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Author: DJ Corchin

Illustrator: DJ Corchin

Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore

Date/ Number of Pages: - 56 pages

Visual Elements: Digital drawings

Grade Level: k

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Anxious

Setting: Nothing in particular

Response to the book: Very short story that talks about what anxiety looks like. The sentences were very simple and the message was very simple. I think that this would be a perfect book for kindergartners.

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Author: Susan Verde

Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds

Publisher: ABRAMS

Date/ Number of Pages: September 8, 2015

Visual Elements: Watercolor

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Yoga, overwhelmed, peace

Setting: Nothing in particular

Response to the book: Very pretty book with lots of watercolors. I really liked how it talked about taking deep breaths because this can be used in a classroom setting. I think that children could take some great habits from this book so I would encourage students to read this.

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Author: Bob Raczka

Illustrator: Simon Shin

Publisher: Lerner Publishing group

Date/ Number of Pages: 35 pages

Visual Elements: digital drawings and colored pencils

Grade Level: k-3

Genre: fiction

Themes: feelings

Setting: Nothing in particular

Response to the book: I really liked this story and the drawings that go with them. I think that this would be a great book to use to teach students about feelings and how to deal with them.

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Author: Judi Barrett

Illustrator: Ron Barrett

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Date/ Number of Pages: August 1978 -

Visual Elements: Pencil work

Grade Level: k-3

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Weather, environment, food, community

Setting: Chewandswallow

Response to the book: I grew up on this book and I love it everytime I read it. I will absolutely have this in my classroom because of how much I love this book. I think my students will like it as well.

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Author: Judy Cox

Illustrator: Jeffrey Ebbeler

Publisher: Holiday House

Date/ Number of Pages: 2012 - 33 pages

Visual Elements: Paintwork and crayons

Grade Level: k-1

Genre: fiction

Themes: Adventures

Setting: House and outside

Response to the book: The story is about a mouse who goes through a lot of adventures. I think it is a cute lighthearted story that many would enjoy.

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Author: Robin Pulver

Illustrator: Lynn Rowe Reed

Publisher: Holiday House

Date/ Number of Pages: March 1, 2004 - 35 pages

Visual Elements: Paintwork

Grade Level: k-3

Genre: informational

Themes: punctuation

Setting: Nothing in particular

Response to the book: Cute story about punctuation and with lots of colorful visuals. I love the artwork and I think that it would engage the students. I think the visuals really make the story because of how informational it is.

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Author: Katy Duffield

Illustrator: Karl West

Publisher: Rourke Publication

Date/ Number of Pages: August 2020 - 34 pages

Visual Elements: Digital drawings

Grade Level: k-9

Genre: Baseball

Themes: Focusing, friendship

Setting: Baseball field

Response to the book: Very basic story about baseball. I thought that there might be a little more to the story with more complex characters, but it was just about a boy who struggled focussing on the task at hand. Wish there was more to the story so I don’t think I would recommend this to others.

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Author: Maxwell Eaton III

Illustrator: Maxwell Eaton III

Publisher: Blue Apple Books

Date/ Number of Pages:

Visual Elements: Cartoon artwork

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Compromise, sharing

Setting: the environment

Response to the book: I really liked this book because I relate to it! My roommate and I have the same name and we struggled coming up with nicknames so that we could distinguish each other. This is a very cute and lighthearted story that students will really enjoy.

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Author: Jenna Mueller

Illustrator: Roxanne Rainville

Publisher: Disney

Date/ Number of Pages: 2020 - 48 pages

Visual Elements: Graphic novel

Grade Level: k-4

Genre: fairy tale

Themes: Kindness is important, good fortune

Setting: house, ball

Response to the book: This is a classic fairy tale and I know kids love it. I grew up on this story, but I love how this is formatted as a graphic novel. I think that this would be well accepted by young students.

