Informational Books

The books listed below are recommended by this presenter for use in developing Grade K-3 students’ comprehension of expository text. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list; nor are these books intended to supplant selections within the core reading programs. While the books listed may be use with explicit instructional strategies during Grade K-3 reading instruction, the books are purposely not identified for specific grade levels. Books identified as “soft-expository” by this presenter provide information embedded in poetry or narrative selections. Note: The presenter shares these books (from her personal library) and instructional strategies during presentations.

Aliki. (1976). Corn Is Maize, The Gift of the Indians. New York: Harper Trophy.
ISBN: 0-06-445026-0.
This book is from the Let’s-Read-and-Find Out Science Series, Stage 2. Information is provided on how Native Americans found and nourished a wild grass plant and made it an important part of their lives; learned the best ways to grow, store, and use the corn kernels; and then, shared this knowledge with the new settlers of America.

Anholt, Laurence. (2003). The Magical Garden of Claude Monet. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series. ISBN: 0-7641-5574-1.
“Soft-expository” that provides information about the life and work of Claude Monet from a child’s perspective as the child, Julie, and a gardener, Monet, explore Monet’s magical world. Reproductions of Monet’s work included.

Bing, Christopher. (2001). The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. (Poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). New York: Handprint Books. ISNB: 1-929766-13-0.
“Soft-expository” weaves history and imagination in Bing’s interpretation of the Longfellow poem. Bing includes maps that follow the British campaign to quell the citizenry, as well as patriot Paul Revere’s midnight ride into Massachusetts. Bing re-creates British General Thomas Gage’s orders to his troops (attached as “handwritten note from Thomas Gage” on the front flyleaf of the book) and Revere’s deposition relating the events of his ride (attached “deposition of Paul Revere prepared for the Massachusetts Provincial Congress” on the last flyleaf).

Birtha, Becky. (2005). Grandma’s Pride. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and Company. ISBN: 0-8075-3028-X.
“Soft-expository” provides information about segregation in the South through a story told of a six year old grand-daughter’s visit to her grandmother in 1956.

Campbell, Janis & Collinson, Cathy. (2005). G is for Galaxy: An Out of This Word Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-335-9.
Information about our galaxy and outer space, including planets, craters, comets, and orbit. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins the word that specifies topic of short poem, accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; plus, illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Carle, Eric. (1987). The Tiniest Seed. Saxonville, MA: Picture Book Studio.
ISBN: 0-88708-015-4.
Information provided through text and Carle’s unique illustration of the life cycle of a flowering plant through the seasons.

Cheney, Lynne. (2002). America: A Patriotic Primer. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0-689-85192-8.
Information about important people, ideas, and events in the history of the United States provided in the richly illustrated alphabet book. The format of the book includes information provided in text borders, in captions of specific illustrations, and quotations, plus simple and direct text about the noted topics.

Cherry, Lynne. (2003). How Groundhog’s Garden Grew. New York: Scholastic, The Blue Sky Press. 0ISBN: 0-439-32371-1.
“Soft-expository” that references multiple research institutions, including Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, introduces children to the cycle of an entire gardening year; plus, celebrates friendship, sharing and the wonders of the natural world.

Cole, Joanna. (1994). The Magic School Bus In The Land Of The Dinosaurs. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-590-44688-6.
“Soft-expository” provides information about the life of dinosaurs using multiple modes, including fictional narrative, dialogue, mini-reports, labeled drawings and labeled illustrations.

Cole, Joanna. (1992). The Magic School Bus On The Ocean Floor. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-590-41431-3.
“Soft-expository” provides information about the ocean and oceanic life using multiple modes, including fictional narrative, dialogue, mini-reports, labeled drawings and labeled illustrations.

