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Author/ Illustrator:  William Steig
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG)
Date Published: November 18, 1982
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Soft, impressionistic art, white background to highlight characters. Fable-like connections.
Grade level: 2nd-4th grade
Genre: Children's Fiction, fable
Themes: Decision making, the personification of animals.

Doctor De Soto is a mouse who is a dentist. AS a dentist, he serves all sorts of animals, but not animals who are a danger to mice. Doctor De Soto doesn’t want to risk his life! One day, a fox comes in with an enormous toothache and the De Soto’s decide to serve him. The fox becomes convinced he wants to eat the mice, but Doctor De Soto outsmarts him. The fox leaves embarrassed, and the mice feel accomplished.

While reading this story, it reminded me of fables I read as a kid. The animals represented different things, such as a fox being sly, which helped me determine characteristics and navigate the characters through the entirety of the story. I liked the illustrations, as they were vivid and helped create connections with the story. This story seemed to point out a theme of not judging others, based on stereotypical or common beliefs, which is a good message to relay to kids.

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator:  Rafael Lopez
Publisher:  Nancy Paulsen Books
Date Published: August 28, 2018
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements:  The illustrator uses bright colors and soft drawing of character's. The colors help to evoke emotion
Grade level: K-3rd grade
Genre: Children's Fiction, Children's fiction on social issues
Themes: Accepting our identity, being true to ourselves, power within
Literary Elements: Character development, artistic themes, takes place in a school setting and character's home

Personal Response: I loved this book because of the symbolism seen within the illustrations, as well as the message it conveyed. There is so much importance in a deep understanding of humans and connecting to them. This book delivers this message to us by providing different characters with different backgrounds and identities.  At first, some of the characters are reluctant about their identity as they feel they don't fit the norm, but as others begin to share their stories about their backgrounds and culture, the more people become confident in choosing to be who they are meant to be. The Day You Begin is when you make the choice to fully be who you are meant to be, even if it may be hard to relate to others at that time.

The book identifies the fear and feeling of being different or looking different and the challenges one faces when trying to find their true identity. This book also can give us a differing perspective of emotions that some children deal with in schools.

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Ten Days and Nine Nights: An adoption story

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Ten Days and Nine Nights: An adoption story

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Author/ Illustrator: Yumi Heo
Publisher:  National Geographic School Pub
Date Published: June 23, 2010
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements:  The illustrator uses bright colors and cartoon-like visual representations. There is also a Korean art influence.
Genre: Children's Fiction, Children's fiction on social issues
Themes: Family, acceptance, adoption
Literary Elements: Character development, climax (setting up baby sister's room with 2 days left), resolution (baby sister and mom come home)

Summary:

This book is full of artistic illustrations following a young girl counting down the days until her family officially receives her adopted baby sister. The big sister is SO very excited and each day is prepping the house and rest of the family for the new baby. She is so excited and prepares her own very special welcome. The literature and culture of this book have Korean influences. The theme of this book surrounds basic ideas of adoption and family. It’s quite simple as this book is aimed at younger children.

I decided to evaluate my book on Believability, perspectives, and connections for my readers. I see this book as being believable as it relates to a very real-life thing that occurs frequently, adoption. Adoption is something that people are aware of and is something that some families experience. The perspective shown in this book is from the sister who is gaining a new sister. This would be a good book to share with young children of adopted families. This will help create perspectives on adoption and how some families can look different from others.

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Author: R.J. Palacio
Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date Published: February 14, 2012
Number of Pages: 100 pages
Genre: Children's Fiction
Themes: Family, acceptance, embracing who you are
Literary Elements: Character development, climax, resolution

Summary:

Auggie is different. He knows this and feels this, so much so he sometimes even wears a spaceship helmet to hide his face. In fact, his difference has what has kept him from living a normal life like the children around him. Auggie is sent to his very first year in a school, with kids his age. This terrifies him and he is so apprehensive to listen to his parents. After much convincing, listening to his parents, and meeting the principal of the school, he finally agrees. After meeting students, everyone begins to realize the uniqueness of Auggie where he faces challenges about trying to be accepted as normal. This novel promotes challenges kids face in school, such as bullying, and how families, kid's and their friends approach acceptance, kindness, and love.

