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Title: You Matter
Author and Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Date: June 2, 2020
Pages: 40
Awards: Kansas NEA Reading Circle List PrimaryTitle, Texas 2x2 Reading List, Northern California Book Award Nominee, New York Public Library Best Books for Kids, Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Reading List, Picture This Recommendation List, Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr.

Synopsis: No matter who you are, what you believe or what you do, you matter.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: You matter everyday
Plot: Starting from the smallest thing to see to the biggest, it will always matter. You will always matter. Everything is connected and will always be valued in a way that shows that it and you will always matter all the time.
Artistic Media: Pastels, paint and markers
Curricular Connections: This book connects to the arts due to how precise the illustrations are. The illustrations speak the theme of the story, you matter. Through the color and the detail it shows and speaks volumes. This book also goes with social emotional learning aspects that can help students learn and feel worthy in many ways. This book creates a safe place and feeling for students who may be struggling emotionally.
Personal Response: I personally loved this book. I feel like this book spoke a message that is not necessarily spoke about often to younger students and that is why we may see students struggling emotionally. By getting them to a place where they feel comfortable and know that it is okay to feel a certain way and that they are still valued is so important for themselves and their education journey as well. This book is very inspiring and and speaks a powerful message.
Teacher Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltOaIsWXpHA

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Title: My City Speaks
Author: Darren Lebeuf
Illustrator: Ashely Barron
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Date: September 7, 2021
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: Schneider Family Book Award
Synopsis: There is always a bright side to things while there could be something holding you back. Just like this young girl in the story, she has courage and makes it her city.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Poetic, lyrical, bravery, diversity and exploration
Plot: This story is about a young girl, who is visually impaired, and her father spending the day in their city exploring. She describes her city in a relaxing, but detailed way that she senses it to be. While reading you can feel and see her bravery and courage that she holds. She is very optimistic and even though she has a disability, she does not let that stop her in any way.
Artistic Media: Watercolors and pastels
Curricular Connections: This stories message is connected to social emotional learning because it could be inspiring to individuals who may have a visibility impairment or other disabilities It portrays that no matter what you are dealing with, there is a light at the end of the tunnel to see and that shows your bravery and courage. It is a very motivational story. This story is also good for grammar to teach students about adjectives and what descriptive words can do to a story. The young girl in this story is very detailed with how she is describing her city, so it would be good to have students listen tp the way she is describing.
Personal Response: I personally loved this story. I believe it has a powerful message and purpose to it that does not get portrayed often. To read a book about a young girl who has a disability and to see how positive she is, it is very eye-opening. I believe this book is great for everyone to read because of the characteristics it brings. The illustrations were also amazing because they were very detailed to the descriptive word choice being used in the story.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/__xtdLy9t5g

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Title: Camp Time in California
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: AG Ford
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Date: March 2, 2021
Number of Pages: 112
Awards: The #1 bestselling Magic Tree House series
Synopsis: Danger comes in different ways and is shown in different ways. Jack and Annie learn about the history of Yosemite National Park and explore to the best of their abilities.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Nature Fiction
Theme: Adventure, Nature, Exploration, Magic, Bravery
Plot: Jack and Annie use their magic treehouse to be able to go to Yosemite National Park in California in 1903 and make sketches of what they experience. They get to explore and they do whatever they can to help save the wilderness! They experience time with special guests like President Theodore Roosevelt and learn about history with the wilderness in Yosemite!
Artistic Media: The use of colored pencils and water colors
Curricular Connections: I believe this book would be good as a historical and scientific connection for the class because it speaks on Yosemite, California and the greatness and wilderness around and in it. They also experience time with President Theodore Roosevelt!
Personal Response: I personally really enjoyed this chapter book because of the multiple areas this book covers. I also love how this books invites the readers to use their imaginations and go along for the adventure with Jack and Annie. This book is fun and intriguing with many educational areas being covered. I believe it is important for students to be able to know using their imagination and creativity is important in education and the Magic Tree House series does that!
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/M0weibozin8 (This is chapter 1 and the other chapters follow this link)

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Title: The Three Little Pigs
Author: James Marshall
Illustrator: James Marshall
Publisher: Penguins Young Reader Group
Date: January 6, 1981
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Synopsis: This book is about three little pigs who build their houses out of straw, sticks and bricks. It goes through rough patches with evil situations. The wolf is blowing down the pigs houses, but one of the pigs beats the bad wolf and shows him wrong.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Smart, Observant, Strong, Bravery
Plot: This story goes through the process of three pigs building their houses, but two of the pigs come to see their houses are not the sturdiest with the big bad wolf blowing them down. The third pig is smart and comes up with a plan to get back at the wolf and show him who is boss.
Artistic Media: Watercolors and colored pencils
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional adaptability and living adaptability.
Personal Response:  I personally have a love hate relationship for this book because it reminds me of my childhood, but also I feel like it does not have the best message for younger students as it shows death and violence.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/4F-22Y6Wg60