Crane, Carol. (2001). L is for Lone Star: A Texas Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-019-8.
Information about history, geography and culture of Texas. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem, accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Davis, Kenneth. (2001). Don’t Know Much About the 50 STATES. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 0-06-446227-7.
Questions & answers about unusual people and places in each of the 50 states of the U.S; plus provides 5 specific facts about each state, including nickname, year joined the nation, capital, state flower & state bird.

Demarest, Chris. (2003). Firefighters A to Z. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
ISBN: 0-689-85999-6.
Formatted as alphabet book that provides information in chronological order of a typical day in the life of a firefighter. Includes illustrations, labeled diagram of firefighter outfit; 3 page author’s note of expository text (without illustrations) includes some detailed explanations of technical terms used within book.

Demarest, Chris L. (2002). Smoke Jumpers One to Ten. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0-689-84120-5.
Information provided about roles and responsibilities of smokejumpers who are dropped from a plane onto a fire scene; told in counting book format, 1 to 10, and then 9 to 1. Includes labeled diagrams of smokejumper outfit and wildland firefighter outfit; references, suggested reading and suggested web site; plus, three-page author’s note of expository text about smokejumpers.

Dowswell, Paul. (2001). First Encyclopedia of Space, Internet-Linked. Tulsa, OK: EDC Publishing.
Information about the wonders of the universe provided through text, photo-graphs, detailed illustrations, and recommended websites. Book linked to Internet, but may be used without Internet.

Florian, Douglas. (2007). Comets, Stars, The Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings. Orlando, FLA: Harcourt Books. ISBN: 978-0-15-2025372-7
“Soft Expository” provides information, in poems, about each of the planets, comets, constellations, black hole, and galaxies. Also includes a galactic glossary, and selected bibliography and recommended further reading.

Gardiner, Lisa. What’s Up With Altitude: Mr. Moffat’s Class Investigates How Altitude Affects Our Bodies. Golden, CO: Colorado Mountain Club Press. ISBN: 0-9724413-8-7.
“Soft-expository” provides information about the effects of altitude on our bodies; illustrations include labeled drawings; text includes key vocabulary in bold face font that are also defined in glossary. Additional resources are listed in the back of the book. Also, the author provides a cor-relation of the six parts of the text to the National Science Education Standards. Experiments appropriate for elementary students are also included in the text.

Garza, Carmen Lomas. (1996). In My Family. En Mi Familia. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. ISBN: 0-89239-138-3.
The author describes, in both Spanish and English text, her experiences growing up in an Hispanic community in Texas.

Gibbons, Gail. (1998). PENGUINS! New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 0-8234-1516-3.
Simply stated facts accompany full-page illustrations; plus last page provides additional information that compares different kinds of penguins (only 5 of the 17 different kinds of penguins are not illustrated in this book).

Giovanni, Nikki. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 0-8050-7106-7.
Accounts why and how Rosa Parks said no when the policeman asked if she was going to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, AL and how her stand led to the march for freedom led by Martin Luther King, Jr. . A double-page foldout illustrates the nonviolent march that led to the Supreme Court of the United States ruling denouncing segregation almost a year after Rosa Parks was arrested. That ruling said the U.S. Constitution makes no provision for second-class citizenship in our country.

Gibbons, Gail. (2000). Apples. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823416690.
Information on how apples were brought to America, how they grow, their traditional uses and cultural significance; plus, some of the varieties grown. Format includes labeled diagram, detailed timeline and labeled pictures.

Gibbons, Gail. (1992). Recycle! A Handbook for Kids. New York: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN: 0-316-30943-5.
Information provided about the process of recycling from start to finish; and, discusses what happens to paper, glass, aluminum cans, and plastic when they are recycled into new products.

Golembe, Carla. (2001). Washington, DC ABC’s: An Alphabet Picture Book about our Nation’s Capital. Lorton, VA: VSP Books. ISBN: 1-893622-06-01.
Formatted as an alphabet book, the detailed expository text provides information about the items illustrated, plus other significant places (beginning with the same letter). All significant topics are in bold face font within that text.