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Author: Joanne Mattern

Illustrator: Joanne Mattern

Publisher: Cherry Lake Publishing

Date/ Number of Pages: 2014 - 25 pages

Visual Elements: Digital photos

Grade Level: k-1

Genre: Informational

Themes: soccer

Setting: Nothing in particular

Response to the book: This is an informational book about soccer and some of the history behind it, how the game is played, and the overall rules. I wouldn’t keep this book in my classroom because of how it is designed for a specific reader, but I think that a student would like it if they wanted to learn more about soccer.

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Author: Dave Whamond

Illustrator: Dave Whamond

Publisher: Owl Kids Books

Date/ Number of Pages: August 2017 - 33 pages

Visual Elements: Watercolors

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Curiosity, expressing yourself

Setting: School

Response to the book: This is a cute book about a kid named Oddrey. She is very unique and different from her other classmates. But she is not afraid to express herself and show everyone her true self. I liked this book and I think students would as well.

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Author: Raphaële Frier

Illustrator: Aurélia Fronty

Publisher: Charlesbridge publishing

Date/ Number of Pages: 2015 - 35 pages

Visual Elements: Paintwork

Grade Level: 2-5

Genre: Biography

Themes: Her life and her activism

Setting: Nothing in particular

Response to the book: I think everyone should know who Malala is and so I would absolutely strive to have this in my classroom. It is a beautiful story and her life is something that should be shared with everyone.

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The World's Most Pointless Animals: Or are they?

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The World's Most Pointless Animals: Or are they?

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Author: Philip Bunting

Illustrator: Philip Bunting

Publisher: Happy Yak

Date/ Number of Pages:

Visual Elements: Digital drawings

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Informational

Themes: Animals

Setting: Nothing particular

Response to the book: I like this book because it shows how every animal is useful on this Earth. It also has lots of facts but also describes them. It gives students a chance to explore different types of animals, but also see their purpose.

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Author: Ian Doescher

Illustrator: Tim Budgen

Publisher: Quirks Books

Date/ Number of Pages: 2021 - 124 pages

Visual Elements: Digital drawings

Grade Level: 1-4

Genre: Poetry

Themes: Imagination, creativity, Star Wars

Setting: Nothing particular

Response to the book: This story would really engage students who are into Star Wars. I think that it could be useful to get students into poetry through your interest levels. I would recommend this book if you know that your students are interested in Star Wars.

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Author: Francesca Sanna

Illustrator: Francesca Sanna

Publisher: Flying Eye Books

Date/ Number of Pages: 2018 - 37 pages

Visual Elements: Graphic design

Grade Level: k-1

Genre: Fiction

Themes: fear and how to deal with it, bravery

Setting: Nothing particular

Response to the book: I think that this book could be really great for very young children. I would use this book when teaching about emotions and how to deal with them. This could also be used for refugee students and used to help them get through the same struggles as the main character.

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Author: Gillies Tibo

Illustrator: Manon Gauthier

Publisher: Pajama press

Date/ Number of Pages: November 18, 2016

Visual Elements: Hand drawn pictures

Grade Level: k-1

Genre: Poetry

Themes: Poems

Setting: Nothing particular

Response to the book: I loved the artwork in this book. I think that it was so obscure at times and very authentic. I would love to read more stories with the same illustrator. This story is a very basic overview about what poetry is and what it can look like. I think that I could absolutely use this book in a lesson and when teaching.

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Author: Diwa Tharan Sanders

Illustrator: Nerina Canzi

Publisher: Lantana Publishing

Date/ Number of Pages: April 1, 2018 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: Paintwork and airbrushing

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Mindfulness, inner peace, finding yourself through self-reflection

Setting: Outside in greenery

Response to the book: I have not read any books about mindfulness and I was pleasantly surprised by this story. It talked heavily about heart songs and how that can bring magic to you and the people around you. I think that mindfulness is a complicated thing to comprehend so I think the book did the best they could to explain what it is to young children.

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Author: Laura Numeroff

Illustrator: Felicia Bond

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Date/ Number of Pages: January 10, 1997 -

Visual Elements: Colored pencil drawings

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: demanding

Setting: kitchen

Response to the book: This is a classic, but I am not sure if I would want to have this in my classroom. I feel like the message could get lost for younger students. I think its a cute story but I think there are so many more books that have stronger, long-lasting messages.

