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Title: All Thirteen

Author: Christina Soontornvat

Publisher/Date: Candlewick Press/October 13, 2020

# of Pages:

Awards: John Newbery Medal, Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction Text for Older Readers

Grade Level: 3-7

Genre: Juvenile nonfiction, caving, trapped, survival, rescue

Theme: Informational chapter book

Topic: Resilience, hope, and dream/Problem posing and solving

Summary: A soccer coach and 12 players all go for a hike in a cave in the mountains. The monsoons start early and cause a flood in the cave. A massive search and rescue begins and they realize that the flow of the current mixed with the sharp edges and small caves make a rescue near impossible. The news of the incident grows globally and soon people from all over the world are trying to help in the rescue. After 18 days and one rescuer’s life being taken, the boys are given sedation as divers swim them out one by one.

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Title: The Cat man of Aleppo

Author: Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha

Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu

Medium: Digital drawings

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/April 14, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-3rd

Genre: Juvenile historical fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference, Contribution to the community

Topic: War, cats, community

Summary: Alaa is from Aleppo and his city is being bombed. He does not flee, but instead stays behind and drives an ambulance to help people. He sees cats that have been left behind and decides to help them. After work he takes them food. After realizing there are too many to feed he gets the word out and gets people and donations to help. He builds them a sanctuary. Through donations he is then able to build a playground, dig a well, and help his people. He never knew how much joy he would have by just caring for cats.

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Title: La Princesa and the Pea

Author: Susan Middleton Elya

Illustrator: Juana Martinez Neal

Medium: Pencils

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/September 5, 2017

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Theme: Problem posing and solving

Topic: Prince, princess, mother-in-law,

Summary: A prince wanted a wife, but his mother was very picky. The prince found a girl he liked, but his mother said she must pass a test. She found a pea and placed it under many many mattresses. She believed that if the girl noticed the pea, she was a true princess. The girl passed the test and the prince was allowed to marry.

Note: This book has many words in spanish and would be good for bilingual students.

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Title: Big Dog…Little Dog

Author: P.D. Eastman

Medium: Ink, watercolor

Publisher/Date: Random House Children’s Books/May 23, 2006

# of Pages: 24

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Problem posing and solving , Gaining perspectives

Topic: friends, dogs

Summary: Fred and Ted were friends. Fred was tall and Ted was short. They both had similarities and differences. They have many adventures together, noticing their differences. They have a problem at the end with their beds being the wrong size, so they switch beds and it solves the problem.

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Title: Big Cat, little cat

Author: Elisha Cooper

Illustrator: Elisha Cooper

Medium: Acrylic paint

Publisher/Date: Roaring Brook Press/March 14, 2017

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Belonging creates relationships and conformity, Overcoming challenges and difficulties

Topic: Cats, growth, loss

Summary: This is a story of an older cat who gets a kitten. The bigger cat teaches the new kitten everything and they live a long life together as the kitten grows. One day the older cat leaves to die and the whole household is sad. Until one day a new kitten arrives and the older cat now teaches the kitten what it needs to know.

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Title: Lola Reads to Leo

Author: Anna McQuinn

Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw

Medium: Acrylic paint

Publisher/Date: Charlesbridge/November 14, 2013

# of Pages: 28

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Systems organize our lives and world, Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Siblings, babies, family

Summary: Lola mother is about to have a baby and she helps her parents get ready. When Leo arrives Lola helps with everything to help Leo. Lola likes to read to Leo and in the end Lola’s mother reads to her.

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Title: Kite Day. A Bear and Mole Story

Author: Will Hillenbrand

Medium: pastel/chalk

Publisher/Date: Holiday House/January 22, 2013

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference, Force creates movement

Topic: Animals, kites, storm, friends

Summary: A bear realizes that it is a good day to fly a kite. He gets his friend, a mole, and they build a kite together. They then fly the kite and a storm comes. The storm breaks the kite string and sends it off. They chase the kite to a tree where it lands on top of a birds nest. The mother bird thanks them for providing shelter to her baby birds.

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The Berenstain Bears, Ready, Get Set, Go!

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The Berenstain Bears, Ready, Get Set, Go!

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Title: The Berenstain Bears. Ready, Get Set Go!

Author: Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

Medium: Digital graphics

Publisher/Date: Random House/1988

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: 2nd-4th

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Resilience, hope, and dream, Overcoming challenges and difficulties

Topic: Family, sports, olympics

Summary: Papa bear and the two kids participate in the Bear Olympics. They have many events and sometimes the daughter wins and sometimes the son wins, but the father bear never wins. After competing in many events they are all tired and take a nap. The father sleeps and sleeps and everyone agrees that he wins at sleeping.

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Title: Please, Mr. Panda

Author: Steve Antony

Illustrator: Steve Antony

Medium: Digital graphics

Publisher/Date: Hodder Children’s Books/2015

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference

Topic: animals, panda, donuts, politeness

Summary: A grumpy panda asks other animals if they would like a donut. They are all polite and say yes, I will have one. He then changes his mind each time and doesn’t give them a donut. At the end he asks a lemur if he wants a donut he says yes and he will take the whole tray. The Panda gives the lemur the whole tray of donuts and says he does not like donuts. He was looking for someone to take them all.