Grodin, Elissa. (2004). D is for Democracy: A Citizen’s Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-328-6.
Information about concepts of democracy, including the Bill of Rights, the judicial branch, political party, zeitgeist. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 2-page expository text (without illustrations) providing more information about active citizenship.

Heller, Ruth. (1992). How to Hide an Octopus & Other Sea Creatures. New York: Grossett and Dunlap. ISBN: 0-448-40478-8.
“Soft-expository” provides information about the camouflage of sea life in the ocean world. Brightly illustrated text is spread among the pages; appropriate for very young children.

Hewitt, Sally. (2005). Why Can’t I Live Underwater With The Fish? And Other Questions About Water. North Mankato, MN: Chrysalis Education. ISBN: 1-59389-079-6.
Information about science concepts presented with questions and answers, plus illustrations. Includes table of contents, glossary,
and index. Illustrations all reflect children ages 3-7(approximately). Also includes notes for parents and teachers about experiments appropriate for young children that mirror the expository text in book.

Holdcroft, Tina. (2003). Hidden Treasure: Amazing Stories of Discovery. Buffalo, NY: Annick Press Ltd. ISBN: 1-55037-802-3.
Information about 10 true tales of treasure hunting around the world. Format includes timeline, codes, illustrations with multiple captions, riddles, recommended reading, table of contents, and index.

James, Helen Foster. E is for Enchantment: A New Mexico Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-153-4.
Information about history, geography and culture of New Mexico. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted) and 1-page glossary of Spanish words and their meanings.

Kasson, Joseph E. (2003). The Making of The Star of Texas. Austin, TX: Kasson Publishing. ISBN: 0-9729435-8-7.
Information provided about the process of the construction, transporting and installation of the 35 foot tall bronze star in front of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Format includes labeled drawings and author’s notes to children and parents. Included dialogue from perspective of author’s dogs makes this “soft-expository”.

Keating, Frank. (2002). Will Rogers, An American Legend. Orlando, FLA: Harcourt Books. ISBN: 0-15-202405-0.
Biography of Will Rogers from Oklahoma, a man known for his wise and witty sayings. Formatted with chunks of text, including some dialogue, with full page illustrations that were painted in oil on canvas.

Krull, Kathleen. (2005). HOUDINI World’s Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King. New York: Walker & Company. ISBN: 0-8027-9646-X.
In this referenced biography of Houdini’s life, the reader learns (among many other facts) that Houdini thoroughly researched and studied the tricks of magic. He had such a large library of books about magic that he hired a personal librarian. Houdini said, “My mind is the key that sets me free.”

Layne, Steven L. and Layne, Deborah D. (2005). T is for Teachers: A School Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-159-3.
Information explaining school, including the alphabet, kindergarten, books, librarian, and principal. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations.

Locker, Thomas. (2002). Walking With Henry, Based on the Life of Henry David Thoreau. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing. ISBN: 1-55591-355-5.
Provides information about the philosopher, writer, and environmentalist, Henry David Thoreau. Includes selections from Thoreau’s writing, plus imaginary journey into the wilderness. Thoreau said, “How many a man has dated a new era in his life from reading of a book!”

Lynch, Wayne. (2000). Whose BOTTOM Is This? Vancouver/Toronto, Canada: Whitecap Books. ISBN: 1-55285-073-0.
Information about birds and animals from around the world provided through color photographs and facts; shared in a riddle format enjoyed by young students.

Maass, Robert. (1989). FIRE Fighters. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-439-41781-3.
Information about the roles and responsibilities of fire fighters. Formatted with text illustrated by photographs; includes some key words written in italics and some in bold font.

McGovern, Ann. (1992). …If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-590-45154-5.
Information about what it was like to grow up on the frontiers of Kentucky and Indiana, in the prairie town of New Salem, IL and in the city of Springfield, IL during the early 1800s.