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Hear My Voice/Escucha mi Voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States

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Hear My Voice/Escucha mi Voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States

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Author/ Compiled by: Warren Binford
Illustrator: 17 Latinx artists
Publisher:  Workman Publishing Company; Bilingual edition
Date Published: April 13, 2021
Number of Pages: 96 pages
Grade level: 3rd-4th grade
Visual Elements:  There is a lot of symbolism used within the art, tied to traditional and cultural Hispanic/ Latinx art styles, some of the art pieces are realistic and some are abstract.
Genre: Children's historical non-fiction

Summary:

This book is very powerful and moving, as it is the real-life stories of detained children at the border. The art connects with each testimony in a way that makes your heartbreak for the conditions these children are living in. This book gives these children a voice so that people can hear them as well as be aware of some of the difficult and traumatic issues that refugees and people fleeing their country have to deal with. The book is also offered in Spanish so that it can represent the mother tongue of the children's testimony and reach an even larger audience. This story has curricular connections and can be used in social studies. This book identifies the themes of fear of the unknown and tragedy that takes place when trying to get into the United States.

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Mt. Olympus Theme Park: The Spider Drama

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Mt. Olympus Theme Park: The Spider Drama

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Author: Elizabeth Catanese
Illustrator: Benedetta Capriotti
Publisher: Spellbound an imprint of ABDO Publishing
Date Published: August 2021
Number of Pages: 48 pages
Visual Elements: cartoon-like illustrations, varying bright colors to represent the mood
Genre: Children's Fiction
Themes: Caring, family, self-worth
Literary Elements: Character development, climax (cassie's sister is in trouble, and needs help).

Short Summary:

This book was an interesting and fun read. It was split into chapters making sections within the book. I liked this book because it has a good lesson. I also appreciated the small connections to Greek mythology as it reminded me of the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. This book taught a good lesson about friendship and family. It seems Cassie and her twin sister are often competing with each other and become jealous when one gets something the other wants. But, when Cassie's sister is in big trouble, she swoops in, setting all conflict aside, to save her. This book is fun and engaging and a great way to introduce younger readers to the ideas of chapter books and longer reads.

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Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
Publisher: Vikings Books for Young Readers
Date Published: August 16, 2007
Number of Pages: 202
Grade level: 3rd-7th grade
Visual Elements: Although this is predominantly a chapter book,  there are sketched out black and white ink images to help add to the text.
Themes: Relationship, facing adversity
Literary elements: Character development, setting, climax, resolution
Genre: Children's fiction

Short Summary:

It's just the two of them, Danny and his dad, living out of an old gypsy caravan as they navigate life together. Danny learns a big secret about his father, and eventually begins helping his dad with this secret creating an even better bond between the two of them. They are faced with a not very friendly rich man- Victor Hazel- and they win against him using their well kept secret to their advantage. This book highlights relationship, community, and Danny, who is the champion of the world.

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How to Read a Book

Poet: Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Genre: Children’s literature, poetry
Themes: The Power of Reading

Grade: Pre-K to 3rd grade
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type of poetry: Free verse
Visual elements: The artwork and illustrations actually are a part of the text, bringing alive the words.

Summary:
This book is a beautiful way to highlight the journey and joys of reading. It uses floral language and color to take the reader on a poetic road of discovery. I found it inspirational, and a unique way to inform and be creative in writing. This text shows that writing and poetry have so many different meanings and ways to be written about. Rather than just writing and publishing an instruction manual, Kwame Alexander uses his gifts to make this an intriguing book for children to read.

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Author: Kwame Alexander
Publisher:  Clarion Books
Date Published: March 5, 2019
Number of Pages: 256 pages
Genre: Children's Fiction, Poetry
Themes: Family, Coming of age
Literary Elements: Character development, climax, resolution, poetry

Summary:

Josh Bell lives and breathes basketball, as well as his twin brother Jordan. With 8th grade comes many life changes. Add in a sport and a father with the same ambitions for sports comes to pressure and value. The twins begin to drift apart as JB begins to like "Miss Sweet Tea" the pink reeboks, basketball-playing girl. Jordan is faced with many emotional highs and lows in this book. Dad, 'Da Man' is sick and their mom allows only healthy food and pressure for dad to go see a doctor. Eventually, Mom proves to be right, as many Jordan and JB's dad faces many health consequences. As Josh navigates life, 8th grade, his twin brother, family, girls, and the game, he grows into a resilient person, learning about his values.

