AnneGG Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 I’m looking for “meaty” picture books recommendations for upper elementary ages. We have a lot of early childhood and lower elementary level picture books, but my 9 & 10 year old are outgrowing them. I don’t want to give up picture books with them yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 Patricia Polacco is a good one if you haven't read many of hers. DS enjoyed The Three Questions about that age - it's by Tolstoy, but there's an adaptation that's a picture book. There are several that are worth reading for higher level topics: Shin's Tricycle, especially followed by The Peace Tree From Hiroshima is a good first look at the devastation of Japan in WWII. Look To The Stars is a book by Buzz Aldrin-it's one of those that sparked an interest in space in my kid. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneGG Posted September 11 Author Share Posted September 11 @HomeAgain Thank you! Looks like our library has most if these! I’ll check them out… literally. 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amoret Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 It's not exactly what you are asking for, but Picture This by Molly Bang is just wonderful. My kids and I worked through it together when they were about the same ages as your kids, and it was so much fun. We followed it up with Go by Chip Kidd, which wasn't as fun, but still interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany1116 Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 23 hours ago, HomeAgain said: Patricia Polacco is a good one if you haven't read many of hers. DS enjoyed The Three Questions about that age - it's by Tolstoy, but there's an adaptation that's a picture book. There are several that are worth reading for higher level topics: Shin's Tricycle, especially followed by The Peace Tree From Hiroshima is a good first look at the devastation of Japan in WWII. Look To The Stars is a book by Buzz Aldrin-it's one of those that sparked an interest in space in my kid. The name sounded familiar so I googled it... oh my we have just read 2 great books by her! An Orange for Frankie, and Mrs. Katz and Tush. I have a bad habit of telling myself to check out more books by the same author when I like something, but forgetting to follow through. I am going to add some to my hold list now. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof4sweetkids Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 I was thinking about posting a topic with this same question just yesterday! Patricia Polacco and the D'Aulaire books came to mind. Also Bill Peet books are more fun/funny but longer than a typical picture book. I find picture books based on true stories to be meatier. Here's a goods starting list: https://brighterdaypress.com/pages/true-stories?srsltid=AfmBOooyK7g3lEClldmuWhe4sxvGbTvUb5iEfgmTWutk41WajLBZ8ivq 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 (edited) Scribners Storybook Classics are carefully abridged classics with all the original N.C. Wyeth prints from the longer Scribners books. There are five or six titles in the series. Edited September 13 by ScoutTN 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 Beautifully illustrated myth written at an upper elementary level Tenggren's Golden Tales from the Arabian Nights Age of Fable: The Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology Black Ships Before Troy (Sutcliff) -- one of the versions has gorgeous illustrations interspersed with full pages of text, retelling The Iliad Nonfiction for upper elementary The Way Things Work (Macauley) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary (DK) Below... these might be a little young, but, throwing them out there so you can look at them and decide. 😉 beautifully illustrated picture book retellings by Marianna Mayer The Tempest -- Shakespeare play Pegasus -- Ancient Greek myth Ivanhoe -- Sir Walter Scott's medieval tale of knights Warrior Women: Myths & Legends of Heroic Women Growing Up Behind the Wall (Peter Sis) Not a lot of text, but more mature/abstract topic of Communist regime and the author's experience growing up under that -- so, meaty for explaining those political events and discussing as you read. The Librarian Who Measured the Earth (Kathryn Lasky) Illustrated biography of the ancient Greek philosopher and scientist Eratosthenes, who compiled the first geography book and accurately measured the globe's circumference. The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery (Graem Base) Has codes, cyphers, and puzzling items to solve on every page; gorgeous illustrations. Possibly Doug Cushman's Seymour Sleuth series - The Mystery of King Karfu - Mystery of the Monkey's Maze - The Mystery at the Club Sandwich 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nichola Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 (edited) I think Margaret Hodges picture books are wonderful for all ages. Saint George and the Dragon, the Kitchen Knight, and many others. Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude Diane Stanley’s picture book biographies Edited September 13 by Nichola 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Perhaps too short, but Chris Van Allsburg books have a deeper aspect to them. Colville's Shakespeare stories are fun and a nice in to Shakespeare. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, maybe? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likaly Posted October 3 Share Posted October 3 The best I have ever seen are the stories about bunnies - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0836805283/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I wish they were all translated into English. Unfortunately, I cannot find anything even closer in vocabulary written in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebcoola Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 A couple of lists I have saved https://thatssomontessori.com/picture-books-for-5th-graders/ http://www.thinkgrowgiggle.com/2018/05/3-community-building-picture-books-to.html?m=1 https://teachingmadepractical.com/the-best-read-alouds-and-books-for-upper-elementary/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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