O’Connor, Jane. (2004). If The Walls Could Talk: Family Life at the White House. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
In chronological order of the 43 presidents of the USA, information about family life at the White House is provided in specified “chunks” of time. At the back of the book, facts about family life in the White House is noted per each of the 43 presidents. The informative text is accompanied by related quotations and captioned drawings.

Pallotta, Jerry. (1991). The Dinosaur Alphabet Book. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing. ISBN: 0-88106-466-1.
Informative alphabet book about dinosaurs; illustrated.

Pittman, Rickey. (2007). JIM LIMBER DAVIS A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Co. ISBN: 9781589804357.
Varina Davis, wife of Jefferson Davis, intervened when she witnessed a public beating in the street of five-year-old Jim Limber and took him home with her; Jim became part of the Davis family. Jefferson Davis registered him as a free black child and became Jim’s legal guardian. Jim lived happily in the Confederate White House until he was kidnapped after the arrest of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy. The young boy was taken north and displayed as a slave who had suffered at the hands of his guardian, Davis. Although the Davis family searched for him for many years, they never found the orphan who had become part of their family.

Prieto, Anita C. (2004). P is for Pelican: A Louisiana Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-137-2.
Information about history, geography and culture of Louisiana. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Rankin, Laura. (2003). Swan Harbor: A Nature Counting Book. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc. ISBN: 0-8037-2561-2.
Counting book format shows nature found throughout the seasons in Swan Harbor, Maine. Labeled illustration at the back of the book shows the location in and around the harbor of each of the identified items for the numbers 1 to 20; also, detailed expository text with accompanying illustrations provided on last 2 pages of text.

Reynolds, Cynthia Furlong. (2001). H is for Hoosier: An Indiana Alphabet. Chelsea,MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-041-4.
Information about items characteristic of Indiana. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted); reference list includes multiple websites related to text of book.

Riehle, M.A.M. (2002). B is for Bluegrass: A Kentucky Alphabet. Chelsea, MI:
Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-056-2.
Information about items characteristic of Kentucky. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter beings word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted); reference list includes multiple websites related to text of book.

Riehle, M.A.M. (2004). M is for Mountain State: A West Virginia Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-151-8.
Information about history, geography and culture of West Virginia. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Robinson, Sharon. (2004). Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-439-42592-1.
Information about the life of baseball legend, Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in the major leagues; author is daughter of Jackie Robinson. Black and white photographs emphasize the time period; photograph and others insets captioned with explicit information.
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Ryan, Pam Munoz. (1996). The Flag We Love. Waterstown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing. ISBN: 0-88106-844-6.
Information about the history behind our country’s flag and introduction to ideals including, pride, individual rights, respect, honor and patriotism. Format reflects brief summary statement in large font; then, boxed text in smaller font provides more details about the summary statement; each statement accompanied by single item illustration and full page illustration.

Ryder, Joanne. (1991). When The Woods Hum. New York: William Morrow and Company. ISBN: 0-688-07057-4.
“Soft-expository” provides information about periodical cicadas, among the longest living insects in the world. Format includes Author’s Note at the beginning of a story of a little girl who learns about the hummers from her papa.

Rylant, Cynthia. (1998). APPALACHIA The Voices of Sleeping Birds. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN: 0-15-2016105-8.
Rylant and illustrator, Barry Moser, both grew up among the people of Appalachia. Through her words and his illustrations, they describe people of the region—their hard work; typical living conditions; crafts and customs; and, Appalachia’s seasons and cycles.

Schonberg, Marcia. (2005). I is for Idea: An Inventions Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-257-3.
Information about modern inventions, including computers, microwaves, and toilets. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted) and 1-page expository text providing additional information about patents.

