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Author: Juan Felipe Herrera
Illustrator: Lauren Castillo

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Juan-Felipe-Herrera/dp/076369052X

Read aloud:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwo-k1aOi9Y

Synopsis: Imagine is a poem about the author, Juan Felipe Herrera, which guides the reader to imagine what they can do if he was able to go through his life journey and accomplish what he has done.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The poem includes figurative language through metaphors and personification as well as repetition of the word “If I” at the beginning and “imagine” at the end of each stanza. The illustrations look like drawings with different patterns and shades that provide a sense of light and playful feeling, but also highlight specific scenes in the book.

Representation: This book represents internal and external migrant and English language learners. The poem is based on the author, who’s a male of Mexican descent, who has a traditional family.

Classroom: This book can be used to learn about figurative language and to motivate young readers to learn and dream. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to different cultures and the immigrant experience. This book can be used with students in pre-k to 4th grade.

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Author: Langston Hughes
Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZDbBGKpUw8 / Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Am-America-Langston-Hughes/dp/1442420081

Synopsis: I, Too, Am America is a poem calling out for racial and socioeconomic status equality. The author works as a railroad porter serving passengers but isn’t seen for his beauty, hard work, or value because of his race. He aspires to one day be seen fully as an American.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This is a free-verse poem written with simplicity in a way that strengthens the message to the reader. The illustrations are put together as a collage of multiple cutouts, drawings, shades, and textures and photograph pieces that reflect the unstableness that the African American community face.

Representation: This book represents black Americans and the discrimination they have experienced since the birth of this country. It also represents people of socioeconomic status and their desire to also be seen as equals.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to learn about theme and central message. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to social justice, racism, and history. This book is ideal for kindergarten to 2nd grade, although the poem can be analyzed by older students as well.

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Author: Langston Hughes
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/That-My-Dream-Langston-Variation/dp/0399550178

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH02JFcCLLU

Synopsis: That is my dream is about a young black boy’s hopes for true racial equality and happiness during a time of segregation.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This simple, yet powerful, poem uses repetition of the same stanza and the phrase “That is my dream!” The illustrations are drawn in soft and rich watercolors to bring out the kind and aspirational feelings in the poem.

Representation: This book represents the feelings of African Americans during segregation. The main character is a black boy from a traditional family.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to teach rhythm and the unfairness of treating people differently. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to history.  This book is ideal for pre-k to 2nd grade.

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Author: Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon

Purchasing information: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poems-in-the-attic-nikki-grimes/1120493709

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoJvunsuztc

Synopsis: Poems in the Attic is a compilation of short poems that tell a story about a girl who finds her mother’s poems about her travels and experiences in a military family and puts them together as a gift to her.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The poems are written in free verse and Tanka form with some similes, such as “memories can be like sandcastles waves wash away.” The illustrations are a combination of techniques and collages. They include paintings of different textures and organic shapes to show playfulness and a sense of reality at the same time.

Representation: This book presents an African American girl from a traditional family structure. It also represents military families and their experiences, and exposes the reader to other cultures.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to compare and contrast the life experiences of the daughter and the mother in each poem. It can also be used to learn about differences around the world in landscape, housing, architecture, climate, and cultures. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to social studies and geography. This book is ideal for 1st to 5th grade.

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An Extraordinary Life – The Story of a Monarch Butterfly

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An Extraordinary Life – The Story of a Monarch Butterfly

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Author: Laurence Pringle
Illustrator (Painter): Bob Marstall

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Life-Story-Monarch-Butterfly/dp/0531330028

Synopsis: An Extraordinary Life – The Story of a Monarch Butterfly details the Monarch Danaus’s journey from the time its mother laid it, to when it becomes larvae, then a caterpillar, a chrysalis, and finally turns into a beautiful butterfly. Once an adult, Danaus continued her journey from Northeast USA to the mountains in Central Mexico along with her species, where they mate and finally migrate back to the USA in the spring. The book ends with information on winter refuge and care to protect Monarch butterflies so that we can continue to enjoy their beauty in the USA.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This informational text includes a table of contents, an index, diagrams, and maps that help the reader understand the organization of the text as well as the migration routes and colonies of the Monarch population. The illustrations are painted in warm bright colors that resemble the natural characteristics of the Monarch butterflies and their environment. The shapes are flexible and organic to support the realness of the illustrations.

Presentation: This book doesn’t have direct human representation, but it does mention Mexico, which will create a connection with Hispanic children. The journey of the butterflies could also resemble the migration of people into and out of the United States.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to help develop critical thinking skills and expand knowledge. Learning about the journey of migration also helps students follow and understand sequences. Interdisciplinary connections can be made between animal biology and geography. This book is appropriate for 1st to 8th grade depending on the complexity of the lesson.

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Author: Seymour Simon

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Weather-Smithsonian-science-Seymour-Simon/dp/0060884398

Synopsis: Weather is all about the complex atmospheric patterns that make up weather, what causes it, what affects it, how it’s measured, and types of clouds and precipitation.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This informational text is structured in a way that the main topic, weather, is described in subtopics: atmosphere, sun heat, earth’s rotation, air masses, clouds, and precipitation. These subtopics are not explicitly organized in distinct sections but are discussed separately in the text. The text includes a mix of diagrams and real-life photographs that accurately describe weather and its patterns. The colors are accurate to the actual topics being discussed.

