This book presents summaries and activities associated with 15 books to read with kindergarten through second graders that explore social issues central to their lives. Thematic topics include the give and take of friendship; bullies, pests, and teasing; isolation and reaching out across generations; families; and working together. It features comprehensive summaries of the books, a variety of group activities for increasing understanding, questions and topics for prompting good discussions, and lists of thematically-related stories. It also includes general guidelines for using literature in the classroom, facilitating good book discussions, and choosing meaningful related activities. The 15 works discussed are: "Chester's Way" (Kevin Henkes); "Frog and Toad are Friends" (Arnold Lobel); "Rosie and Michael" (Judith Viorst); "Ira Says Goodbye" (Bernard Waber); "A Toad for Tuesday" (Russell Erickson); "Bootsie Barker Bites" (Barbara Bottner); "Ira Sleeps Over" (Bernard Waber); "The Mitten Tree" (Candace Christiansen); "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch" (Eileen Spinelli); "Julius, the Baby of the World" (Kevin Henkes); "The Relatives Came" (Cynthia Rylant); "Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies" (Ann Turner); "I'll Fix Anthony" (Judith Viorst); "Officer Buckle & Gloria" (Peggy Rathmann); and "Yard Sale" (James Stevenson). (Each section contains resources.) (RS)