Scillian, Devin. (2003). S is for Sooner: An Oklahoma Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-062-7.
Information about history, geography and culture of Oklahoma. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word thatspecifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Shehata, Kat. (2002). San Francisco’s Famous Sea Lions. Cincinnati, OH: Angela Bea Publishing. ISBN: 0-9717843-0-2.
Information about the history of California sea lions at San Francisco’s Pier 39; incorporates sea lion facts into the description of how the Marine Mammal Center rescues sick and injured sea lions. Format includes illustrations on each page, key vocabulary noted in bold face font (those words defined in 2-page glossary) and one page expository text (without illustrations) about the Marine Mammal Center, with recommended web site for additional information.

Shoulders, Debbie and Shoulders, Michael. (2006). D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-274-3.
Information about customs and cultures of Native Americans. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations.

Shoulders, Michael. (2003). M is for Magnolia: A Mississippi Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-129-1.
Information about history, geography and culture of Mississippi. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Shoulders, Michael. (2003). N is for Natural State: An Arkansas Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-067-8.
Information about history, geography and culture of Arkansas. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Shoulders, Michael. (2001). V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-033-3.
Information about history, geography and culture of Tennessee. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page expository text (without illustrations) listing factual questions (with answers inverted).

Simon, Seymour. (1999). Tornadoes. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0064437914.
Information about the location, nature, development, measurement, and destructive efforts of tornadoes, plus how to stay how of danger from them. Format includes labeled maps with symbols, captioned Doppler radar photograph, drawings, and photographs.

Tanaka, Shelley. (1996). On Board The Titanic. Toronto, Canada: Madison Press Books.
ISBN: 0-7868-1318-0.
“Soft-Expository” an “I was there book” tells the story of how 17 year old Jack Thayer explored the Titanic and formed a brief friendship with another passenger before experiencing the wreck of the giant ocean liner. Includes labeled diagrams, detailed & illustrated timelines; illustrations captioned with complete sentences; graph; glossary; and recommended reading.

Thimmesh, Catherine. (2006). Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0-618-50757-4.
Emphasizing the vast number of people involved in planning and implementing
space travel, this book provides information from behind-the-scenes about the first Apollo moon landing. Formatted with both black & white and colored photographs, pithy quotations, boxed details document specific details on some pages; recommended readings and index.

Whitney, Louise D. and Whitney, Gleaves. (2003). B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 1-58536-336-7.
Information about life of a cowboy on a ranch. Formatted as alphabet book; each letter begins word that specifies topic of short poem accompanied by detailed information in expository text inset; illustrations. Concluded by 1-page glossary of Spanish words and their meanings.

Winnick, Karen.(1996). Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers. Homesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press,. ISBN: 1-56397-805-9.
“Soft-expository” provides information about how Grace Bedell suggested that Abraham Lincoln grow a beard.

Yazzie, Evangeline Parsons. (2005). Dzani Yazhi Naazbaa’: Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home, A Story of the Navajo Long Walk. Flagstaff, AZ: Salina Bookshelf, Inc.
ISBN: 1893353555.
“Soft-expository” provides information about the rich heritage of the Navajo people who suffered, persevered, and survived four years of persecution, torture, hunger and loneliness. Within the story, Dzanibaa realizes the significance of the clan system, of the prayers and songs of her people of exerting herself to help her family. NOTE: Each page of the text is shared in both Navajo and English.

Young, Caroline. (2005). The Big Bug Search. London, England: Usborne Publishing.
ISBN: 0-7945-1045-0.
Information about bugs is provided in puzzle book format. Each 2-page illustration includes about 100 bugs. Around the outside of the “big picture” there are multiple pictures of individual bugs with text that tell how many of that bug to look for in the big picture; plus detail(s) about each bug. Table of contents, index, and photo & symbol answer keys to the puzzles are also included.

Zschock, Martha Day. (2007). Journey Around Maine from A to Z. Beverly, MA: Commonwealth Editions. ISBN: 1-933212-31-4.
Information provided about Maine’s history and geography. Alphabet book format includes multiple insets on each page that are identified by captions, plus expository discourse that connects all three of the insets per page.