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Title: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Publisher: Viking Children's Group
Date: 1989
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: American Library Association: Notable Book
Synopsis: This story is told from the wolf's perspective of what happened with the three little pigs. It shows different feelings and puts a new image into the readers minds.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Observant, Assumptions, Empathy, True vs. False
Plot: This story is told by the wolf's point of view and how he sees the events that took place in the book The Three Little Pigs.
Artistic Media: Watercolors and colored pencils
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional adaptability and living adaptability.
Personal Response:  I think this story has a unique and fun meaning to it. I think it is a way of showing young students that there are two sides to a story and to not assume or judge. I think this book is creative and empowers the message of showing students that venturing out and thinking in a fun and new way is good and educational while reading books.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/Xw6fHKFxx1U

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Title: We All Play
Author: Julie Flett
Illustrator: Julie Flett
Publisher: Greystone Books
Date: May 25, 2021
Number of Pages: 48
Awards: 2022 Best Book for Babies, Outstanding International Books List
Synopsis: This book shows a great connection with children, animals and the world around them. It portrays imaginations and creativity in life.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Animals and Humans, Life, Creativity, Playful
Plot: This story is about children who are playing in the nature with animals and shows how they are connected. It is a playful book about happiness and enjoying the world around you.
Artistic Media: Watercolors
Curricular Connections: This book connects to living adaptability and differentiation and diversity.
Personal Response:  I love this book because it is so cute and fun! This book is great for younger students to understand what descriptive words are and how to use them. Showing students examples and modeling for them what you are looking for is so important because then it motivates them. It also creates a picture in children's minds of creativity.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/wxoM4GfxdTc

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Title: Burying the Moon
Author and Illustrator: J Andree Poulin and Sonali Zohra
Publisher: House of Anansai press
Date: October 2021
Number of Pages: 122
Awards: Outstanding International Book List
Synopsis: This book includes a women named Latika who lives in India and she is going through unfairness. She stands up for what she believes in and portrays empowerment and inspiration.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Empowerment, Strength, Fairness, Reality
Plot: This story takes place in India and goes through a women's life in India and how she lives through unsanitary issues. It portrays to always stand up for what you believe in.
Artistic Media: Pen, Ink, paint
Curricular Connections: This book connects to living adaptability and differentiation and social emotional learning. It brings awareness to what individuals truly goes through and is eye opening for the fact to never take anything in life for granted.
Personal Response:  This book was very eye opening and inspiring because it puts into perspective of the reality for a lot of women in this world. I believe this book is inspirational for young students, especially young women because it shows that you can speak up and say how you feel. This story has a strong message to it and portrays the empowerment that women should always feel.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: We Believe In You
Author:  Beth Ferry
Illustrator:  Molly Idle
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Date: October 27, 2020
Number of Pages: 32
Synopsis: This book shows a connection with animals and humans. It portrays the message of how to believe in your self and inspire others and one day you will reach the stars!
Genre: Fiction, Children's Literature
Theme: Animals and Humans, Life, Inspirational, Imagination
Plot: This story shows animals in their natural habitat and what they believe in doing. The animals inspire their little ones and it connects to humans to believe in themselves and to achieve their dreams one day.

Artistic Media: Pencil, Pen, watercolors

Curricular Connections: This book connects individuality and social emotional learning to always believe in yourself and to never give up on your dreams.
Personal Response:  I love this book because it is so cute and fun! This book is great for younger students to be inspired to keep on reaching for the stars everyday and to never give up on their dreams. Children truly do have such a great connection with animals at a young age and this book is unique, fun and inspiring for young children to listen too. I loved this book and its message.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/Ayi6M31EjNY

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Title:  Hot Dog
Author and Illustrator: Doug Salati
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Date: May 24, 2022
Pages: 40
Awards: Randolph Caldecott Medal

Synopsis: This book goes through the struggles and stress a little dog goes through in a hectic city. It turns out, he just needed a little change of scenery to be free and let all the stress and overdwhelemness get out.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Emotion, Life, Living adaptability
Plot: This book follows the life of a little dog in a loud, hectic and busy city. We see his owner take control and realize that his dog needs to get out of the craziness and have a free and stressful say. He takes his dog to the beach and we realize how his emotions are set free and he feels relaxed again when he returns back to the city.
Artistic Media: Colored pencil and marker
Curricular Connections: This book connects to mental health and regulating emotions. It shows how to put your emotions first and recognize how you are feeling.
Personal Response: I personally loved this book. I feel like this book had a very powerful message, especially for young children to read. It shows how you needs to learn how to regulate emotions and recognize how you are feeling. Putting your emotions first is so important when you feel stressed and sometimes we all need a day to just be free and feel relaxed. Everyone, including animals, sometimes just need a day to let go.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/LZhNCsftZzY

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Title:  Frizzy
Author: Claribel A. Ortega
Illustrator: Rose Boursamra
Publisher: First Second
Date: October 18, 2022
Pages: 224
Awards: Pura Belpre Childrens Author Award

Synopsis: This book is about a young girl, Marlene, who does not like her curly and frizzy hair. As readers, we get taken along her journey through her accepting who is she and loving herself.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Self-worth, identity and acceptance
Plot: This book follows the life and journey of a young girl accepting who she is. It is taken place in her hometown where we see her struggle with her hair and not liking the way she is. This book shows us the journey of self-love may be hard, but we should and will all get there.
Artistic Media: Colored pencil and marker
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning and how to accept yourself as you are. As well as gaining confidence and knowing you are perfect just he way you are.
Personal Response: I personally loved this book because of the message it was portraying. Self-love and acceptance is very hard for people, so I think this book is very eye opening and inspiring for young children to read.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/hsVX-9L0ycc (a book review)