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Author: Shawn deLoache, Columbia Quigley

Illustrator: Marcelo Ferreira, Áthlia Fabbio

Publisher: Jumo Health

Date/ Number of Pages: unknown - 18 pages

Visual Elements: Graphic book

Grade Level: 2-6

Genre: Informational comic book

Themes: Sickle cell disease and how it happens and how it is treated

Setting: The human body

Response to the book: I didn’t know they made comic books about diseases in the human body. I found this really interesting and I learned a lot of new information about the disease. I really like how it is formatted in the comic strip way because I think that students would gravitate to this more than just reading straight facts. This is a very specific read so I don’t know if I would encourage this to all students, but if it fits a lesson I would use it to teach.

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Author: Helen H. Wu

Illustrator: Julie Jarema

Publisher: 1517 Media

Date/ Number of Pages: April 19, 2022 - 40 pages

Visual Elements: Paintwork

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Patience, culture, family

Setting: Kitchen

Response to the book: This is a very cute story about a grandma and her grandchild cooking tofu. The grandmother teaches her grandchild that it takes patience to cook tofu. She also teaches her how to make this dish which is a part of their culture. I love how culture and patience is intertwined in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

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Author: Kristin Levine

Illustrator: unknown

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Date/ Number of Pages: January 10, 2013 - 320 pages

Visual Elements: cover art

Grade Level: 5-6

Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: Racial discrimination, justice, friendship, family

Setting: Arkansas

Response to the book: This is a powerful story about two girls becoming friends even though society found it unfit. This affected their social lives and how people perceived their families. When I first read this story when I was younger, I was moved by the bravery the girls had and their unwillingness to give up their friendship to save their reputation. I think that this is an impactful read and I will encourage my future students to pick this book up.

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Author: Louis Sachar

Illustrator: Monique Aimee

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date/ Number of Pages: August 20, 1998 - 272 pages

Visual Elements: Digital cover art

Grade Level: 3-5

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Justice, freedom, integrity

Setting: Texas

Response to the book: I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school, so it was really fun to read this again. This is a beloved story and I think that this would engage multiple types of readers. I would highly recommend this book to be in classrooms and be a book to lean towards if you have students who are not that interested in reading.

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Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Pete Oswald

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Date/ Number of Pages: August 29, 2017 - 35 pages

Visual Elements: Watercolors

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Behavior change, turning over a new leaf, don’t judge people based off past behaviors

Setting: Nothing particular

Response to the book: This story is very cute and would be great for young children who are struggling with behavioral problems. I like how the message is about how people can change and not about how bad behavior makes you a bad person. I think that is a super important lesson for students to learn and can implement a change in how students act and perceive others.

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Author: Catherine Bruton

Illustrator: Catherine Bruton

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Date/ Number of Pages: April 25, 2019 - 272 pages

Visual Elements: Digital cover art

Grade Level: 4-5

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Refugees, friendship kindness

Setting: Manchester

Response to the book: This is an intense story about a refugee family seeking asylum in Manchester. In the family, there is an eleven year old girl who is a very talented ballet dancer. Her name is Aya and the dance studio becomes sort of like a home to her in Britain. Even though the country is unfamiliar to her, she finds her place in ballet. I loved this story and I highly recommend it. I think that it brings awareness to the struggles of fleeing a country and becoming a refugee.

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Author: Onjali Q. Raúf

Illustrator: Pippa Curnick

Publisher: Gale, A Cengage Company

Date/ Number of Pages: April 1, 2020 - 355 pages

Visual Elements: Digital cover

Grade Level: 3-5

Genre: Fiction

Themes: acceptance, friendship, diversity

Setting: School

Response to the book: I think that students would respond really well to this novel. The book is very relevant to today’s society and I think that it contains a great message for students who are not aware of refugees in this country. I like how this story talks about how friendships can be made even if the individuals are different and come from different backgrounds.