Representation: There is no human representation in this book. It is specific to the weather and its characteristics.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to compare and contrast different types of atmospheric patterns and expand the knowledge of weather phenomena. Interdisciplinary connections can be made between reading, writing, and science. This book is appropriate for 1st to 5th grade students.

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Author: Patricia Lauber

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Walked-Other-Stories-Fossils/dp/0689716036

Synopsis: This book is mainly about dinosaurs, but also about birds, mammoths, shells and even plants among other animals that lived on earth millions of years ago. It discusses how their fossils have been preserved, and how they compare to their present-day genetic relatives.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This book contains factual comparison information between past and present-day animals. It also includes a table of contents and an index to help organize the text information, as well as many pictures of fossils. The illustrations are actual photographs and organic sketches that show the theoretical species and environment of the period being discussed.

Representation: A case for representation can be made for the female author, who wrote numerous books about scientific topics, which were mainly familiar to men in the mid-1900’s.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to compare and contrast different animals in the text or between the fossils and their present-day genetic relatives. Interdisciplinary connections can be made between ELA and science to write a report and learn about scientific topics. This book is appropriate for 4th to 6th grades.

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Author: Debra J. Housel

Purchasing information: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Buy-It-History-of-Money-TIME-FOR-KIDS-Nonfiction-Readers-Pre-Owned-Paperback-1433336812-9781433336812-Debra-J-Housel/220303917?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1719&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=aud-430887228898:pla-51320962143&wl5=9007926&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=131366457&wl11=online&wl12=220303917_1719&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrc7msJa5-wIV9MiUCR3feQaUEAQYAyABEgL_0PD_BwE

Synopsis: Buy It! History of Money tells us how things were purchased or exchanged before money was invented, the issues pertaining to money, its storage, and different types of currency around the world.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This information book has a table of contents, glossary, timeline, and index to organize and support the information. There are many pictures of different types of coins and paper money. It includes photography and some illustrations. Informational text is placed in boxes with different colors throughout the pages to organize different content areas and make it more visually appealing to the reader.

Representation: Representation is broad in this book, as it talks about money from around the world and its history. People of different races and countries are shown in pictures, allowing diverse students to see self-to-text connections.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with students in 1st to 3rd grades to teach about text features and timelines. It can also be useful to encourage students to investigate interesting information on their own. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to math and history.

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Author: Dovey Johnson Roundtree & Katie McCabe
Illustrator: Raissa Figueroa

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/We-Wait-Sun-Katie-McCabe/dp/1250229022

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UElDtoZTFq4

Synopsis: We Wait for the Sun is a story of young Dovey Johnson, who went berry picking with her grandmother on cold damp mornings before dawn. Dovey was afraid of the darkness of the forest, but her grandmother’s love and guidance gave her the confidence to enjoy their mission and wait for the sunrise with joy.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This is a biography with first-hand details from the life of Dovey Johnson, who was a well-known Civil Rights activist. It covers only part of her childhood, but still serves as in inspiration to know she experienced these beautiful moments with her grandmother in real life. The book has sweet paint-like illustrations that show us the mystery of the dark woods but tenderness of Dovey’s relationship with her grandmother. Text placement and design are interesting as it’s placed on different areas of the pages, it’s sometimes on different lines, like steps, and certain words have different colors and font sizes to emphasize specific important details.

Representation: This book represents black people in a positive and inspiring way, especially black women. It’s an example of how black people have made the best out of bad situations, even during Jim Crow times. It also represents black female activism and leadership.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with children in 1st to 2nd grade to learn about figurative language and overcoming fear. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to social studies and social justice.

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Author: Kyo Maclear
Illustrator: Julie Morstad

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Began-Page-How-Fujikawa-Drew/dp/0062447629 /

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QLcypdCeZs

Synopsis: It Began with a Page is about Gyo Fujikawa, who immigrated from Japan to the United States with her family as a toddler and who had a great talent for art. At times she felt as an outsider growing up in the United States, but because of her art she was able to attend college, travel to Japan, and push social norms to promote racial diversity.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This biography is an inspiring story that describes the struggles Gyo endured as a Japanese immigrant during WWII and throughout her life. It tells details, some documented, about Gyo’s whole lifespan softly interwoven into the narrative. The illustrations are simple and drawn with color pencil texture. The illustrations on the pages that show her own art are spread throughout the pages mostly in black and white to show her simple yet endless creativity.

Representation: This book has rich representations such as Japanese Americans, immigrant children experiences, low socioeconomic status, women who went to college in early to mid-1900’s, examples of racial discrimination, and the struggles to make social change happen.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to teach sequence of events in a story and chronology in 1st to 2nd grade. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to learn about culture and racial implications in life during the mid-1900’s and about efforts for social change.

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Author: Robert Burleigh
Illustrator: Raul Colon

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Solving-Puzzle-Under-Sea-Marie/dp/1481416006

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV4_L2OJ004

Synopsis: Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea is about Marie Tharp, who inherited her love for maps from her father, and combined that love with her passion for the ocean to successfully map the ocean floor and helped prove the tectonic plates theory. Despite the obstacles presented to her because of her gender, Marie Tharp became one of the most important scientists of the 20th century.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This biography is based on the obstacles in the professional life of the female scientist as well as her contributions to science. The book is full of documented facts and people told in narrative form. The colors of the illustrations are calm and organic with a color-pencil-like texture that creates a comfortable but explorative feeling for the reader. Vertical lines when she talks about her father show that time stands still in her memories of him and how he inspired her career.