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Title: A Seed in the Sun
Author: Aida Salazar
Illustrator: Karina Perez
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Date: October 25, 2022
Number of Pages: 272
Awards: Excellence in Poetry for Children
Synopsis: This book includes a girl who works on a farm and she learns to stand up for what she believes in and uses her voice.
Genre: Poetry
Theme: Empowerment, Strength, Awareness, Activism
Plot: This story follows a girl that works on the farm. She is an individual who has such big dreams and she ends up meeting a women's rights activist named Dolores Huerta. Lula then joins the 1965 protest for women's rights. This makes Lula want to stand up more for what she believes in and use her voice which leads to a strike on the farm she works on to see if there is any progress in the right direction.
Artistic Media: Pen, ink and watercolors
Curricular Connections: Connects to the historical aspect of bringing awareness to women's rights and activism.
Personal Response:  This book is very inspiring and educational, especially for children to read because it of the motivational message it carries. I think this book would be great for me to have in my future classroom one day because it shows how learning to stand up for yourself is always ok and using this book would also  create a positive and uplifting community in the class.
Teacher Resources: With this book, I would want to create an activity for my students to do. I would be  forming the class into groups and having them come up a topic that relates to our current topic and creating a speech for them to share with the class. They can create posters, shirts, signs, etc. to really portray their speech to the class. This activity will teach them about standing up for what they believe.

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Title: The 1619 Project: Born on the water
Author: Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
Illustrator: Nikkolas Smith
Publisher: Kokila
Date: November 16, 2021
Number of Pages: 48
Awards: Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
Synopsis: A students gets the chance to learn about her ancestors through an assignment from school. She gets to look back at what her ancestors went through and how they lived their lives in 1619.
Genre: Interconnected Free verse Poetry
Theme: Poetic, bravery, empowering
Plot: A young girl having to create a family tree as an assignment in her class. The thing is that she can only go back t the past three generations. She learns about her ancestors back in 1619 and what they went through during slave trading and how their lives were before then.
Artistic Media: Watercolors and pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to  history about learning about different cultures and the history in cultures.

Personal Response: I personally loved this story. I believe it has a powerful message. It is educational for students because they learn and read about the slave trade and experiences individuals had to go through during 1619. It is definitely a book I would want my future students to read.
Teacher Resources: I would create an activity out of this book for my future students. The activity I could have my students do is having them create a family tree where they can only go back three generations as well. Then the students can share their family trees with the rest of the class.

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Title: Star Fish
Author: Lisa Fipps
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Date: March 9, 2021
Number of Pages: 272
Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Middle Grade & Children's
Synopsis: This book includes a teenage girl who struggles with body image. We go along with her through her struggles, experiences and emotions. As well as how she gets past her struggles.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Body positivity and strength
Plot: This is a chapter book that is about a teenage girl who is from Texas and she is struggling with her body image. It has been a struggle ever since she was young. Ellie was bullied by her family and friends which made this struggle even worse. We experience how she regulates her emotions and what this struggle can do to individuals.
Artistic Media: Pen and ink
Curricular Connections: Connects to social emotional learning and bullying.
Personal Response:  I personally really enjoyed this book because of the message it is portraying. It is so important to recognize that you never really know what someone is going through and even the smallest word can make such a negative difference in someones life. Ever since i was little, my mom would always tell me, "Treat others the way you want to be treated". I have always gone by that saying and it is one that I will bring with me into my future classroom.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Party Croc!
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald

Illustrator: Derek Sullivan

Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company
Date: March 1, 2015
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: N/A
Synopsis: A young girl does not keep her promise and learns the consequences and life lessons that come along with it.
Genre: Folklore
Theme: Life, Meaning of Promise
Plot: A young girl named Zuva leaves her village to go down to the river to catch fish. She comes into contact with a crocodile who she knows is not allowed to enter the village. The crocodile tells Zuva that if he helps her catch fish then she has to promise to take him to the big party happening in the village. Zuva did not think that the crocodile would really show up and that she does not have to tell him that he can not come. He ends up coming to the party and a people do not like him. Zuva learns an important lesson of making promises and keeping them.
Artistic Media: Watercolors and pastels
Curricular Connections: This book connects to biology, history, and cultures.
Personal Response:  I personally have love this book because of the message it is teaching young kids. Making a promise is such an important lesson to learn and this book does it in a fun and educational way while learning about the culture of Zimbabwe.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Love Violet
Author: Charlotte Sullivan Wild

Illustrator: Charlene Chua

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
Date: January 4, 2022
Number of Pages: 40
Awards: Stonewall Book Award and Charlotte Huck Award
Synopsis: A young girl gets the courage to ask her crush to be her Valentine. We go through the journey with her and see her thrive through overcoming obstacles.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Love connects to courage
Plot: Violet has a crush on Mira, but she does not know how to go about it. Violet decides she is going to ask her to be her Valentine, but she is scared of being embarrassed, laughed at or rejected. One day at school, Violet fell in front of the whole class and everyone laughed at her expect for Mira. Mira ran after Violet to comfort her and Violet realized that her feelings are reciprocated.
Artistic Media: Watercolors
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning anf communication. As well as learning to move past your fears.
Personal Response:  I personally liked this book because of the message it teaches young students to not be scared of embarrassment and to be courageous. This book is a really good way of showing communication skills as well.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/9NMNZcS0Y1k