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Author: Kevin Henkes

Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Date/ Number of Pages: September 16, 1991 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: Hand drawn

Grade Level: k-4

Genre: Fiction

Themes: self-esteem, acceptance, bullying

Setting: school

Response to the book: This story is about a girl who is named Chrysanthemum and she gets made fun of for her name. She talks to her parents about being made fun of and her teacher talks to her about it. Her teacher and her parents help her get through the teasing and she finally regains her love for her name. I think that this story is a great book for students to see how they can reach out to adults for help if they are getting bullied.

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Author: Adam Ciccio

Illustrator: Emmanuel Volant

Publisher: Clavis Publishing

Date/ Number of Pages: 2021 - 28 pages

Visual Elements: Watercolors

Grade Level: k-4

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Bullying, standing up for others, being kind to everyone

Setting: school

Response to the book: I used this book in a health lesson in one of my other classes. I taught the students about bullying and they responded really well to this book. It is really engaging and short and so I would highly recommend this in a classroom. This book teaches about how it only takes one person to stop a bully and change how someone is perceived. It also encourages to treat everybody with kindness even if they aren’t initially kind to you.

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On the Internet - Our First Talk about Online Safety 

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On the Internet - Our First Talk about Online Safety 

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Author: Dr. Jillian Roberts

Illustrator: Jane Heinrichs

Publisher: Orca Book Publisher

Date/ Number of Pages: February 19, 2019 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: Digital pictures and drawings

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Informational

Themes: internet safety, early conversations, online awareness, digital citizenship, online bullying

Setting: nothing particular

Response to the book: I think that this could be a great introductory book for young students who are starting to spend more time online. Providing students with information about online safety is very beneficial especially because it is so prevalent in today’s society. I think that this could be utilized in a health lesson or it could be just a great informative read.

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Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott

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Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott

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Author: Joyce Scott, Brie Spangler, Mellisa Sweet

Illustrator: Mellisa Sweet

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Date/ Number of Pages: 2021 - 41 pages

Visual Elements: Watercolors

Grade Level: k-2

Genre: Biography

Themes: celebrating differences, determination, family

Setting: nothing particular

Response to the book: I really enjoyed this book and the message that it portrays throughout. Celebrating differences is so important and that is exactly what happened for Judith Scott later in her life. Her disability didn’t stop her from being creative and expressing herself through her artwork. Her art was put in museums and was admired by many. I love that her sister was so supportive and I think that this can be a main takeaway for a lot of students. They can reflect on how the sister was there for Judith and was her best friend their whole lives.

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Author: Shel Silverstein

Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date/ Number of Pages: 1964 - 64 pages

Visual Elements: pencil sketches

Grade Level: 1-3

Genre: poetry

Themes: sacrifice, greed, gratefulness

Setting: outside

Response to the book: I grew up reading this book and it has always been one of my favorites. I really loved the themes that it portrays and I think the message is crucial for young children growing up. It helps one reflect on how they are receiving things that are just handed to them and if they are only taking and not giving back. I am already planning on providing this book in my classroom!

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Exploring emotions - A Mindfulness Guide to Understanding Feelings

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Exploring emotions - A Mindfulness Guide to Understanding Feelings

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Author: Paul Christelis

Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli

Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing

Date/ Number of Pages: 2018 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: digital drawings

Grade Level: K - 3

Genre: fiction

Themes: educational

Setting: track meet

Response to the book: This is an educational book about emotions and how to identify them. It shows how people can have different emotions dealing with the same situation. Every emotion is not good or bad because there are reasons for each of them and all are valid. I think that this book is a great way to introduce emotions and a stepping stone to learning how to manage them in an appropriate manner.

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If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks

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If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks

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Author: Faith Ringgold

Illustrator: Faith Ringgold

Publisher: Aladdin

Date/ Number of Pages: 1999 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: Oil paintings

Grade Level: 3

Genre: biographical

Themes: educational, resilience

Setting: Bus

Response to the book: This is a story within a story about Rosa Parks. A young girl gets on a bus and then is told the story about Rosa Parks life. It goes through her story of her growing up, wedding, arrest, and how her actions shaped the civil rights movement. I think that this story is a clever way to introduce this historical event and also someone who has made such an impact. The illustrations are very fun and cute as well and would be a great addition to a classroom.