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Author: Deborah Underwood
Illustrator: Cindy Derby
Publisher:  Clarion Books
Date Published: April 14, 2020
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Genre: Children's Fiction, Children's literature
Themes:
Visual elements: Watercolor and pen/ink mixture
Literary Elements: Figurative language, personification

Summary:

This book is a beautiful reminder of the importance of nature in our lives. We have created a barrier to the outside world in some ways, so it is important to reconnect to. In this book, Outside is referred to as a character.  There's connections to things in our lived that would not be possible without outside.

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Strega Nona

Author/ illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Date of publication: September 3, 1979
Type of traditional literature: Italian Folktale
# of pages: 40 pages
Grade level: PreK-3rd
Plot Summary:
Strega Nona is a grandma witch who lives in a town. Everyone goes to see Strega Nona if they are having trouble with something. Since Strega Nona is getting older, she needs help to care for her house and garden. Big Anthony responds to her needs and comes to her house. She gives him one rule: To not touch the pasta pot. One day, Big Anthony sees Strega Nona with her pasta pot and she’s singing to it as it makes pasta all by itself. He went into the town and told the community, but no one believed him and he wanted revenge.  Strega Nona leaves town and trusts Anthony to take care of the house and not touch the pasta pot. He invites the whole town to Strega Nona’s house to feed everyone Pasta. He forgot a very important step, and pasta was overflowing everywhere. Big Anthony tried everything, but the pasta had continued to fill up with pasta and the pasta started to overflow into the town. Strega Nona arrived back home to see this mess and sang the song–this time with 3 kisses– to stop the overflowing. Big Anthony’s crime did not go without punishment, and so he had to eat ALL the pasta.

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Author/Illustrator: Jan Brett
Publisher:  Penguin Young Readers Group
Date published: October 5, 2009
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Genre: Children's Fiction, Children's literature, Realistic Fiction
Grade level: 2nd-5th
Visual elements: Detailed pen and color illustration, drawings

Summary:

A little boy loves the winter and being in the snow. Because of this, some mittens are made for him. The only dilemma is that his mittens are white, and he loses them, unable to easily find them in the white snow. An animal finds this cozy mitten and on-by-one the mitten gains an animal, and then another, and then another until it gets so full until it bursts. The little boy learns his lesson and gains a new pair of mittens that he won't lose as easily.

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Author: Derrick Barnes
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Date Published: July 2, 2019
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Genre: Children's Fiction,
Themes: Family, be your own self, you are royalty
Literary Elements: Metaphor

Summary:
A young boy in kindergarten is getting ready for his first day of kindergarten. His mom explains to him how easy it will be if he adapts a mindset that he is "the king of kindergarten" the book continues on providing metaphors and examples of things that may happen in school. This book teaches how to be kind, in every situation. The King of Kindergarten is a good book to excite young children for school, and not be fearful of kindergarten!

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Author: Claudia Mills
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
Date Published: October 19, 2021
Number of Pages: 295
Grade level: 4th-7th grade
Themes: linguistics and saving dying languages, friendship, unhealthy relationships
Genre: Verse, Children's fiction

Short Summary:
Betsy and Lizard are the best of friends in the world. Unbeknownst to Lizard, there are so many dying languages in the world and will soon be extinct if no one continues to pay attention. Because Betsy's mother is a university linguistics professor and can speak 5 languages, and also studies old, ancient languages, Betsy knows about the danger of losing languages. Rather than writing books about language, like Betsy's mom, Lizard comes up with the brilliant idea of saving them by speaking them.

While this book focuses on saving lost languages, it also follows the story of the friendship between the 2 girls. It shows the toxic levels of control within relationships as well as how Betsey tries to escape this control from Lizard and her mother.

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Author: Blia Xiong, Cathy Spagnoli
Illustrator: Nancy Hom
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Date Published: June 4, 1997
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Pre-K-3rd grade
Visual Elements: Printed images, digital, hmong
help add to the text.
Themes: History, Environment/Nature, Conflict resolution, Hmong Culture
Literary elements: Conflict/resolution
Genre: Children's fiction, folktale

Short Summary:

Tiger wants to know how many cubs he is going to get each year. To fund this information out, he talks to the great god Shao. Shao repsonds to tiger that he will recieve nine tiger cubs each year. Bird becomes concerned with the tigers overcoming the world, because they don't want to be eaten. Bird comes up with a trick, where Tiger gets one cub instead of 9. (Grr, grr).