Representation: This book represents women who have pioneered their way into professions dominated by men. It can inspire people to work towards dreams and goals regardless of challenges presented by society.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to learn new vocabulary, especially scientific vocabulary, and persevering to achieve one’s goals. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to oceanography and science. It can be used with children in kindergarten to 3rd grade.

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Author: Jess Keating
Illustrator: Marta Alvarez Miguens

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Lady-Eugenie-Fearless-Scientist/dp/1492642045

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5jDI_mVFTw

Synopsis: Shark Lady is about young Eugenie Clark, who loved going to the aquarium as a child and continued her love for sharks through her reading, studies, and profession. Despite being discouraged by people in her field for being a woman, she became the first person to train sharks and discovered new species of sea animals.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This biography includes the professional journey and contributions of scientist Eugenie Clark in a well-narrated story that serves as an inspiration to others. It includes experiences throughout her life and professional legacies to science. The illustrations are bright and playful to convey the inspiring and positive feeling of the story. Most shapes are flexible and organic to support the natural aspect of the ocean and stimulate the imagination of the reader.

Representation: Representation in this book is for women who are discriminated based on gender, especially in education and science. It also represents hard work and dedication. Although not stated in the text, Eugenie was of white and Japanese descent.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to learn about visualizing as a comprehension strategy. It can also be useful to encourage students to follow and work towards their own dreams. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to learn about science, specifically marine biology. This book is ideal for kindergarten to 2nd grade.

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Author: Gloria Whelan
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Victorias-Bathing-Machine-Gloria-Whelan/dp/1416927530

Read aloud: https://www.facebook.com/HHHCL/videos/tell-tale-tuesday-queen-victorias-bathing-machine-by-gloria-whelan/497730214905617/

Synopsis: Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine is about the Queen’s desire to swim in the ocean, which was truncated by the societal expectation that she should not show her body in public. Her husband helped solve this problem by designing something that safely transported her to the ocean without being seen.

Art and Genre Characteristics: Although the events in this historical fiction book are not exactly true, it is based on Queen Victoria who ruled in the UK in the 1800’s, during which time her husband invented the bathing machine. It allows the reader to learn about restrictions women faced during this time and how that affected them in everyday life. The illustrations are drawn in a sketch-like technique with many diagonal and curved lines throughout, portraying the chaos and almost desperation of the Queen to be relieved from the heat by getting into the water. The colors around the Queen are mostly warm, until she is close to or swimming in the water, to show us that she was hot and became calm and relaxed when she was finally in the water.

Representation: This book represents white royalty and suppressed female roles from the 1800’s.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to practice reading fluency and persistence. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to history and different governing structures. This book can be used in pre-k to 2nd grade.

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Author/Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Purchasing information: https://www.discoverbooks.com/Pink-and-Say-Joan-Hickson-Paperback-p/0590542109.htm?cond=0002&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImu6C_5ep-wIVugOzAB3whANNEAQYBCABEgKhJ_D_BwE

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5rBltqreTQ

Synopsis: Pink and Say is a heartfelt story about a young black soldier, Pinkus Aylee (Pink), who rescued young white soldier, Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say), during the Civil War. Pink brought Say to stay with him and his mother until they were discovered by the Confederate army, and the racial injustices of slavery marked their lives in drastic ways.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This historic fiction story tells accurate details of the Civil War and the injustices of the time which teach today’s readers about the hardships and atrocities committed against black Americans in US history and the courage of those who experienced the war. Pink’s and Say’s emotions are vivid and relatable to today’s society, as they create mirrors, windows, and sliding doors for different readers. The text and illustrations allow the reader to imagine themselves in the setting with the characters through the vivid details and expressions. The illustrations are drawn in messy pencil and color pencil to portray the imbalance and lack of peace at the time. Real-life photography are also embedded in the illustrations to make a connection to actual history.

Representation: This book represents both black and white military roles from the US Civil War, which were similar and different at the same time. The devastating experiences of black Americans are vivid despite these events happening so long ago. The determination and desire for freedom are also represented.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to teach point of view, character analysis, and friendship.  Interdisciplinary connections are clear for social studies and history. It can be used in grades 1st to 4th.

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Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Greg Shed

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Dandelions-Eve-Bunting/dp/0152024077

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhWkw_0TplA

Synopsis: Dandelions is about a family from Illinois who journeyed to settle out in the western United States long ago. One day, one of the daughters spotted some dandelions during a trip back from town and transplanted them on their roof as a surprise to her mother. The dandelions gave them hope, as they also struggled with the difficulties of being transplanted into a new environment.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The setting in this historical fiction book is described in detail to help us visualize the desolate ample fields of land where people settled, as the US took over more territory. The father had great dreams and hope for prosperity, which drove him to resettle his family, something we can still relate to in modern times. The illustrations are painted with a canvas-like texture in beautiful warm tones that take us to an earlier time in US history.

Representation: This book represents white Americans during the US expansion period. The family structure is traditional and gender roles are stereotypical. Lower socioeconomic status and working class are also represented.

Classroom Use: This book can be used to teach inferencing skills and symbolism. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to geography and social studies. This book can be used with students in kindergarten to 2nd grade.