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Title: My Brother is Away
Author: Sara Greenwood

Illustrator: Luisa Uribe

Publisher: Random House Studio
Date: October 11, 2022
Number of Pages: 40
Awards: Charlotte Huck Award
Synopsis: A young girl is going through a journey of her dealing with her brother being incarcerated.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Life, memories, family, healing, emotions
Plot: A young girl goes through all of her past memories with her brother and she does not know how to deal with her brother being arrested. She is sad, mad and confused. Her parents and the young girl go visit her brother and when she sees many other individuals who are missing their brothers it is a comforting feeling for her. As well as being able to see her brother makes her feel some sort of clarity.
Artistic Media: Color Pencils and watercolors
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social justice and social emotional learning.
Personal Response:  I personally have love this book because it speaks of a situation that is really hard and sensitive for some people, especially young kids. I think this books portrays a great message that can be comforting for some kids who may be going through the same thing. This book is definitely one I will want in my classroom one day.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/zvOn2Cu7PkQ

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Title: Baseball Saved Us
Author: Ken Mochizuki

Illustrator: Dom Lee

Publisher: Lee &Low
Date: March 1993
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: N/A
Synopsis: One similarity can bring so many different people together. Shorty and his family and other Japanese Americans are sent to an internment camp and they build a baseball diamond that brings joy.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Life, Sports, Happiness
Plot: After being sent to a internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Shorty and his family and Japanese Americans seek joy in something that connects them all. Shorty and his father build a baseball diamond where they create a league so everyone starts having fun out of a struggling time.
Artistic Media: Color Pencils and ink
Curricular Connections: This book connects to history and social emotional learning.
Personal Response:  I personally really love this book because it shows making joy out of a time of struggle. It brings the idea of connecting with people in a fun way with baseball and many young kids connect to sports. This book is also educational with bringing awareness of what Japanese Americans had to go through. I definitely want to have this book in my future classroom.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/TooObOfOx4w

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Title: School's First Day of School
Author: Adam Rex

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Date: June 28, 2018
Number of Pages: 40
Awards: Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Childrens Literature and Charlotte Zolotow Award
Synopsis: Everyone goes through new experiences in life and it is ok to feel scared or anxious.
Genre: Fiction and childrens literature
Theme: Life, new experiences, mental health, confidence, empathy
Plot: This book is about bringing awareness to the experiences and anxiety that students potentially get on the first day of school. Though, this book brings the twist of the school being new and having its first day and provides a comforting feeling for the students reading to know that everyone can go through the same thing.
Artistic Media: Color Pencils, pen and ink
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning because it connects to bringing awareness of anxiety and experiencing new experiences like the first day of school.
Personal Response:  I personally really love this book because it is a great book to help students who are feeling scared for the first day of school. It also is a great icebreaker for the class to help create a safe place for the students. It is definitely a book I would read on the first day of school in my classroom.
Teacher Resources: This is a book that would be good for the teacher to read on the first day of school to help students who are scared, feel overwhelmed and have anxiety. It will help create a safe place and community in the classroom.

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Title: Another
Author & Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Date: March 5, 2015
Number of Pages: 56
Awards: A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book for 2019.
Synopsis: Experiencing new experiences and new worlds is so important and is eye opening.
Genre: Fiction and children's literature
Theme: Raises perspectives of reality, others identity and perspectives.

Plot: This book follows a young girl and her cat who become adventurous and look through new perspectives. It is an eye opening book for young children to realize it is ok to be open and view new things and people.

Artistic Media: Color Pencils, pen and ink
Curricular Connections: This book connects to life in general as well as bringing in history, cultures and biology.
Personal Response:  I personally really love this book because it is a great book to help students recognize how looking at new worlds and experiencing something new is so fun and creates a different perspective that they may have never thought of. This book is so fun and is great for students!
Teacher Resources: An activity a teacher can do with this book is split the class up into groups and give them all a new place from around the world. Then they all have to do research and compare and contrast the places to where they live.

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Title: Children of Exile
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Adults
Date: September 2016
Grade Level: 5th - 6th grade
Number of Pages: 210
Awards: New York Times bestseller status,  International Reading Association's Children's Book Award, American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations
Synopsis: Is it worth it? Will this help save your family? Portraying what risk is worth to take and if speaking up is going to help.
Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: This book follows a young girl named Rosi and her brother Bobo who are being raised by foster parents. We follow them and others that go through risks that could either save her family and possibly all of humanity.

Curricular Connections: This book connects to science and the future. As well as connecting to history.
Personal Response:  I really like this book because science fictions and thrillers have always been super interesting to me!
Teacher Resources: https://www.amazon.com/Children-Exile-Margaret-Peterson-Haddix/dp/1442450037

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Title: The Girl in the Tower
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Illustrator: Nicoletta Ceccoli

Publisher: Square Fish
Date: March 29, 2016
Grade Level: 2nd - 5th grade
Number of Pages: 256
Awards: N/A
Synopsis: Good will always beats evil.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Plot: This book follows a young girl named Violet and her mother who get locked in a tower by the vil queen. As the readers, we witness the obstacles they go through and how they beat them through courage and determination.

Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning.
Personal Response:  I really like this book because it is fun, but also gives a powerful message of never giving up which I believe should be a message educators should be portraying to their students.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Charlotte's Web
Author: E.B. White

Illustrator: Garth Williams

Publisher: Harper & Brothers
Date: October 15, 1952
Number of Pages: 192
Awards:  John Newbery Medal
Synopsis: Being a loyal friend is so important as life goes on and changes.
Genre: Animal Fantasy
Theme: Courage, compassion, the ever changing cycle of life and loyalty.
Plot: This book goes through the journey of a spider named Charlotte and her loyalty she puts out into her friendship with Wilbur to try to save his life from being slaughtered. Charlotte is trustworthy and gives all of the animals in the barn advice. Charlotte goes on to write messages in her web to try to get the farmers attention to not slaughter Wilbur. Charlottes life span ends and her egg sac explodes which ends up leaving Wilbur with three of her daughters.
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning and life.
Personal Response:  I personally really love this book because it is a great book to help students recognize the meaning of friendship and what it can look like. I have always love this book since I was a kid and I would love to read this book to my future students depending on which grade I teach!
Teacher Resources:  Creating a journey map of one of the characters.

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Title: A Sky-Blue Bench
Author: Bahram Rahman

Illustrator: Peggy Collins

Publisher: Pajama Press
Date: Nov 30, 2021
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: Schneider Family Book Award

Synopsis: Things may sent you back in life, but everything works out and there are ways to help and do the same things.
Genre: Fiction and children's literature
Theme: Life, barriers, resilience
Plot: A young girl named Aria who is from Afghanistan loses her leg in an accident and now has a prosthetic leg. She is really excited to go back to school, but also worried about how she will be able to do certain things. The wooden benches at school were burned for warmth during the war which means at school the students have to sit on the floor. Aria does not know how she is going to do this with her losing a leg. Her and her mother then find a way to help her.
Artistic Media: Color Pencils, pen and ink
Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning and history.
Personal Response:  I personally really love this book because it helps bring awareness to individuals that have things that set them back, but they make the best out of the situation. This is a very motivating book and I think would be great for young students to read.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Solimar
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Publisher: Disney Press
Date: 2022
Number of Pages: 272
Awards: PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award

Synopsis: A look into the magical world and deciding if going into something dangerous is worth it to save the things and people you care about.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction and children's literature
Theme: Magic, royalty, loyalty, Fantasy
Plot: Solimar, the soon to be princess and Mexican heroine, learns that she has been given a gift to not only predict the near future, but also help the young monarch butterflies that she has always had somewhat of a calling too. She has to use this magic to also help save the kingdom, her family and the villagers since a king came and took them hostage. This job is dangerous, but she knows this is what has to be done. We witness her magical journey and experiences she goes through.

Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning and history.
Personal Response:  I personally really love this book because it brings the fun in fantasy and magic to life and portrays the message of family and celebrations. I think this would be such a fun book for students to read!
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: New Kid
Author: Jerry Craft

Publisher: Harper Collins
Date: February 5, 2019
Grade Level: 3rd - 7th grade
Number of Pages: 256
Awards: Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award
Synopsis: Change can be scary and really hard, but it can also be the best thing to happen.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship, Life, Diversity

Plot: This book follows along the story of Jordan Banks who is a new African American student from Washington Heights. His parents sent him to a private school to try to give him educational opportunities that they never got. Jordan experienced bullies, feeling different, excluded and not feeling wanted. It was hard for him to go through this and we see him overcome his tough experiences and meet new friends. Jordan and his friends learn the importance of friendship and that it is ok to be different.

Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning.
Personal Response:  I personally did enjoy this book because it has such a great message and it is very eye opening while reading it. This book showed the importance of diversity in schools and how being accepting to others is so important. As well as knowing how to create friendships and bond with others that are different from you. It is a great story for students to read. This book could also be comforting to students who struggle with having different backgrounds or are different from other students in their school.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Fighting for Yes: The Disability Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith
Author: Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Date: August 9, 2022
Number of Pages: 48
Awards: Ortis Picture Awards
Synopsis: Standing up for what you believe in is so much more than you think. No matter what is holding you back, you can do it.
Genre: Picture book biography
Artistic Media: Graphic Images
Theme: Bravery, making a difference and fighting for change

Plot: This book follows along the biography of Judith who her whole life she always heard the word "no" and it always seemed like it was because she's in a wheel chair. Judith was no able to attend public school and this was heartbreaking for her because she always wanted to be an educator, but she was told "no". Judith knew she had to begin to fight for what she believed in and in 1977 was when the 504 gave Judith a big achievement.

Curricular Connections: This book connects to social emotional learning.
Personal Response:  I personally did enjoy this book because it has such a great message and it is very eye opening while reading it. This book shows students that even if there are things holding them back, they can still achieve their goals. Thebook is very motivating for students.
Teacher Resources: An activity to go along with this book could be having students create a "law" that they believe should be passed in the classroom and they will give speeches to the class.