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Author: Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Wendy Watson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date Published: August 1, 2004
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: 2nd-5th  grade
Themes: History
Genre: Children's historical fiction

Short Summary:

This book is about a little girl during the time of WWII. She has recently escaped the ghetto in Warsaw but is still dealing with the Gestapo, and trying to understand why being Polish is so bad. The reason this book has cats in the title is that the cats are this little girl’s friends even though they hide in the cracks and walls of the city. To me, they have a tie to the little girl, they represent some of the ideas of what the little girl is going through.

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Author: Tim Tingle
Publisher: Roadrunner Press
Date Published: September 8, 2015
Number of Pages: 141 pages
Grade level: 4th-7th  grade
Themes: History, Trial, family/community
Genre: Historical Fantasy

The tribe escapes the white men after their village was set on fire. Isaac is seeing visions, and they come true. The lake freezes and the Nahullos reach their camp. The Nahullo's spread deathly smallpox to the Choctaw tribe. Isaac promises to be Nita's big brother, swearing to look after her. He sees a vision of her death from the mysterious rash. Isaac's vision comes true the next morning when they find Nita dead. Isaac has been attacked by a wolf while Joseph hunts a deer. He becomes a ghost and feels compelled to go find Noami. Isaac is able to find Naomi and help lead her away from the bad  Nahullo to find protection.

The main character Isaac has visions and there are ghosts involved in the story, developing that fantasy genre concept in the story. I also see connections to the Choctaw tribe, as this is the tribe that the main character has been raised in. Reading a story about the Trail of Tears and a Native American tribe from a Native perspective allowed me to view this part of our history in a different manner. I realize that this story is nonfiction and fantasy, yet it still provides background and some historical information about The Trail of Tears.

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Author: Ali Benjamin
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Readers
Date Published: April 4, 2017
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Grade level: 4th-7th  grade
Themes: Death, grief, overcoming trial
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Suzy Swanson is dealing with a lot in the 6th grade. After her parent's divorce, her brother moved away, and distance is placed between her and Franny, her best friend who is starting to like boys, she is trying to figure out life. Suzy and Franny begin to distance themselves from each other because Suzy is confused and struggling. Franny becomes popular in middle school while Suzy is left in the dust, while Franny doesn't recognize the hurt she is causing Suzy. Before the start of 7th grade, Franny drowns in a lake in Maryland while on vacation, and Suzy is left to navigate grief and a friendship that has ended with someone whom she loved but felt was not treating her well. Suzy decides there must be a cause for Franny's death and is determined that a rare jellyfish have stung her and killed her. Through searching for herself and learning how to process grief about Franny, Suzy is able to move on and cherish the memories she had with Franny.

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Author: Ai-Ling Louie
Illustrator: Ed Young
Publisher: Puffin Books
Date Published: May 7, 1996
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Pre-K to 3rd  grade
Themes: History, be careful what you wish for, kindness
Genre: Traditional Folktales

Short Summary:

This story is a Chinese version of Cinderella. Yeh-Shen is left an orphan in the care of her wicked step-family. Her only friend is a fish, but when the fish dies she is devastated. She sits by the fish bones and wishes upon them. The fish comes to life and grants her wish of going to the Spring Festival. No one recognizes Yeh-Shen, and the King falls in love with her. The wish wears off, but Yeh-shen leaves her golden slipper behind. Allowing the King to discover her and eventually they wed.

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Author: Marcus Pfister
Illustrator: Allison James
Publisher: North-South Books
Date Published: January 27, 1999
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: PreK-2nd grade
Themes: Friendhsip, sharing, kindness, humbleness
Genre:  Children's literature, fiction

Short Summary:

The Rainbow fish knows he's beautiful. His fins sparkle the brightest among all the fish in the sea. Due to his flaws, pride and vainess, he loses freinds and becomes lonely. What is he going to do? He wants to make friends, and does so by humbling himself and giving away his scales one-by-one to the fish in the sea.

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Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
Publisher: Orchard Books
Publishing Date: September 1, 2001
Number of Pages: 32
Grade Level: Pre-K-3rd grade

Short Summary:

Gerald is the main character in this story and he wants nothing more in the world than to dance. There is a yearly dance that occurs in the jungle, and all the animals attend and dance. Gerald came to dance and attempt, but all the animals laugh at him. Gerald feels ashamed and embarrassed and leaves the part, isolating himself. While Gerald sulks and spends alone time with himself, a small cricket approaches him, giving him advice. The cricket tells him he needs to dance and encourages Gerald to do what he loves and makes him happy. He goes back to the dance, shows off his skills and all the other animals of the jungle are very impressed.