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Author: Ken Mochizuki
Illustrator: Dom Lee

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Saved-Us-Ken-Mochizuki/dp/1880000199

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmRWOr0YbTE

Synopsis: Baseball Saved Us is about a Japanese boy and his family who were forced into an internment camp after the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack. To keep from reaching desperation, the people at the camp built a baseball field, on which the boy played with all his might to prove his determination and skill. After the war, the family returned to their home, and the boy found himself in the same situation having to prove himself as he did in the camp.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This historic fiction story takes us back to a time in US history that is hard to look back to, due to the unjust way Japanese people were treated. The characters endured through their struggles with courage and hope, which allows the reader an opportunity to be inspired and reflect. The illustrations are drawn in a scratchy paint technique with reddish warm tones to portray the difficult and harsh feelings of the time.

Representation: This book represents Japanese Americans and those who have been suppressed or treated unfairly. People who struggle to fit in or prove themselves may also see themselves represented. Traditional gender roles and family structures are assumed. Strong parental authority is also portrayed in the book.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to teach theme and summarization. It can also be used to teach dignity, self-respect, and perseverance. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to US history and sports. This book can be used with students in 1st to 6th grade.

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My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonders

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My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonders

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Author/Illustrator: Nie Jun

Purchasing information: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-beijing-nie-jun/1127958880

Synopsis: My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonders is a set of four short stories about little Yu’er, who has a disability and is cared for by her grandfather in their traditional Chinese neighborhood. In the first story, Yu’er has big dreams to be a swimmer and with the loving help of her grandfather, they figure out a way to keep others from impeding her power to persist. In the second short story, Yu’er encounters bullies who hurt a butterfly, but she is saved by a young boy who takes her to a bug sanctuary and disappears revealing a mysterious connection to her grandfather. In the third story, Yu’er mails a letter to her grandmother, that inexplicably links the past and the present in a way that is heartwarming. The last short story is about Yu’er’s grandfather and his childhood friend who bicker but end up as friends again as the grandfather helps his friend find a way to fulfill his passion again.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The entire book is written in a comic style, full of actions with expressive but simple illustrations. The plots of each story are easy to follow with short bursts of text and clear sequence. The illustrations show Chinese cultural influences with soft and playful colors to create a heartwarming feeling. The shapes are generally flexible and organic, which maintains an open imagination in the reader.

Representation: The stories in this book represent people with disabilities, non-traditional families, people who are bullied, and Chinese people.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to make inferences and connections between stories. It can also be used for social emotional learning and awareness. Interdisciplinary connections can be made with social studies to discuss other cultures, especially Chinese cultures. It is ideal for grades 2nd to 4th.

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Author: Cece Bell
Illustrator: Cece Bell and David Lasky (colorist)

Purchasing information: https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/el-deafo-9781419712173.html

Synopsis: El Deafo is about young Cece who loses her hearing due to an illness and must learn to adapt to her new reality using a phonic ear. Cece is self-conscious about others’ perception of her hearing aid but despite her struggles with fitting in, she finds a benefit to having a super aid and finally finds the true friend she is looking for.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This book has simple but cheerful illustrations in panels that guide the reader in a sequence as the story unfolds. The illustrations and text are organized in a series of square and rectangular panels, which makes the story easy to follow. The lines around the thoughts are jagged whenever Cece is going through something stressful, tense, or she’s listening to something she is not supposed to hear with her super hearing.

Representation: The story represents people with disabilities or illnesses and female gender. People who may feel inadequate or have the desire to fit in may feel a connection with the main character in the book.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with students from 1st to 8th grade. It can be used to increase reading motivation as it has less text than other books aided by numerous illustrations. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to social studies, specifically social justice and inclusivity.

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Author: Deborah Ellis
Illustrator: Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Breadwinner-Cartoon-Melusine-Aircraft-Pictures/dp/1773061186

Synopsis: The Breadwinner is about Parvana, a girl who is forced to disguise herself as a boy in order to sustain her family after her father was arrested during the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Parvana and her family suffer violence and tribulations to protect each other, despite the dangers it poses for them.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This is a historical fiction graphic novel that offers visual literacy, providing details and context to the limited text. The story unfolds in a clear sequence that is easy to understand. The colors reflect the landscape of the region in which the story takes place, but the dark tones also indicate the difficulties the people are experiencing. Space and perspective are used to show emotional scenes in close-up views and action scenes shown from different perspectives, creating almost like a dialogue within the illustrations.

Representation: The representations in this book are very rich. We can see traditional gender roles as well as the non-traditional gender role the main character is forced to take out of necessity. It represents people from the middle east living through wars and violence, Muslims, and strong female determination.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to create empathy and understanding of people going through difficult situations. It can also serve as a welcoming door to increase reading motivation for struggling readers. Interdisciplinary connections can be made with Social Studies to learn about justice, history, and conflicts in other parts of the world. It can be used with students in 4th to 8th grade.

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Author / Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNHEXJj_WVA

Purchasing Information:  https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-wretched-stone_chris-van-allsburg/265900/item/4192482/?gclid=CjwKCAjw4JWZBhApEiwAtJUN0BLAItBfOX3evtzWoH7fLbfyBXyQSasXlzYrRA0b3SvN_a6Him_ZGhoCT7sQAvD_BwE#idiq=4192482&edition=2382742

Synopsis: The Wretched Stone is about a crew aboard a ship who encounter a mysterious stone that transforms them into apes and captivates them to the point that they neglect their duties on the ship.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The book uses symbolism and show-don’t-tell to represent the negative impact things can have when we focus on them without limits. The art is impactful as it occupies both pages to show one scene. The dark tones create a sense of mystery and danger.