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Author: Ed Young

Illustrator: Ed Young

Publisher: Philomel

Date/ Number of Pages: November 1989 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: Watercolor

Grade Level: 1-3

Genre: Folklore / Folktales

Themes: good vs bad, resilience

Setting: China

Response to the book: This story is very similar to Red-Riding Hood but it is set in China. In the story, the mother leaves her three daughters home to visit their grandmother (Po Po). When she leaves, a wolf comes to the house and pretends to be the grandmother. This doesn’t continue for long because the eldest daughter figures out the wolf’s identity. The daughters then tempt the wolf with gingko nuts in a tall tree and lift the wolf up in a basket. They get very close to the top and then release the basket where the wolf falls and bumps his head and breaks his heart. I think that this could be a great story to introduce what folktales are. I could also do a compare and contrast activity using the folktales, Lon Po Po and Red-Riding Hood.

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Author: Ken Mochizuki

Illustrator: Dom Lee

Publisher: Lee & Low

Date/ Number of Pages: March 1993

Visual Elements:

Grade Level: k - 3

Genre: Historical fiction

Themes: overcoming obstacles, dignity, self-respect

Setting: Japanese internment camp

Response to the book: I really liked this story especially because it sheds some light on what it was like for Japanese Americans during WW11. I was recently exposed to these internment camps and how they affected US citizens this year. I knew they happened but I didn’t really learn about them in high school. I recently learned about these camps on a deeper level through the novel, We are not Free, by Traci Chee. I highly encourage this read, but I think that Baseball Saved Us can be an introductory picture book that can be used to bring up this tough topic for young kids. I also think that this should be utilized in the classroom so students are aware of this American history that is often overlooked and not talked about enough.

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Author: Jen Wang

Illustrator: Jen Wang

Publisher: First Second Books

Date/ Number of Pages: February 13, 2018 - 288 pages

Visual Elements: Graphic novel

Grade Level: 6-9

Genre: Fantasy

Themes: Acceptance, self-expression

Setting: Paris

Response to the book: I really enjoyed this graphic novel and its overall message. I have never read a story like this one before, and I think that this would be a great start for students in this topic of dressing however makes you happy. The prince covers his face at the beginning of the novel but then is uncovered at a point and is not met with judgment, but with acceptance. I think that this is very powerful because you could have students who are facing this internal struggle just as the prince was, and having this book available could be a stepping stone into personal expression.

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Author: Christine Day

Illustrator: Unknown

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date/ Number of Pages: 2019 - 272 pages

Visual Elements: Painted cover art

Grade Level: 4-6

Genre: fiction

Themes: mental health, finding identity

Setting: The Pacific Northwest

Response to the book: I really loved this story and the message it presented. Maisie, the main character, put some of her identity into her ballet and when that was taken away, she started to go through a downward spiral. Her friendships, her schooling, and her mental health was deteriorating because of her ACL injury. I have been in Maisie's position where my sports were the biggest part of my life, and when I was injured my self-worth went down. It was nice to see this represented in a book because I have never read anything like it.

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Author: Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Publisher: Harper & Row

Date/ Number of Pages: 1966 - 40 pages

Visual Elements: pencil drawn sketches

Grade Level: 1-4

Genre: fantasy

Themes: compassion, consideration

Setting: Gregg’s farm

Response to the book: This is about a girl who has magic powers that come from her finger. She lives with this family who hunts for fun and she does not like that, so she uses her powers to try and stop this. I think that this story is fun with some good messages. The illustrations seem so authentic because they are hand drawn with pencil which was my favorite part about reading this novel.

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Author: Thomas King

Illustrator: Natasha Donovan

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Date/ Number of Pages: 192

Visual Elements: Digital graphics

Grade Level: 2-6

Genre: Graphic novel - fiction but based on the authors experience

Themes: Identity, justice, belonging, culture

Setting: US border

Response to the book: The author uses satire to portray the message of this story. It's about claiming citizenship but also connecting to identity and culture. It’s a topic that I haven’t read before and so I think that this would be a good introductory book into topics like this or that are similar.

