June 17, 2024 – Looking for a great summer read? Cedar Rapids Community School District teacher librarians Roby Davis, Stephan Frischkorn, Jessica Zimmerman, Andrea Schoenbeck, Frank Scherman, and Michelle Kruse shared some of the books their students love. 

This list features picture books, elementary school nonfiction, and early readers for children ready to start reading on their own. Check back for lists of middle grade fiction for 8-12 year-olds and YA books for teens.

Browse the books below, and click the covers to put them on hold in the library's catalog. Book descriptions are excerpted from the catalog, which pulls from publisher information, and from the teacher descriptions.

 

Picture Books

“I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle's Story” by Mark Pett 

A poop-loving dung beetle learns not to hide the quirks that make him special. This book is funny and fascinating and gets reluctant reader’s attention. 

"Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band" by Kwame Alexander

Afraid of singing in front of a large crowd, Indigo dreams about Acoustic Rooster and his band and, after a storm flattens their barn, helps organize a concert fundraiser to rebuild it. A fun, rhyming read filled with historical references to influential Black jazz musicians, it won March Book Madness at Maple Grove Elementary.

"Big Bold Beautiful Me" by Jane Yolen

Even though others criticize her for her appearance, when the girl looks in the mirror all she sees is someone she loves and appreciates.

"Gibberish" by Young Vo

When Dat starts school in a country where he does not speak the language, everything around him sound like gibberish until a new friend helps him make sense of his new world. This is a fantastic depiction of what it feels like to be an immigrant or refugee in a country that doesn't speak your language.

"Giraffe is Too Tall for This Book" by DK Ryland

Furry, feathered, and scaled – all our animal friends are ready to read. But there's just one big problem: Giraffe is too tall! (Or, rather, the book is too short.) Come along for a special story time featuring six friendly animals and one puzzling predicament. Bright speech bubbles encourage readers to take an active role and find creative solutions as this wild squad works together to save story time. Using their bodies and minds, the animals persevere through a hilarious adventure, revealing that sometimes it's not ourselves we need to change-it's the book!

"Norman Didn't Do It! (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins

Norman, a porcupine whose best friend is a tree named Mildred, begins to feel jealous when another tree grows close to Mildred and acts out against the new tree. Kids constantly ask for this book from the school library, and they voted it the Goldfinch winner at Maple Grove this year.

"Perfect" by Max Amato

A fussy eraser tries to keep the pages perfectly clean despite the scribbles of a mischievous pencil. This book has been popular with students and won March Book Madness at Maple Grove Elementary.

"The Smart Cookie" and the entire "Food Group" series by Jory John and Pete Oswald

This cookie has never felt like a smart cookie no matter how hard she tries, especially in comparison to all the clever cupcakes and brilliant rolls in the bakery. Will a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of confidence be enough to help her learn that perfect scores and having all the answers aren't the only ingredients for intelligence? Three books from this series were in the top ten most circulated titles at the school library this year, and "The Couch Potato" won the Goldfinch award.

Elementary Nonfiction

“Who Would Win?” series 

Which dangerous animals would win in a fight? Find out in showdowns of mammals, sea creatures, insects, and dinosaurs to satisfy all kinds of animal fans. 

"Butt or Face? Revenge of the Butts" by Kari Lavelle

"Butt or Face?" and the sequel, "Revenge of the Butts" keep kids laughing while learning fascinating facts about animals while guessing they're looking at a butt or a face! Examine a close-up photo of an animal and then guess whether you're looking at the top or the...um...bottom. Also included are factual animal details along with how these animals use camouflage or other trickery to engage with their home.

"Scary States (of Mind)" series by Joyce L Markovics

The "Scary States (of Mind)" series feature spooky true stories from different states. Kids love scary stories and these fly off the shelves.

"What is a Refugee?" by Elise Gravel

An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term "refugee" to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live. It explains the difference between an immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker.

Early Reader

“Ana and Andrew” series by Christine Platt 

Ana and Andrew are always on an adventure! They live in Washington, DC with their parents, but with family in Savannah, Georgia and Trinidad, there's always something exciting and new to learn about African American history and culture. 

"Drag and Rex" series by Susan Lubner

Best friends Drag and Rex could not be more different, but together they find joy and adventure in the simplest places. This series is perfect for fans of "Frog and Toad."

"Fox" series featuring "Fox Versus Fox" by Corey R. Tabor

When a newcomer arrives, Fox demonstrates all his foxy skills, but when the other creature can do all the same things, he wonders if it really is another fox – and possibly a new friend! The Fox series has been recognized multiple times as Geisel Award winners.