Presentation: The characters in the book appear to be all men from the working class but the symbolism of the stone can represent an addictions and behavior effects.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used in a classroom to make inferences and learn about the effects of bad habits. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to social studies to learn about society trends, influences, and effects. Depending on the topic, it could be used with 1st to 4th graders.

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Author: Mariah Marsden
Illustrator: Hanna Luechtefeld

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Garden-Graphic-Novel/dp/1524858153

Synopsis: The Secret Garden is about young Mary, whom after her parents’ death is taken to live at her uncle’s manor, where she befriends a boy, the manor employees, her sickly cousin, and a bird; and they all take on the task to tend for a locked-up garden and revive its magic. This graphic novel is full of illustrations that easily guide the reader through the sequence of events of the story.

Art and Genre Characteristics: Illustrations in this graphic novel are rich, simple, and expressive. Different depths and perceptions show minute details that are meant to be emphasized and wide view pictures that provide a broad understanding of the setting. Colors are used to show the mood of the scene, like the darkness in Mary’s memories and the sadness in Colin’s room, but also the joy and hope of the secret garden.

Representation: This book represents people with disabilities, strong female roles, and people of different socio-economic statuses.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to follow the sequence of events for reading literacy. It can also be used to see and analyze different perspectives of characters and responses to grief. This book can be used with students in 4th to 6th grade.

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Author/Illustrator: David Shannon

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Case-Stripes-Scholastic-Bookshelf/dp/0439598389

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9f2UAR-yLc

Synopsis: A Bad Case of Stripes is about a little girl, Camila, who worries so much about what others think of her that her body develops a pattern of stripes, and her skin transforms into whatever others think of her. She finally is cured when she admits her love for lima beans.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The setting of this fantasy book is quite realistic in the beginning but as Camila changes, so does the look of her house. The changing skin is fantastical and allows the reader to imagine: what if others could see my insecurities? The busyness of the illustrations shows the chaos and confusion that are going on with Camila and those who are trying to treat her. The colors are bright, but most have a reddish tone that contributes to the stressfulness of the story. Most lines in the book are diagonal, jagged, or curved, showing that Camila is going through a state of complete imbalance, tension, and randomness.

Representation: This book represents those who may live with insecurities and those who may be seen as abnormal or weird. Camila is a female white character from middle class and a traditional family.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to teach vocabulary as it has many higher-level terms. It can also be used to teach character traits, responses, and emotions. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to biology with the different medical terms used throughout the text. This book can be used with students in 2nd to 4th grade.

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Author: Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtcc3eQcGLw&t=371s

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Gaston-Friends-Kelly-DiPucchio/dp/1442451025

Synopsis: Gaston is about a puppy who doesn’t always fit in with the rest of his litter but when he meets a family with whom he seems to fit well, it just doesn’t feel right. In the end, he accepts the way he has grown to be and lives where it feels right.

Art and Genre Characteristics: In this animal fantasy story, the dog families are clearly pets, but they behave like humans as they have feelings of pride, love, caring, belonging, and acceptance. The colors are soft and give a sense of peace and joy. The visible paintbrush strokes serve as a metaphor to Gaston’s situation of not belonging but show the reader that things can be beautiful even if they seem imperfect.

Representation: Despite the characters being animals, the book represents people who feel they may not fit in with others. The dog families live in traditional family structures but accept what is not traditional.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with students in pre-k to 2nd grade to teach character traits as well as compare and contrast. It can also be used to learn about accepting ourselves as we are and accepting what feels right. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to teach about sizes and counting with younger children.

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Author: Margery Williams
Illustrator: William Nicholson

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Velveteen-Rabbit-Margery-Williams/dp/0385375662

Synopsis: The Velveteen Rabbit is about a toy Rabbit who longed to become real, but learned that the process was full of experiences, sometimes pain, but most importantly love. He goes from being unnoticed, to being the favorite toy, to being thrown away; but finds true happiness when he meets a magical fairy flower.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This heartfelt fantasy makes Rabbit’s feelings and experiences seem plausible but are full of unrealistic magic. The personified toy story appeals to all ages, especially those who feel uncomfortable with the idea of throwing away beloved toys; even knowing it is completely unrealistic. The few illustrations are in a simple sketch-like technique with few tones of dark colors and some reds, which portray the mysterious yet playful connection between the real and fantastical miniature worlds.

Representation: This book represents people who may feel powerless. It also seems to represent traditional norms of a middle class and Christian household.

Classroom Uses: This book could be used with students from 1st to 8th grade. It can be used to teach reading fluency and self-acceptance.

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Author/Illustrator: Mini Grey

Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEotPSwntaM

Purchasing information: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/toys-in-space_mini-grey/1175939/#edition=7406359&idiq=4969957

Synopsis: Toys in Space is about a group of toys that were left outside overnight for the first time, and they venture out into an imaginative trip into space where they help an alien find its long-lost favorite toy and free other lost toys.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This science fiction story is based on imaginative space-traveling that includes an alien visiting earth to pick up toys left out in yards. The illustrations and text, including comic-like panels and dialogue speech bubbles, are positioned purposefully to follow the sequence of the story and emphasize specific parts of the characters’ journey and dialogue.

