additional Recommended Books for Children (updated July 2012)

  • “Penny and Her Song” by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, 2012), ages 4 and up
  • “Step Gently Out” by Helen Frost, photographs by Rick Lieder (Candlewick Press, 2012), ages 3 and up
  • “Gem” by Holly Hobbie (Little Brown, 2012), ages 3 and up
  • “Oh No, George!” by Chris Haughton (Candlewick Press, 2012), ages 4 and up
  • “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio (Knopf, 2012), ages 10 and up
  • “The Obsidian Blade” by Peter Hautman (Candlewick Press, 2012), ages 11 and up
  • “The Raft” by S.A. Bodeen (Feiwel & Friends, 2012), ages 12 and up

Additional Book Recommendations

  • “Education and the Cult of Efficiency” by Raymond Callahan; University of Chicago Press, 1962
  • “The Death and Life of the Great American School System” by Diane Ravitch; Basic Books, 2010
  • “Other People’s Children — Cultural Conflict in the Classroom” by Lisa Delpit; The New Press, 1995
  • “Pink Bat — Turning Problems Into Solutions” by Michael McMillan; Simple Truths LLC, 2009
  • “We Make the Road by Walking — Conversations on Education and Social Change” by Myles Horton and Paulo Freire; Temple University Press, 1990
  • “The Flat World and Education — How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future” by Linda Darling-Hammond; Teachers College Press, 2010
  • “Leadership and the New Science—Discovering Order in a Chaotic World” by Margaret J. Wheatley; Berrett-Koehler, 2006
  • “The Leader’s Guide to 21st Century Education — 7 Steps for Schools and Districts” by Ken Kay and Valerie Greenhill; Pearson Education Inc., 2013
  • “Turning to One Another — Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future” by Margaret J. Wheatley; Berrett-Koehler, 2009
  • “Sheltered Content Instruction: Teaching English Language Learners with Diverse Abilities” by Jana Echevarria and Anne Graves
  • “Children with Limited English: Teaching Strategies for the Regular Classroom” by Ellen Kottler and Jeffery L. Kottler
  • “Teaching English Language Learners K-12″ by Jerry Jesness
  • EverythingESL.net
  • “Classroom Instruction that works with English Language Learners”
    by Jane D. Hill and Kathleen M. Flynn
  • “The Effectiveness of Instructional Issues, Theories, Models and Strategies for Mainstreamed English Second Language Students”
    Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium Report — August 2005
  • “Acres of Diamonds” by Russell H. Conwell, 1921
  • “Born to Win” by Muriel James and Dorothy Jongeward, 1971
  • “Building Engaged Schools: Getting the Most Out of America’s Classrooms” by Gary Gordon, 2006
  • “Coaching for Performance” by John Whitmore, 1992
  • “Developing the Leader Within You” by John C. Maxwell, 1993
  • “Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability Using the QBQ!” by John G. Miller, 2006
  • “QBQ! The Question Behind the Question” by John G. Miller, 2004
  • “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story” by Ben Carson, 1990
  • “Failure Is Not an Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement in High-Performing Schools” by Alan M. Blankstein and Michael Fullan, 2004
  • “From Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins, 2002
  • “The Last Dropout: Stop the Epidemic!” by Bill Milliken, 2007
  • “Caring Enough to Lead: How Reflective Thought Leads to Moral Leadership” by Leonard O. Pellicer, 2003
  • “50 Success Classics Collection” by Tom Butler-Bowdon, 2006
  • “On Becoming a Leader” by Warren Bennis, 1989
  • “How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling” by Frank Bettger, 1947
  • “How to Have Power and Confidence in Dealing With People” by Les Giblin, 1956
  • “How to Be Rich” by John Paul Getty, 1961
  • “Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way” by Robin Gerber, 2003
  • “Lessons Learned: Shaping Relationships and the Culture of the Workplace” by Roland S. Barth, 2003
  • “Maximum Achievement” by Brian Tracy, 1993
  • “My Life and Work” by Henry Ford, 1922
  • “On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities” by Robert Eaker, Richard P. DuFour and Rebecca Burnette, 1998
  • “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, 1997
  • “Jack: Straight From the Gut” by Jack Welch, 2001
  • “Take Time for Your Life” by Cheryl Richardson, 1998
  • “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R Covey, 1989
  • “The 360 Degree Leader” by John C. Maxwell, 2005
  • “The Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn, 2004
  • “The One Minute Manager” by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, 1981
  • “The Power of Full Engagement” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, 2003
  • “The Spirit to Serve” by J.W. Marriott Jr., 1997
  • “The Moral Imperative of School Leadership” by Michael Fullan, 2003
  • “The Way to Wealth” by Benjamin Franklin, 1758
  • “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations” by David Landes, 1998
  • “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, 1998
  • “Whatever It Takes: How Professional Learning Communities Respond When Kids Don’t Learn” by Richard DuFour, Robert Eaker, Rebecca DuFour and Gayle Karhanek, 2004
  • “The Official Guide to Success: Tom Hopkins’ Personal Success Program” by Tom Hopkins, 1982