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Author: Thelma Godin

Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Read by: Oprah Winfrey

Date/ Number of Pages: 2014 - 40 pages

Visual Elements: Digital artwork

Grade Level: 2-3

Genre: Fiction/audiobook

Themes: family, community, competition

Setting: 139th street and Miz Adeline’s birthday party

Response to the book: This is a charming story about staying young at heart and community. Everyone showed up for Miz Adeline’s birthday party and Kameeka’s mother does her absolute best to make it perfect. It just shows how much everyone cared for each other in their community and how they support each other in big moments. I think that this book would be great for students to read but it contains some great themes and messages.

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Author: Kwame Alexander

Illustrator: Dawud Anyabwile

Publisher: Harpercollins Publishers

Date/ Number of Pages: March 5, 2019 - 256 pages

Visual Elements: digital cover art

Grade Level: 3 - 8

Genre: verse/fiction

Themes: Basketball, overcoming obstacles, Family

Setting: Basketball court for the most part

Response to the book: I really loved this story and I like how it was presented. We got narrative descriptions of the different family members and plays on the court which I really enjoyed. We also got to see how family problems happen and how they dealt with these issues. I think that this story shows realistic family issues and how characters handled these situations differently which could be beneficial for students to read.

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28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World

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28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World

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Author: Charles Smith

Illustrator: Shane Evans

Publisher: Roaring Brook

Date/ Number of Pages: 2015 - 56 pages

Visual Elements: Digital

Grade Level: 4 - 8

Genre: Non-fiction

Themes: Black History

Setting: nothing particular

Response to the book: This book is about 28 days where African Americans took a stance in history. They wanted to stand up for what they believed in and thought was right, and these moments became monumental events that are still reflected and admired today. It is a great informational book for all students.

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Author: Rukhusanna Guidroz

Illustrator: Fahmida Azim

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Date/ Number of Pages: 2021 - 416 pages

Visual Elements: Painting

Grade Level: 4 - 5

Genre: verse

Themes: Family, belonging, culture

Setting: Bangladesh

Summary/Response: Samira is a refugee who went through very hard times fleeing her home country. She now lives in Bangladesh where she is part of a surf club. Through this club, she finds sisterhood and belonging which gives her strength. This is a very empowering book about refugee life and starting over in a new country. I would recommend this book for all ages!

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Author: Megan McDonald

Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Date/ Number of Pages: 2002 - 160 pages

Visual Elements: Black and white drawings

Grade Level: 1- 4

Genre: Fiction

Themes: saving the environment, endangered species, recycling

Setting: school and home

Response to the book: This is a fun story that dives into the beginning knowledge of the environment and how to take steps into persevering it. This would be a very light read where students will get helpful insights that they can use to apply to their life in and outside of school. I remember reading this book as a child, and I remember loving it. So I think that other students would have similar reactions to it.

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Author: Cece Bell

Illustrator: Cece Bell and David Lasky

Publisher: Amulet Books

Date/ Number of Pages: September 2, 2014 - 248 pages

Visual Elements: Comic strip

Grade Level: 3rd-8th

Genre: Graphic novel

Themes: friendship, acceptance, supporting others

Setting: Many different settings

Response to the book: El Deafo is a great example of introducing disabilities to students in a fun and playful way through comics. This style of format helps bring a topic that can be hard to address, much easier for students to understand. I also think that there are some very powerful themes in this novel like friendship and acceptance. Overall this book is presented in a fun way, and has an amazing message to go along with it. I would definitely encourage students to read this book and could see this in my classroom in the future.