Representation: This story represents female leadership and who may have anxiety.

Classroom Uses: This story can be used to learn about dialogue in a story and teamwork. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to space science. It is ideal for students in kindergarten to 3rd grade.

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Author: Jodie Shepherd
Illustrator: Masumi Furukawa

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Appleseed-Jodie-Shepherd/dp/0545223067

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcmSf7kOVQM

Synopsis: Johnny Appleseed is the story of a little boy who grew up to work in the apple orchards in Massachusetts, and traveled west spreading apple seeds and growing apple orchards across the newly settled United States.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This is a tall folktale about a real person, John Chapman, which has been exaggerated to provide some information about US history. The illustrations are warm and rich to support the friendly and prosperous feeling of the story. There are also many horizontal and curved lines on most of the pages which also give the reader a calm and positive feeling.

Representation: Johnny’s family represents large traditional working families. Johnny himself represents love for nature, adventure, and friendliness.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with students in preschool to 3rd grade to learn about repetition in literature as well summarization since it is a short and simple story to follow. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to American history and geography.

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Author/Illustrator: John Steptoe

Read aloud: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe - YouTube

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Mufaros-Beautiful-Daughters-John-Steptoe/dp/B000S6A3QC

Synopsis: Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is an African tale about two sisters who were beautiful, one kindhearted and one selfish, and were candidates to marry the King. The King was a magical character who knew the heart of both sisters and chose the one with sweet and humble virtues to be his wife.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This magical Cinderella story features supernatural transformations in a vague time and place where humbleness and kindness triumphed over pride and selfishness. The artistic style is reminiscent of ancient African styles but has dark tones to transmit the mystery of the story.

Representation: This story represents African cultures, tradition, community, and architecture. It also represents women and beauty.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to compare and contrast Cinderella stories and to analyze how illustrations affect the mood of the story. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to Social Studies and geography to learn about African cultures and geographic characteristics. This book can be used with pre-k to 5th grade depending on the topic being discussed.

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Author/Illustrator: Tomie de Paola

Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNVLyeAtNqM / Purchasing information: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adelita-tomie-depaola/1103625185

Synopsis: Adelita is a Mexican version of Cinderella, in which Adelita is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters after her parents die, but triumphs in the end when she marries the town’s coveted bachelor.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The theme supports the traditional genre with two-dimensional characters; Adelita and Esperanza are good and remain good, and the stepfamily are bad and remain bad. In the end, powerless Adelita prevails and her and Javier’s unselfish love conquers. The illustrations reflect Mexican culture with Spanish architecture, traditional attire, vibrant colors, and religious images. Space and perspective, specifically multiple scenes and depths on the same page, show details of what is happening in the story.

Representation: Adelita has representations for Mexican culture, Christian religion, and family values. It also represents femininity and beauty.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with children in pre-k to 5th grade to learn about Cinderella as a genre. Like other Cinderella stories, it can be used to compare and contrast as well as the traditional Cinderella themes. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to learn about shapes with younger students or about different cultures with older students.

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Author: Eric Kimmel
Illustrator: Megan Lloyd

Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i37kEkEhGyA

Purchasing information: https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/every-little-kindness

Synopsis: The Gingerbread Man is a folktale about a cookie that became alive after it was baked and ran away from multiple characters only to trust one who would trick him in the end.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The tale has been told from generation to generation and features a cumulative pattern as the mischievous cookie progresses repeating his playful chant as he escapes its baker, her husband, and other characters. The illustrations are flexible and organic with warm colors to portray the playfulness of the story and natural countryside setting where it takes place.

Representation: This story represents elderly white people who live a simple life. It also represents traditional genders and roles.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with students in preschool to 2nd grade to learn about repetition, sequencing, and character traits. It can also be used to learn about trust and teasing.

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Author/Illustrator: James Sturm

Purchasing information: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Birdsong/James-Sturm/9781935179948

Synopsis: Birdsong is about two children who treat the forest and its creatures cruelly, which leads them to an ironic destiny that transforms them and forces them to see nature from a different perspective. As they experience the same treatment from others, they learn to appreciate the forest and the bird they previously mistreated.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The illustrations are expressive with few vivid colors and organic outlining to encourage the readers imagination. The back of each page is left blank, also to invite the reader’s own visualization. Jagged lines are used around the staff that transforms the children into monkeys to show danger, diagonal lines are used when the children are in some type of imbalance with nature, and horizontal lines are used in the background when there is a sense of calmness or resolution. This wordless picture book follows a traditional narrative structure with characters that change over time but does not have actual text. The meaning is created through illustrations and interpretation of the reader.

Representation: Birdsong represents the vulnerability of nature and abuse of power of humans. It encourages a self and cultural analysis of our own treatment of others and nature.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with a variety of grades, from kindergarten to 5th or even 8th grade to do self-reflections and effects on nature. It can also be used to do compare and contrast analysis between parts of the book or to one’s own life.