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Author: Traci Todd
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Date Published: September 28, 2021
Number of Pages: 56 pages
Grade level: PreK-3rd grade
Genre: Biography, children's non-fiction

Short Summary:

This story talks about the beginning of Eunice. It was a hard time during segregation and political strife. Eunice was talented and grew up in a religious household. After years of singing hymns, Eunice started to secretly learn jazz behind her mama's back, as her mama wouldn't approve. Eunice started going to piano lessons. Eunice experienced a lot of anger from the segregation she experienced firsthand. She was accepted into Julliard and moved from South Caroline to New York. Due to her rejection, she quit music and became a piano teacher. She was talented and started playing in bars. Eunice changed name her name to Nina for safety.  Through her music, she was able to sing about the unjust issues her people had to deal with.

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Author: Monalisa DeGross
Publisher: Harper Trophy Books
Date Published: December 31, 2018
Number of Pages: 80 pages
Grade level: 1st-5th
Genre: Children's fiction

Short Summary:

Donovan loves words and words fascinate him. To keep track of all the new, interesting words, he decides to start collecting them. Most of the kids in his class collected physical items like rocks, marbles, and buttons, but not Donovan. As Donovan explores the world around him, he writes down all the words he finds interesting. Eventually, after collecting all the words he can, Donovan is faced with a dilemma as he is unsure of what to do with all his words. His mom suggests a larger jar, but Donovan feels like his grandmother can help the most. On the visit to see his grandmother, he mistakenly leaves his giant jar of collected words in the open space, where the other people get ahold of his jar. They were taping his words on the bulletin board and were upset his secret and the safe collection were revealed to all of grandma's neighbors. Donovan was overwhelmed, slowly but surely, Donovan realized how the words were helping the neighbors. Donovan realizes that words have power and can make people feel better.

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Author: Sharon Creech
Date Published: June 12, 1994
Number of Pages: 288 pages
Grade level: 3rd-7th
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Salamanca Tree Hiddle is no typical girl. She's full of stories and embarks on a road trip to Lewiston Idaho with her grandparents who ask Sal to tell a story. The first person who comes to her mind... Phoebe Winterbottom. As Sal tells the story of Phoebe, we are revealed of Sal's story and how she is on a journey to see the place where her mom had passed away. As Sal travels with her grandparents, we see her work through her trauma, as well as the trauma in her parents' lives.

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Author: Heidi W. Durrow
Publisher: Algonquin
Date Published: December 1, 2010
Number of Pages: 304 pages
Genre: non-fiction, diversity

Short Summary:

Rachel has just experienced the loss of her mom, mor, and is sent to live with her strict grandmother. Initially we do not understand how Rachel lost her mother, but do know it is a very difficult topic for Rachel to deal with. Rachle's dad promises he will come back to get her, but he never does and she moves on to accept that she is stuck where she's at.  Rachel did not ever think of her skin color before she moved to live with grandma, but once she arrives to Portland she is a misfit. She doesn't feel like she belongs to one specefic race as she grew up in a bi-racial home, and is challenged with how to fit in by her family and people in her community. The story of Rachel is told through several different perspectives and it evetually is revealed that Rachel has some very tragic history. Her mom decided to kill herself and all her sibilings as she jumps from their high apartment, bringing her sibiling along with her. Rachel was the only one to survive the fall. Rachel meets another character, Brick, who is connected to her story, and along with Brick navigates the struggles of her past as well as the struggles of race and belonging.

* I read this book as a misunderstanding for thinking it was children's literature, but the content reveals otherwise

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Author: Donna Barbra Higuera
Date Published: October 12, 2021
Publisher: Levine Querido
Number of Pages: 336 pages
Grade level: 5th-9th
Genre: Children's literature, Children's fiction, Sci-fi

Short Summary:

It is the year 2061 and Earth has been destroyed by a comet and there are only a few survivors. Petra and her family are part of these survivors and have been selected to embark on a new journey to save mankind. Petra, the main character, has dreams of becoming a storyteller just like her very own abuelita, or grandmother. But her dreams of this diminish as her family is put to sleep for 380 years. When Petra awakes, her ship has been overcome and the other ship with important political leaders has been lost! Petra is the only person who remembers earth and therefore must keep the stories alive.