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Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio

Illustrator: Luisa Uribe

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date: February 14, 2012
Number of Pages: 310
Awards: Bandung Film Festival for Imported Film; Humanitarian Award

Synopsis: Being born to stand out is so important to understand. Let people accept you for who you are.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Empathy, friendship, acceptance, differences
Plot: A young boy named Auggie was born with facial differences and he faces bullying and everyone misunderstanding him at school. He enters fifth grade at a private school and all he wants is to be treated like a normal kid. As the school year goes on, Auggie gains so much acceptance and confidence from his peers and receives an award for his strength. Auggie learns what it is like to be independent and learns to be brave through tough situations because at the end of the day, he was born to stand out.
Curricular Connections: This book connects to  social emotional learning.
Personal Response:  I love this book because it is inspiring and motivating to students who may be struggling with their appearances and/or bullying. I will implement this book into my classroom one day because it helps students understand how important it is to accept everyone for who they are and to not be timid to stand out.
Teacher Resources: An activity that could be done with this book is when students are done sharing their current story they wrote, the students will give the sharer a compliment and celebrate their peers work, This is a way of choosing kindness and lifting each other up. As well as the students being brave to share their story.

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Author: Annette Bay Pimentel

Illustrator: Nabigal-Nayagam Haider Ali
Publisher: Sourcebook Explore

Genre: Biography

Grade Level: K-5
Number of Pages: 32
Synopsis: No matter what there is holding you back, you can achieve anything you put your mind too.

Plot: The book is a true story on how a 8 year old girl became a disability rights activist. We witness her make strives for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Curricular Connection: Social emotional learning.

Personal response: I loved this book and I personally believe it is a great book for students of all ages to read. It shows the message of how being brave and accomplishing anything you put your mind too can be done.

Teacher Resource: Students get put into groups and have to come up with a rule that they believe should be passed in the classroom. They share it with the class.

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Author: Sara Levine

Illustrator: T.S. Spookytooth
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group

Grade Level: 2nd

Genre: Informational
Number of Pages: 32
Synopsis: Informing kids on all different kinds of human teeth to all different kinds of species.

Plot: This book is about informing readers on all different kinds of human teeth to different animals teeth. This book informed on the idea of comparing and contrasting teeth, as well as including open-end questions on what kind of animal would have certain kind of teeth.

Personal Response: I personally did enjoy this book because it was very informative, but fun at the same time. It did a good job at keeping the readers attention the entires time, which is especially important for young kids.

Teacher Resource: Students take a picture of their teeth and pick a animal to comapre their teeth too. While writing facts about both.

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Author: Sharon M Draper

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Fiction

Number of Pages: 320
Synopsis: You are a lot smarter than people and you may believe. Always believe in your capabilities and let them shine!

Plot: The book is about a young girl who has cerebral palsy. Her whole life this disability has held her back, but we witness her overcome her disability and prove all of her classmates wrong. She shows and proves how she belongs and is just as smart as anyone else.
Curricular Connection: Social emotional learning

Personal response: I loved this book and it has a great message for students to understand. It is inspiring and motivating for students who may be struggling with disabilities. It is a really great book and I definitely recommend it.

Teacher Resource: Boise Public Library

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Title: My Ocean is Blue
Author: Darren Lebeuf
Illustrator: Ashley Barron
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Date: March 3, 202
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award
Synopsis: Describing words do a lot more than individuals may think. It helps us picture and use our imaginations.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Life, observant, nature, lyrical
Plot: A young girl visits the seaside with her mother and she describes the ocean in a lyrical way. She looks at the differences of the ocean throughout the day and how it changes.
Artistic Media: Watercolors and pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to learning parts of speech.

Personal Response: I think this was a great book to read, especially for the younger students who are learning about adjectives. It has them picture the words in their minds just from the specific detail in the story.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: The Moon Within
Author: Aida Salazar
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Date: 2019
Number of Pages: 256
Awards: International Latino Book Award Winner
Synopsis: You are never alone and you always have a community. Growing up is a process, don't rush it.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Life, Love, Family, Community
Plot: Celi is a preteen girl who is going through the normal changes a girl teenager does. She starts to have her first boy crush and is recognizing who she is. It is hard and scary for her as she goes through her "moon cycle", but she makes sense of her body changing and what it all means.
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I think this was a great book to read, especially for the middle graders because it helps the young preteens understand it is ok to go through everything they are.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Stolen Words
Author: Gabrielle Grimard
Publisher: Second Story Press
Date: September 2017
Number of Pages: 24
Awards: 2018 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award
Synopsis: Remembering where you came from and looking back on it is so important.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Life, Family, Culture
Plot: A young girl helps her grandfather relearn his native language (Cree). The grandfather got his words stolen from him when he was young by mean men due to them wanting to get rid of the Cree language. The young girl teaches her grandfather and it reminds him of how much happiness he felt from his culture.
Artistic Media: Colored Pencils
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning and history.