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Author/Illustrator: Lizi Boyd

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-rDCoMavc

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Outside-Lizi-Boyd/dp/1452106444

Synopsis: Inside Outside is centered around a child and the interaction with nature inside and outside the home throughout the seasons. The child takes the time to engage in various ways with nature directly and indirectly.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The author-illustrator skillfully uses cut out windows as visual cues to give the reader a glimpse of what is happening on the other side of the wall, which invites the reader to predict what will happen next and look back on what happened before. The story is told with an abundance of pictures, giving the opportunity for multiple and rich avenues for discussion. Minute lines in all directions are used to create a paper-like texture that gives a sense of creativity and simplicity at the same time. The illustrations are simple yet numerous, showing that there is a lot going on with the main character but in a peaceful and joyful way. The story is told with an abundance of pictures, giving the opportunity for multiple and rich avenues for discussion.

Representation: This book represents children who may work alone but can find richness in interacting with animals and nature. The gender and race of the child are not revealed, which allows readers with different genders and backgrounds to visualize themselves in the story.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with children in preschool to 2nd grade to learn about predictions and sequence of events. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to science by learning about the seasons and weather.

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Author/Illustrator: Lauren Tobia

Purchasing information: https://www.target.com/p/oscar-s-tower-of-flowers-by-lauren-tobia-hardcover/-/A-81262071

Synopsis: Oscar’s Tower of Flowers is about a little boy who stays with a nanny while his mother goes out of town and uses planting and flowers to cope with sadness, cultivating a garden that cannot be contained in one apartment. Oscar decides to share his flowers with their neighbors, creating happiness and togetherness among the people in his nanny’s community.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The author-illustrator uses rich and warm colors to create a sense of joy among the characters once Oscar has started to grow his flowers. The lines and illustrations are flexible and organic to give the reader a sense of nature and friendliness. Some pages are full of many small scenes that show the reader the process Oscar goes through and some bigger scenes that take up entire pages to emphasize the importance of those events. The book does not include words but guides the reader through paneling and larger scale scenes. These visual cues help build the story in a traditional narrative structure.

Representation: This book represents single parents, working parents, and non-traditional families. Oscar’s gender is implied with the name but the social construct that mainly girls like flowers is eliminated in the story. Oscar’s family appears to be white but there is great diversity in the community.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with children in pre-k to 2nd grade to engage in reading dialogue to discuss emotions and sharing. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to science to learn about plants.

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Author/Illustrator: Marta Bartolj

Purchasing information: https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/every-little-kindness

Synopsis: Every Little Kindness is about a lady who searches for her lost dog and carries out an act of kindness, which is witnessed by a man who also acts with thoughtfulness, sparking a chain of positivity in their community.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The author illustrator uses minimal colors to leave most of the interpretation to the reader’s imagination in this wordless picture book. The strategically placed reds, yellow, and blues throughout the book act as visual cues to help guide the reader in the story. The story flows with a traditional narrative structure as each picture tells one piece of the story. Space and perspective are used to zoom in on specific actions and to zoom out on full scenes to show how characters are influenced by other’s kind actions.

Representation: The main character seems to be a white woman who owns a pet. A variety of ages and races are represented in the people who act with kindness.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with children in pre-k to 2nd grade to learn sequencing for reading comprehension. It can also be used to teach kindness and empathy.

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Author: Linda Elovitz Marshall
Illustrator: Elisa Chavarri

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy7SfUDH8wA

Purchasing information: https://www.mayanhands.org/products/rainbow-weaver-tejedora-del-arcoiris?variant=32937617610

Synopsis: Rainbow Weaver - Tejedora del Arcoiris tells the story of Ixchel, who wants to help her family make cloths to sell at the market. She finds an environmentally friendly way to make her own weave which honors her ancestral traditions and helps pay for her education.

Art and Genre Characteristics: This bilingual book represents language in English and Spanish with side-by-side translation as well as some interwoven translanguaging. The art, language, and traditions reflect the culture of the indigenous people in Guatemala. The illustrator uses colorful lines and shapes in cutout patterns to create textures on fabrics traditional in Indigenous Latin American cultures. A variety of rich colors create a happy and hopeful mood.

Representation: Mayan indigenous people are represented, as well as their art and history in a beautiful way. Women are also being represented with the main character and the rest of the women who make a living through their weaving professions. Ixchel’s ingenious idea to use plastic represents their respect and care for their lands and nature.

Classroom uses: This book can be used in reading literature to teach story elements as well as the value of perseverance. It can also be used in Socials Studies to talk about indigenous cultures, in science to talk about ways to improve pollution, or in art to learn about art around the world. This book can be used with students from kindergarten to 4th grade depending on the topic being discussed.

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Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Maribel Suarez

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a6-oojoZ80

Purchasing information: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/lets-eata-comer-my-family-mi-familia_pat-mora/758471/item/3135992/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpfOJ0NPg-gIVVcmUCR0WmQ-YEAQYAyABEgKcKPD_BwE#idiq=3135992&edition=5400863

Synopsis: Let's Eat! ¡A Comer! is about a little girl and her family who sit to eat their simple but traditional meal, which she appreciates so much, that it makes her feel rich.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The author uses side-by-side translation between English and Spanish, and centers the traditional family meal as the focal point of the story. The colorful organic illustrations are used to portray the homemade meal with warm colors that depict a happy and loving moment.

Representation: Traditional Hispanic families that often include grandparents are being represented here. Lower socioeconomic households are also being valued and represented.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used with children in preschool to 1st grade to learn about theme and appreciation. It can also be used with ELLs to learn everyday vocabulary.