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Author: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Illustrator: Ebony Glenn

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Salaam Reads

Date/ Number of Pages: April 3, 2018 - 40 pages

Visual Elements: Hardcover picture book

Grade Level: K-2

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Cultural clothes

Setting: No particular setting

Response to the book: This is a story about a young child wearing her cultural clothing, a khimar, because her mother does. This shows how culture is passed down and can be celebrated. It also talked about how she wears it because of her religion. I think that this story can be a great way to provide representation in the classroom and also let students see a glimpse into how the khimar is part of someone's culture.

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Title: We’re Going on a Goon Hunt

Written By: Michael Rex

Illustrator: Michael Rex

Publisher: August 18, 2020

Number of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-K - 1

Genre: Children's literature, fiction

Theme: Overcoming obstacles can be fun and scary

Topic: Going on a goon hunt

Artistic Media: Illustrations

Media or artistic styles: Digital drawings to make​​ the characters and the scenery

Summary and response: This story is about a bunch of children who go on a quest to find different creatures. They go to multiple places where they find goons that either scare them or excite them. After going to these places they go to bed, where they end their journey of hunting for goons.

Author background: Michael Rex has written over thirty children's books. His books are meant to entertain but also connect to children's emotions when encountering different things or events. Some children in the story were excited and some were scared, which showed that we are all allowed to deal with things differently. I would love to ask the author why he chose to write about goons and his reasoning behind it.

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Author: Michael Garland

Illustrator: Michael Garland

Publisher: Tilbury House

Date/ Number of Pages: January 30, 2018 - 35 pages

Visual Elements: Online picture book that had collage like artwork

Grade Level: K-1

Genre: Nonfiction

Themes: Flowers are important to the ecosystem

Setting: The environment

Curricular connection: Science

Response to the book: This beautifully illustrated picture book talks about which animals feed off of certain flowers. It shows the importance of flowers and how they benefit the environment. This expands the students' understanding of flowers and their overall purpose. Explaining to students that flowers are not just created to look and smell pretty, can help squash this misconception.

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Radiant Child: The Story of a Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

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Radiant Child: The Story of a Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

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Author: Javaka Steptoe

Illustrator: Javaka Steptoe

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Date/ Number of Pages: October 25, 2016 - 40 pages

Visual Elements: Hardcover picture book with some of Jean-Michels Basquiat’s art style

Grade Level: 1-5

Genre: Biography

Themes:  Pursuit of passion through the highs and lows

Setting: His childhood home is the setting for most of the book

Response to the book:  This is a biography picture book that focuses on Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life and his artwork journey. In the book, the author pinpoints certain traumatic events that shaped him and his artwork as a whole. It shows that even though he was struggling in many different ways, he confided in art and found fame because he didn’t give up on his passion. I really loved this book because it shows the reader that even through struggles you can find success. I also thought it was powerful how the author focused on Jean-Michel Basquiat’s culture, family dynamics, and his mothers mental health. I don’t see this a lot in children's books and it introduces some new topics that are not frequently discussed or mentioned to young students.

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Author: J. J. Austrian

Illustrator: Mike Curato

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date/ Number of Pages: January 5, 2016 - 32 pages

Visual Elements: Hardcover picture book with

Grade Level: Pre K-3rd

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Marriage, love, traditions

Setting: marrietal ceremony

Response to the book:

This is about two worms who are pursuing a marriage. It’s a cute story to introduce students to the concept of marriage, without keying in on gender and societal norms. This book raised awareness of marriage and how this ceremony of love does not have to be “normal” or traditional in any sense. It broadens children's understanding of what a marrietal ceremony can be and look like.

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Author: Latashia M Perry

Illustrator: Bea Jackson

Publisher: G Publishing

Date/ Number of Pages: November 15, 2016 - 24 pages

Visual Elements: This is a hardcover picture book where the welcoming illustrations connect beloved food to the color of people's skin.

Grade Level: Pre K-3rd

Genre: Fiction

Themes: acceptance, celebration, friendship

Setting: No particular setting

Response to the book:

This story is about how everybody has a different skin color. It describes how skin color can come in various shades and they explain this by connecting yummy food like peanut butter, Carmel, and Oreos to different skin tones. This would be an excellent story to use in a classroom to celebrate and embrace our own and each other's differences.