Personal Response: I think this was a great book to read and I love how it is educational, but also a loving story. It helps the younger kids put into perspective how individuals were treated in the First Nations. This is a book I would love for my students to read because it shows them to always appreciate their cultures.
Teacher Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJxpzyVRc7w

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Title: Forever Cousins
Author: Jonathan Nelson
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Date: October 4, 2022
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: 2022 Latinx Kitlit Book Festival
Synopsis: As far as you are from each other, the love family has will always hold you close.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Life, Family, Love, Friendship
Plot: Two cousins, Amanda and Kara are the best of friends. Kara ends up moving away and it is so hard for them because they will not see each other till next summer. They get a doll that they both have when they feel lonely to remember the other one is still there. When the reunite in the summer time, it brings them both so much happiness again.
Artistic Media: Colored Pencils and markers
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: This story is so great and I love how it shows the love and connection that families share. It shows how  distance will not diminish the connection you have in families.
Teacher Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TXPRfzHCn0

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Title: One Fine Day
Author: Nonny Hogrogian
Publisher: Aladdin
Date: September 1, 1974
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: Caldecott Medal
Synopsis: In life you end up learning how the actions you take may have consequences.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Consequence, Life
Plot: As a fox is traveling through a field he drinks a women's glass of milk. The woman notices and cuts off the foxes tail. The fox wanted his tail back, but she said she would return it if only the fox replaces replaces the milk he stole. This is where the fox learns that actions may have consequences.
Artistic Media: Colored Pencils and pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I really did like this book because it helps teaches the life lesson of actions may having consequences to younger children. This is such an important life lesson and for children to read it in a book it helps them learn in a fun way.
Teacher Resources: Epic Books!

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Title: Snow Day for Mouse
Author: Judy Cox
Illustrator: Jeffrey Ebbeler
Publisher: Holiday House
Date: September 1, 2013
Number of Pages: 32
Awards: Anne Izard Storytellers Choice Award 2009
Synopsis: Being a good friend matters.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Consequence, Life, Kindness
Plot: Mouse has always loved snow days and he loves ice skating and sledding, but the sly cat might be right there. Luckily for mouse, there are three birds who sit on a tree who warn Mouse of the sly cat.
Artistic Media: Colored Pencils and pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I really did like this book because it helps teaches the life lesson of what it means to be a good friend and how kindness truly matters. This book portrays a great message for young kids.
Teacher Resources: Epic Books!

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Title: Oscar Seeks a Friend
Author & Illustrator: Pawel Pawkal
Publisher: Lantana Publishing
Date: September 3, 2019
Number of Pages: 40
Synopsis: Friendships are more unexpected than you think. Open up your eyes and look around into a different world.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendships, Life, Kindness
Plot: Oscar the skeleton meets a lonely young girl and they both end up making an adventure out of it. The little girls tooth ends up falling out and Oscar is missing his tooth so he asks for her tooth. The young girl was taken off guard at first, but she ends up being Oscars friend and they go on a joyful journey of friendship together.
Artistic Media: Colored Pencils and pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: This book was great and would be so good for young children to read. Opening your mind to new friendships and being kind to one another can create the most genuine friendships!
Teacher Resources: Epic Books!

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Title: The Thing About Jellyfish
Author: Ali Benjamin
Publisher: Brown Books for Young Readers
Date: April 4, 2017
Number of Pages: 352
Synopsis: Grief comes in many different ways and it is so hard losing someone you love.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Grief, Life
Plot: Suzy loses her best friend and she grieves the loss in a way of her imagination and looking into a different world. She believes that the jellyfish sting must've happened for a reason and she wants to prove this theory and she will do it alone if she has too.
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: This book was great and I think is great for older students to read because it is so important to understand that grief comes in different ways and it is ok to feel so many different feelings.
Teacher Resources: Amazon

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Title: Room for Everyone
Author: Naaz Khan
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Date: November 9, 2021
Number of Pages: 40
Synopsis: No matter how much room is left, there is always room for everyone. Genre: Fiction
Theme: Kindness
Plot: There is a young boy on a very crowded bus on the way to the beach and along the ride people keep getting picked up. Throughout the ride, people laugh and talk and of course make room for everyone out of kindness.
Artistic Media: Pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I thought this was a great book and portrays a great message for young students to understand that there is always room for everyone and anyone no matter what.

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Title: The Big Umbrella
Author & Illustrator: Amy June Bates
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: February 6th, 2018
Number of Pages: 40
Synopsis: Be open for everyone and everything.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Kindness
Plot: There is a big umbrella that always stays by the door for when it is a rainy day outside. This umbrella is big enough so that anyone who needs shelter can fit under it.
Artistic Media: Pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I thought this was a great book and portrays a great message for young students to understand that there is always room for everyone and anyone no matter what.

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Title: Small Spaces
Author: Katherine Arden
Publisher: G.P. Putnams Sons Books for Young Readers
Date: September 25, 2018
Number of Pages: 224
Synopsis: No matter what happens in life or where you go, the people you love the most will always be there for you.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Kindness
Plot: Ollie suffered a tragic loss and eventually discovers a chilling ghost story about a girl named Beth. Beth lost her husband and brother in law due to a mysterious figure. This turns into a story for Ollie to discover.
Curricular Connections: Middle schoolers

Personal Response: I think this a great book and makes a connection for always looking out for your friends and remembering there are always people close to you.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library

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Title: Separate is Never Equal
Author & Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Date: May 6, 2014
Number of Pages: 40
Synopsis: Always do your best to achieve what you believe in!
Genre: Biography
Theme: Fight for your rights!
Plot: This story follows the story about desegregation in the 1940s in California, anti-Lantinx racism and how one girls family decided to never give up and keep fighting until their children could go to the same school as other children.
Artistic Media: Markers and colored pencils
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning, history and human rights

Personal Response: I thought this was a great book and portrays a great message in a very educational way for students to understand. This book does it in a way that is easy for students to follow and has them using their imaginations.
Teacher Resources:  Epic!