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Author: Bob Shea
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Date Published: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: PreK-3rd
Genre: Children's literature, children's fiction

Short Summary:

This town has a toad-problem. The type of toads that are mean, and darn-tootin no good. The town has no clue what to do. Then, sherriff Ryan, only 7 years old, comes riding in to town to rescue. He can't stay up past seven o'clock, but he can get the toads out of town. He knows a lot about dinosaurs and rounds up toad bandits.

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Author: Derrick Barnes
Illustrator: Gordon C. James
Date Published: October 10, 2017
Publisher: Agate Bolden
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: PreK-3rd Grade
Genre: Children's fiction

Short Summary:

A young kid walks into a barbershop to transform his hairstyle. The barber explains to the young African-American how much a fresh cut can transform someone's confidence. He could ace his tests, catch stares from the cute girls in the class, and the barber explains how important his fresh hair can boost his self-confidence. The story is told about the process of a haircut and is written in prose style. Hello, world! Hello, royalty! New hair has entered the building!

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Author/ Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats
Date Published: January 1, 1996
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-1st grade
Themes: Renewal, innocence
Artistic elements: Soft graphic designs
Genre: Children's literature, Children's fiction

Short Summary:

One morning, Peter wakes up to snow everywhere! After breakfast, he rushes out into the snow in his snowsuit and makes his way through the snow. The snow provides a world of opportunity for discovery. While he wants to join the big boys in the snow fight, he decides it's best not to. Instead of joining the big kids, he slides down the big hill and becomes covered in snow. He wants to save a snowball, but before he goes to bed his snowball melted and Peter is sad. He wakes up the next morning and there is even more snow.

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Author/Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Date Published: April 9, 1963
Publisher: Harper & Row
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Grade level:
Genre: Children's literature, Fantasy Fiction

Short Summary:

Max wore his wolf suit and began making mischief, his mother sends him to bed without dinner for being naughty. As he was in his room, a jungle grew. Max traveled over a year to get to where the wild things are and roared at Max. Max tamed them with a magic trick, and they were scared and made Max the king of all wild things. The wild rumpus occurs in the jungle late one night with music and dancing, then he sent them to bed without their supper. Max became lonely and wanted to be loved. He waved goodbye to the wild things and sailed back into the night where he came back home to a hot meal waiting for him.

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Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Date Published: January 8, 2015
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: 30 pages
Grade level: Prek-1st grade
Themes: community, friendship
Artistic elements: Colorful graphics
Genre: Children's literature, Children's fiction

Short Summary:

CJ goes to church with Nana and after they get out they have to wait for the bus. It's raining outside, and he asks grandma why they have to wait. Cj then asks why they don't have a car, and Nana explains how exciting riding the bus is. Along the way on the bus, Nana teaches CJ valuable skills. Nana provides CJ with the opportunities that they get to experience riding the bus that others don't, like the blind man with the dog, the trees drinking through straws, and how real life is happening right in front of his eyes on the bus. CJ became mesmerized by the music, sunset, and all the people on the bus. Mr. Dennis, the bus driver, calls "last stop on market street." Nana always found beauty where CJ never thought to look.

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Author/Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Date Published:  September 4, 2018
Publisher: Neal Porter Books

Number of Pages: 40 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Artistic elements: Colorful graphics, symbolistic drawings, cultural elements
Genre: Children's literature, biography

Short Summary:

This story tells about Yuyi's travel to the United States in 1994 with her baby. She became an immigrant with practically nothing in her hands, worried and fearful of this new journey. The mother and child learned so much and found a place they had never been before. Books transformed their lives as they learned to speak and write to make their own voices heard. "We are "sonandores" of the world, we are love..."

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Author(s):  Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: September 10, 2019
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Themes: Family, sister
Artistic elements: Colorful graphics
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Asia is getting her first hijab, and her color is a deep dark blue the same as the ocean. Fiza sees her sister as a princess and they walk to school. Fiza knows her sister's hijab is beautiful and is nothing to be ashamed of. Mama says the first day of the hijab is important, it makes you strong. Mama says some people won't understand the hijab, but as long as you know who you are, then there's nothing wrong with the hijab. Mama also says to not carry around the hurtful words. These two girls learn the lessons and hardships of acceptance and being proud of who they are.

