The Little House, Written and Illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton
     This Caldecott-winning story begins with a man building a small house in the country that he plans never to sell, but to pass down to generations after him. This little house loves to watch the family frolic outside year after year. The little house also enjoys looking at the city lights on the horizon and wonders what the city is like. Over the years, the city gets closer and closer until the little house is wedged between two skyscrapers and abandoned. The little house, in shambles, is recognized by a descendant of the original owners and they have the little house moved back to the country. They restore the house to its original luster and the little house never dreams of living in the city again.
     This book would be most appropriate for first, second, and third-grade students because of the vivid illustrations and simple language and content. The illustrations of the book are simple yet detailed enough to tell the story without words. Therefore, it would be helpful for students to read independently, even if they do not know all of the words. This book would also be an engaging read-aloud in a lower-elementary classroom. Furthermore, the book sparks the imagination of the reader. The little house, an inanimate object came alive through the personification throughout the story. Because of this, this story would be great to use to teach students about personification. After the lesson about personification and reading the story, students could then write their own story by personifying another object like a car, a school, or something in nature like a tree.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Written and Illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton
      This Caldecott Winning story features a man named Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel named Mary Anne. This pair had accomplished much in their career including leveling hills for roads and runways and digging foundation for buildings. However, the higher-tech electric and gas-powered machines took all of the jobs away from Mary Anne and Mulligan. So, Mulligan and Mary Anne went to a small town away from the high-tech machines for a job. They challenged the head of the town to let them dig the cellar for the town hall in a day and if they could not complete it in a day, their work would be free. The selectman agreed to the deal and the pair began work. As more people came to watch, Mary Anne and Mulligan worked quicker and more efficiently. They eventually made their deadline as the day came to a close but they forgot to make a way out for themselves. The town suggested that Mary Anne could serve as the new furnace and Mulligan could be the janitor. This way, Mary Anne and Mulligan did not become obsolete as they would in the city. The book ends by saying that this pair could still be seen whenever the reader visits the town hall of this town.
      This book would be most appropriate for first, second, and third graders. I would use it as a read-aloud book and keep it in my classroom library for students to read independently. It truly shows the students what good work-ethic looks like. Mulligan and Mary Anne did not give in to laziness and sorrow and let themselves waste away with the other steam shovels. They were determined and had the grit to thrive in society. This sets a great example for students to persevere when they hit tough times. They can thrive just like Mulligan and his steam shovel with determination and hard work. This also would be a good introduction to industrialization and the implications of improving technology. An easy modern connection to the themes in this book is how cashiers and telephone workers are being replaced by machines and robots. The students could discuss the implications of improving technology and what that means for their ever-changing world.

Where the Wild Things Are, Written and Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
      In this Caldecott Medal-winning story, a young boy named Max becomes too rambunctious for his mother, so she makes him go to bed without eating. While sitting in his room, Max decides to escape into his imagination. He sails to the forest where the creatures or "wild things" live. As he sails to this place in his imagination, the illustrations grow to fill the page. Here, Max reigns as their king as they dance and roar and bare their teeth at each other. Max decides that he misses home and wants to leave the wild things. He sails back home where his mother showed her love for her son by leaving dinner for him in his room. At this point in the book, the illustrations shrink back to one page.
      This book would be most appropriate for first, second, and third grade. It would be a fantastic book for a read-aloud in these classrooms. Additionally, I would keep this in my classroom library. This book is great for students who are not completely literate yet because the illustrations tell the story without words. Therefore, this book would also be beneficial to help students learn to read words that they do not know based upon context clues. The illustrations give enough context for students to confidently guess words that they may not have known previously. Additionally, this book teaches forgiveness and second chances. The mother gave her son dinner despite his behavior. Even if students do not have this type of parent in their lives, they need to see this type of love displayed in literature.