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Dalia's Wondrous Hair – El Cabello Maravilloso de Dalia

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Dalia's Wondrous Hair – El Cabello Maravilloso de Dalia

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Author / Illustrator: Laura Lacamara

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-LAfzrdSrI

Purchasing information: https://www.amazon.com/Wondrous-cabello-maravilloso-English-Spanish/dp/1558857893

Synopsis: Dalia's Wondrous Hair – El Cabello Maravilloso de Dalia is about a little girl who wakes up with marvelous tall hair, which she adorns with leaves, caterpillars, mud, and flowers to reveal a magical tribute to Cuban nature.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The illustrations are filled with curved lines which build up the fluidity of Dahlia’s hair and anticipation of her grand reveal, creating a sense of fun or magical adventure. Paint strokes give the pictures textures that remind the reader of rural Cuba.  This bilingual book presents English and Spanish side-by-side and includes a glossary of plants and animals used in the story, an informative and valuable resource for readers of both languages.

Representation: This book represents traditional rural Cuba as well as their people. Dahlia’s unpredictable but marvelous hair pays homage to the ethnic characteristics of Caribbean people. Dahlia’s pride for her hair and her mother’s support against other people’s negative comments represent the pride we should all feel for who we are.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to make predictions and to learn about plot (beginning, middle, end) in reading literature. It can also be used across subject areas in art to show artistic elements and in science to learn about plants and nature.  This book is ideal for preschool to 1st grade students.

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Author: Rene Colato Lainez
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk-GqyLRhnc

Purchasing information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHhZ6x6xggk

Synopsis: From North to South-Del Norte al Sur is about a little boy whose mother was deported from San Diego back to Mexico. He and his father journey across the border to see her and return home with a hopeful dream.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The illustrations are colorful, but the dark tones portray the sadness of families in this situation. The chalk-like paint techniques leave random small spaces without color creating a sense of incompleteness and uneasiness. English-Spanish text is side-by-side in this bilingual book with some interwoven translanguaging. The plot, characters, and setting in the story reflect a reality of many immigrants in the United States.

Representation: This book represents the voices of children affected by deportation and family separations which are usually not heard. It also exposes the human side of a social crisis that has been polarized and used for political gains.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to hold class discussions and literature circles about empathy and social justice. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to social studies. It can be used with students from 1st to 5th grade.

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Author/ Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_InlvFf_CA

Purchasing information:  https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/thunder-cake-9780590454261.html

Synopsis: Thunder Cake is about a Russian grandmother and her granddaughter who bake a cake during a thunderstorm to overcome the girl’s fear of thunder.

Art and Genre Characteristics: It’s a realistic fiction book written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco. She uses figurative language, repetition, show-don’t-tell, and dialogue. The illustrations appear to be chaotic and slightly distorted at times, to show the fear and nervousness of the main character. The last illustration in the book is much calmer as the character no longer fears storms.

Representation: This book represents Russian cultures in the United States and possibly people with anxiety and fears. The book was written in memory of the author’s grandmother; therefore the characters have their characteristics.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used to teach about patience and sequence of events in reading and writing between 2nd to 4th grade. Interdisciplinary connections can be made to math and earth science.

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Author: Jama Kim Rattigan
Illustrator: Lillian Hsu-Flanders

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X6NHlK3j_s

Purchasing information:  https://www.amazon.com/Dumpling-Soup-Jama-Kim-Rattigan/dp/0316730475

Synopsis: Dumpling Soup is the story of a girl who celebrates New Year’s Eve with her Korean, Japanese, and Hawaiian family making dumpling soup at her grandmother’s house.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The book is full of vivid images and words in other languages that transport the reader to a traditional Asian New Year’s Eve celebration. The events in the story are show family gatherings and traditions.

Representation: This book represents Asian and multicultural families, as well as the richness they bring together. It portrays traditional family structures with universal yet unique traditions.

Classroom Uses: This book could be used to teach about different cultures, different types of traditions, and vocabulary for 2nd and 3rd grade. Interdisciplinary connections could be made to Social Studies and geography.

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Author / Illustrator: Vera B. Williams

Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0urqLXWq6jo

Purchasing information: https://kidsbooks.com/store/details/9780688040741B?gclid=CjwKCAjw4JWZBhApEiwAtJUN0I2sC-iIk6zdL9ZZYdbIQfwLRb5WwYiEViTrJ6ZsxBMzDm3yCeK4XRoCqUoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Synopsis: A Chair for My Mother tells a story of a family who save their coins to buy a comfortable chair after losing everything in a fire. Their family and community come together to help them enjoy their new home and chair.

Art and Genre Characteristics: The author-illustrator, Vera B. Williams, uses bright colors to portray a cheerful and warm feeling in the reader, except for the day of the fire, which is red, dark, and gloomy. This narrative picture book is told from the main character’s point of view, Rosa. The setting, characters, and events are relatable to real life.

Representation: This book is representative of women and people of low socioeconomic status. Their race is not stated but they have non-white features, which will allow some minorities to feel represented. Their family structure is non-traditional as the main character is being raised by her mother and grandmother.

Classroom Uses: This book can be used in 2nd grade to teach sequence of events, the power of goal setting, and working together. Interdisciplinary connections could be made to teach math, specifically money counting and addition.