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Title: Walk with Me
Author: Jairo Buitrago
Illustrator: Rafael Yockteng
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Date: 2017
Number of Pages: 35
Synopsis: The ones you love the most will always be there no matter what.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship, grief, life
Plot: This story is about a little girl who loses her father and to take his place, she gets an imaginary friend. Her imaginary friend is the lion and they create the best friendship where he protects her just like her father did.
Artistic Media: Colored pencils
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I thought this was a great book and portrays a great message! This book would be great to help students who are struggling with losing someone close to them.

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Title: Dear Primo
Author & Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Date: March 1, 2010
Number of Pages: 32
Synopsis: Friendships will always be the best, no matter how you stay in contact.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship, life, distance
Plot: This story is about two boys named Carlitos and Charlie. one lives in Mexico and one lives in California. They are cousins and stay in touch by writing letters to each other while learning about where each other live.
Artistic Media: Colored pencils
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning and history.

Personal Response: I love this book and think it is educational, but also fun. It is a great book for students to read and shows students that it is important to understand all communities are different. It is a eye opening book as well.
Teacher Resource: https://youtu.be/SSZUOhCTNbM

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Title: Be Your Own Best Friend Forever
Author & Illustrator: Gary Robinson
Publisher: 7th Generation
Date: 2021
Number of Pages: 40
Synopsis: Remember you always yourself and do not listen to what other people have to say about you.
Genre: fiction
Theme: Kindness, Positivity
Plot: Jayla shares tips and advice to block out negativity and to remember self love. You will forever be your own best friend and other people opinion does not matter.
Artistic Media: Pastels
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I love this book and think it is so important for students to read. All young kids need to know that they are perfect the way they are to to be confident in that and this book does a great job at portraying that message.
Teacher Resources: https://youtu.be/62vDZBDUGhU

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Title: When you Trap a Tiger
Author: Tae Keller
Publisher: ‎Random House Books for Young Readers
Date: January 28, 2020
Number of Pages: 304
Synopsis: A quest may bring you more clarity and power than you think.
Genre: fiction
Theme: Loss, grief, family history
Plot: Lilly goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories in hopes to save her grandmother. This is where Korean folktales come out and the magical tiger appears to reveal some family history.
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning and culture.

Personal Response: I love this book and I think it would be good to help students who are going through the loss of someone they love because it helps shows that the family history is always there.
Teacher Resources: Boise Public Library!

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Title: A case of the Can-Dos
Author: Jill Keppeler
Illustrator: Rachel Dinunzio
Publisher: Rose Publishing Group
Date: December 15, 2020
Number of Pages: 34
Synopsis: You can do anything you put your mind too!
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Bravery, confidence
Plot: Young Sophia has spent most of her life in a wheelchair not being able to do things. One morning she wakes up with the can-dos and decides she can do things. Sophia does not let being in a wheelchair stop her from even doing dance and she proves many people wrong.
Artistic Media: Drawing and Painting
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I love this book and it is so motivating and inspiring to those who may also be in a wheelchair. This book spreads great awareness to all and is so important!
Teacher resources: Epic!

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Title: Give Up, Gecko!
Author & Illustrator: Magaret Read MacDonald
Publisher: Two Lions
Date: 2013
Number of Pages: 32
Synopsis: Do not let other intimidate or assume things about you!
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Bravery, confidence, Size does not matter
Plot: A group of animals are stuck in a drought and they are all searching for water. All the animals take turns, expect for Gecko. Gecko keeps going even though he is the smallest animal and everyone around was mocking him.
Artistic Media: water colors, pen
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I love this book and it is so motivating for all students to understand to never give up no matter what. I will be sharing this book with my class one day because it is so important to understand to always do what you love and do not listen to others!
Teacher resources: https://youtu.be/cqDq8o_5NWI

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Title: The Breadwinner
Author: Deborah Ellis
Illustrator:Cartoon Saloon
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Date: January 1st, 2018
Number of Pages: 80
Synopsis: Taking risks can be scary, but sometimes it is what we have to do.
Genre: Fiction Novel
Theme: Bravery, confidence, courageous
Plot: 11 year old Parvana is from Afghanistan and she has to dress up as a male to be her families breadwinner. Her father was arrested by the Taliban, so she takes the risk to step in and try her best to help her family in any way possible.
Artistic Media: Digital media
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I love this book and the message it portrayed because I like how it encourages individuals how taking risks can be so scary, but sometimes they need to be done and it could be worth it.
Teacher resources: https://youtu.be/JdbIqlMyIlU

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Title: Ways to Make Sunshine
Author: Renee Watson
Illustrator:Nina Mata
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Date: January 1st, 2018
Number of Pages: 208
Synopsis: Change is hard, but sometimes it is what needs to be done to keep moving along.
Genre: Fiction Novel
Theme: family, adapting to change
Plot: Ryan realizes some change is starting to go on and she needs to adapt to it even though it is hard. Her dad gets a new job, but then finds out money is still tight so Ryan starts to take it into her own hands and starts selling.
Curricular Connections: This story connects to social emotional learning.

Personal Response: I love this book and the message it portrays because I like how it is motivating children to know change is hard, but to always stay strong through it. As well as to always be positive even if it is hard to me. It is a great book and can be relatable for so many!
Teacher resources: Boise Public Library!