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Author(s)/ Illustrator: Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Publishing Date: January 7, 2020
Number of Pages: 48 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Themes: Hard work, renewal, time
Artistic elements: hand stamped
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:
On an old farm, an old truck worked hard and long. Some days the old truck decided to rest and dream. In his dream, he sailed the seas, flew like a plane, and watched the stars. Eventually, the old truck grew older and older, still resting and dreaming. A new farmer came along to help the truck and worked hard and long to revive the old truck. The old truck becomes new once again, thanks to the farmer.

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Author: Jessica Love
Publisher: Candlewick
Publishing Date: April 23, 2018
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Themes: identity, love, acceptance
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:
Julian is a gender non-conforming little kid who LOVES mermaids and his abuela. He tells his abuela he is also a mermaid. Julian dresses up like a mermaid putting on beautiful clothes and jewels that belong to his abuela. Abuela brings julian to a beautiful mermaid show with all types of people dressed up. Julian is seen and heard by his abuela and feels loved.

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Author/ Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: April 10, 2018
Number of Pages: 48 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Themes:
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

This is a beautiful picture book, written about the job of a lighthouse. The new keeper replaces the old keeper and does all the jobs that the old keeper did. He replaces the wick, keeps an eye on the candle, and replaces the paint. He writes letters, and lsitens to the sounds of the ocean and the wind. The tender brings the keeper groceries and his wife. One night, a boat gets crashed on the rocks, and rescues the sailors. One dawn the keeper get ill, and the wife takes over the keepers job. They have a baby, and takes note of it all in the log book. Eventually, the keeper is replaced with a machine.

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Author: Grace Byers
Illustrator: Keturah A. Bobo
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publishing Date: March 6, 2018
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-2nd grade
Themes: Kids with power, self-love, loving others
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

This book tells a story of a little girl, who is full of abilities and is enough because she is here. This picture book uses similes to compare the little girl to explain her abilities. When you love others and yourself, there's nothing you can't do.

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Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker 

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Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker 

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Author: Patricia Hruby Powell
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publishing Date: January 14, 2014
Number of Pages: 104 pages
Grade level: 2nd-5th grade
Genre: Children's biography

Short Summary:

This book tells the story of Josephine Baker, who left her home at just 14 years old to become a part of the Dixie Steppers. Josephine had a plan to conquer the world, even amidst a time of segregation and the useful treatment of African Americans. Time and time again, Josephine proved her worth and her talent by applause and making people laugh. One day, she was invited to perform in France, and they seemed to be accepted all around. Josephine married and adopted as many children as she and her husband could and allowed her children to be raised in all types of religions.

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Author/ Illustrator: Jules Feiffer
Publisher: Michael di Capua Books
Publishing Date: June 3, 1999
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-2nd grade
Themes:
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

George is a small dog, who is confused about what barking means. George's mom commands him to bark. First George meows, then quacks, the oinks, then moos. The mother takes him to the vet, so they can figure it out. The vet reaches inside George and pulls out all of these animals! After, he finally barks, then says "hello."

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Author/ Illustrator: Virgina Lee Burton
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Reader
Publishing Date: 1939
Number of Pages: 48 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Themes: hard work, dedication
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Mike Mulligan had a steam shovel named Mary Anne and was so proud of her. For years and years, they stuck together and they dug great canals for big boats to go through, and big mountains to go through, and smoothed out the grounds to make landing fields for the airplanes, and the holes for the skyscrapers. The steam shovels were getting replaced for the better, newer shovels. Mike believes that his old girl can dig a hole as much as 100 men could. The small town of Popperville needs help building a new town hall. Mike and Mary Anne promise to build a cellar in just one day. If they couldn't do it, the mayor wouldn't have to pay them.

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Author/ Illustrator: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Publisher: Puffin Books
Publishing Date: March 2, 2006
Number of Pages: 26 pages
Grade level: Prek-2nd grade
Themes:
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

A mouse is taking a stroll through the woods. A fox saw the mouse, and he looked tasty. The fox invites the mouse to lunch, but he denies it. The mouse is going to have lunch with the Gruffalo, who has terrible tusks, claws, teeth, and jaws.  There's no such thing as a Gruffalo! The mouse begins to outsmart all the predators, describing the Gruffalo. But he runs into the Gruffalo! The mouse outsmarts the Gruffalo and walked through the woods.

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Author: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Illustrator: Lois Ehler
Publisher: Little Simon
Publishing Date: January 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 36 pages
Grade level: Prek and up
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

This book rhymes the alphabet, making room for all the letters in the coconut tree. They race up and up, but they all fall down because there are too many!

