In this touching video created by The Chicago Lighthouse, photographer and author Larry Broutman shares his inspiration for creating the children’s book, Chicago Treasure, and what the process taught him about what inclusion truly means. Diverse children take the lead roles in classic fairytales and nursery rhymes when photographs of the kids are digitally imposed with colorful fairytale illustration backgrounds by Rich Green. Local children and their parents explain why seeing their faces in the pages of this book is so meaningful. Interspersed throughout are scenes from the Chicago Treasure Book Launch where 250 Chicagoans came to The Chicago Lighthouse to celebrate the release of this enchanting book.

Sam-I-am is trying to convince you the reader to try green eggs and ham. He takes the readers on an adventure by telling us all the places he would enjoy his food. The leveling system is The Lexile, reading level 210L. Class can participate in a open discussion on where they would take their green eggs and ham, and why they would take it there.

Sam does not like Green Eggs and Ham. He does not like them here or there. He does not like them anywhere and does not want to try it at all. He is finally convinced to try it, and guess what.....

Lexile Measure: 210L

I would use this in the classroom when teaching about Rhyme.  We would eat green eggs and ham (of course) and do a egg rhyme matching activity. 

Love Is by Diane Adams is a very sweet story about the love between a little girl and her pet duckling. The story takes the reader through the beginning, middle, and end of their relationship. According to the accelerated reader, the book is best for a 2nd grader to read. In my classroom, I would use this book during the Valentines season. I would utilize it to introduce students to a simple form of poetry. After reading this to my class, I would encourage them to write a poem of their own using similar phrases to what the author uses in the text. 

AR: 2.9 

The Cat in the Hat is on a 430L Lexile reading level. This is equivalent to a 1st grade reading level. In this story, Dick and Sally are stuck inside with nothing to do, on a cold and rainy day. Suddenly, the Cat in the Hat shows up, and completely turns around their day! 1st graders will enjoy creating the Cat’s Hat to sort word families and other rhyming words to go along with this book!