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Author/ Illustrator: Grace Lin
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: March 2, 2006
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Grade level: Prek-2nd grade

Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Mama and Little Star bake a moon cake together and Little Star was told to not touch the cake. Little Star wakes up in the night and forgot about what mama said. Little Star takes a small nibble, and continues to take a nibble the next night and the night after that. Night after night littel star nibbles the moon cake. Mama wondered where the moon cake went, knowing Little Star ate it all, turning it into the phases of the moon.

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Author: Brenda J. Child
Illustrator: Jonathan Thunder
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
Publishing Date: May 1, 2018
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: 1st-2nd grade
Themes:
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Windy Girl found a sweet dog barking. She listens to stories of her ancestors from her uncle. When Windy goes to a powwow she watches all the dancers and listens to the music. She falls asleep under the stars and has a dream from her ancestors celebrating her elders, heritage, and culture. She dances for those who can't dance. Windy girl understands that powwow celebrates all that was and all that is.

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Author/ Illustrator: Rober McCloskey
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: September 7, 1948
Number of Pages: 50 pages
Grade level: Prek-2nd grade
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Little Sal and her mother go to pick blueberries to collect for the winter. Sal picks the blueberries and eats it, all while following her mother along. Mother went back to picking, while Sal sat and eat. On the other side of the hill, Little bear sits with his mother eating berries to prepare for the winter. He follows his mother, following and hustling still eating berries. Sal thought she hears her mother but keeps finding berries. Little Sal follows along with the mother bear, and the little bear follows right along behind little Sal's mother. There's a mix-up between the little ones with their mothers. Little bear keeps eating out of mother's pail. She turned away to look for little Sal, and they are all happily reunited once again.

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Author: Philip C. Stead
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Publisher: Roaring Book  Press
Publishing Date: May 25, 2010
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-1st grade
Theme: Freinship and caring
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Amos McGee is an early riser, and every morning has the same routine. He would eat his breakfast, then leave the house and hop on the bus. He would head to the zoo, and make plenty of time with all his animal freinds. Amos get's up but doesn't feel good. But all Amos's friends are concerened that he doesn't show up. They hop on the bus, and show up to see Amos! Now, he get's to see all his friends, and they take good care of Amos. Amos said goodnight to all his friends, and they head to bed.

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Author: Munro Leaf
Illustrator: Robert Lawson
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Publishing Date: March 31, 2011
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-1st grade
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Ferdinand lives in Spain and loves to sit and just smell the flowers. His mother was worried that he wouldn't skip and butt his head with the other bulls. Ferdinand grew but he still wanted to sit and smell the flowers, while the other bulls butted their heads. One day Ferdinand sat on a bumblebee, chasing around puffing and snorting, and the men noticed him put him in the bullfights. Ferdinand was in Madrid and all the matadors were scared of him, but he wouldn't fight the matador. He was returned home, happy to smell the flowers.

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Author: Don Freeman
Publisher: Viking Press

Publishing Date: 1968
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Themes: Feelings
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Corduroy is a bear waiting for someone to take him home, but no one wanted him. One morning, a little girl really wants corduroy, but corduroy feels sad. He fixes his button to become nice and new. He goes upstairs and thinks he's found a palace and thinks he finds his button. The watchman finds corduroy and places him back downstairs. The little girl takes him home, excited to have him, and finally felt home.

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Author: Janell Cannon
Publisher: Clarion Books

Publishing Date: August 7, 2018
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Theme: Family, friendship
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

Mother bat has a precious baby and names her Stellaluna. One day, Stellaluna is knocked from her mother's embrace as the mother is attacked by the owls. She is helpless as she falls down from the air, scared that her mother is no longer with her. Stellaluna is weak and dropped down below, and lands in a soft nest. Stellaluna was hungry and waited for the mother to feed her. She is raised like the birds and still likes to sleep upside down. Stellaluna figures out that she is a bat and learns about who she is. She is eventually reunited with her mother, and learns the ways of a bat.

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Author:  P.D. Eastman
Publisher:

Publishing Date:
Number of Pages: 72 pages
Grade level: Prek-3rd grade
Genre: Children's literature

Short Summary:

This book is an excellent book about dogs, teaching children new words and rhymes. It is an easy introduction with pictures to help kids get started to read while enjoying it.