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Title: Miss Rumphius

Author: Alan Armstrong

Illustrator: S.D. Schindler

Medium: Acrylics with pencils

Publisher/Date: Random House children’s Books/2005

# of Pages: 191

Grade Level: 4th-6th

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Exploration and curiosity, Problem posing and solving , Appreciation for nature

Topic: Flowers, seaside, family, travel

Summary: Miss Rumphius is the great aunt of Alice of whom she was named after. When Miss Rumphius was a young girl her grandfather inspired her to travel, to live by the sea, and to make the world beautiful. She lived her life traveling and then living by the sea. To make the world beautiful she spread Lupin flower seeds all over the community and now the community has beautiful blooms every year. As an old woman she then tasked her great niece the same task.

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Title: Last Stop on Market Street

Author: Matt de la Pena

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Medium: Collage

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/January 8, 2015

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Gaining perspectives

Topic: Family, community, multigenerational

Summary: CJ and his grandmother take a bus ride home after church. CJ questions everything on their ride home. His grandmother helps him see the beauty in everything they do on the way home.

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Title: Busy Betty

Author: Reese Witherspoon

Illustrator: Xindi Yan

Medium: Digital graphics

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/October 4, 2022

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 2nd-4th

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Exploration and curiosity, Taking action can make a difference

Topic: family, friends, dog, business

Summary: Betty is a busy girl who jumps from one activity to the next. She notices that her dog is dirty and her friend Mae is coming over soon. She tries to wash her dog and she keeps getting distracted along the way. She ends up making a bigger mess than she started and thought Mae would be upset. Instead Mae realized the great idea that Betty had for a dog washing business. They had a great time setting that up.

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Title: Just Try One Bite

Author: Adam Mansbach, Camila Alves McConaughey

Illustrator: Mike Boldt

Medium: Digital graphics

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/March 22, 2022

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 2-4th

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Courage for taking actions, Gaining perspectives

Topic: Cooking, family, vegetables

Summary: Three children are tired of their parents’ bad eating habits. They tell them that they need to start eating better food. They give suggestions and try everything to get them to even try a little, but they keep refusing. Finally after pleading and bribing, the parents finally try some vegetables and they actually like it. Then they get donut holes for dessert.

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Title: Stick and Stone

Author: Beth Ferry

Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Medium: Chalk

Publisher/Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/2015

# of Pages: 48

Grade Level: prek-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Force creates movement, Alienation and acceptance by peers

Topic: Best friends, loneliness

Summary: Stick and stone are two characters who are both lonely. Stone gets bullied and stick comes to his rescue. They then become friends and they are no longer lonely. They go on fun adventures together. One day there is a storm and stick gets blown away. Stone is once again lonely. Stone finally finds stick stuck in the mud. He rescues stick and they are once again friends.

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Title: I Want My Hat Back

Author: Jon Klassen

Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Medium: watercolors

Publisher/Date: Candlewick Press/October 25, 2016

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Problem posing and solving , Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Animals, loss

Summary: A bear has lost his hat and goes around to other animals to see if they have seen his hat. Animal by animal they haven’t seen it, or don’t know what a hat is. The rabbit, although, is wearing a red pointy hat when he asks him, but the rabbit says he hasn’t seen the hat. After asking all of the animals he finally realizes that the rabbit had on his hat. He runs back to the rabbit and has a stare down with the rabbit. The bear then has his hat and says he loves his hat. A squirrely then asks the bear if he has seen a rabbit with a hat and the bear says he would never eat a rabbit and not to ask anymore questions. He loves his hat.

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Title: What Pet Should I Get?

Author: Dr. Seuss

Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Medium:Ink drawing with colors

Publisher/Date: Random House Children’s Books/January 8, 2019

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Problem posing and solving

Topic: Pets, family, choices

Summary: A boy and his sister Kay go in search of a pet at a pet store. At first he wants a dog and she wants a cat. How do they decide? Then they notice the many other pet options and now their choice is even bigger. They run through all of the scenarios of choosing all of the pets, but finally in the end they just make up their mind. But we don’t know what they picked.

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Title: Shark Lady, The True Story of How Eugene Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist

Author: Jess Keating

Illustrator: Marta Alvarez Miguens

Medium: Digital graphics

Publisher/Date: Sourcebooks/June 6, 2017

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level:

Genre: Juvenile nonfiction

Theme: Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Sharks, marine life, scientist

Summary: Eugenie loves marine life and works hard to learn more and to go to college to study marine life. Even though many people told her she couldn’t do it, she did. She grew to appreciate and love sharks. She was determined to overturn their bad rap of being evil. She even trained sharks just like dogs. Eugene dedicates her entire life to the research and appreciation of sharks.

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Eerie Elementary, The Hall Monitors are FIRED!

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Eerie Elementary, The Hall Monitors are FIRED!

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Title: Eerie Elementary, The Hall Monitors are FIRED!

Author: Jack Chabert (pen name for Max Brallier)

Illustrator: Matt Loveridge

Medium: Pen comics

Publisher/Date: Branches/Scholastic Incorporated/2018

# of Pages: 96

Grade Level: 3rd-5th

Genre: Juvenile fantasy and science fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference, Problem posing and solving

Topic: Ghosts, friends, school, teachers

Summary: Sam’s school, Eerie Elementary, is haunted by Orson Eerie, a mad scientist that the school was named after. Sam is a hall monitor that does what he can to protect the students. A big kickball showdown is going to take place and Orson Eerie is trying to sabotage the event. Sam and the other hall monitors start getting messed with by Orson Eerie. The hall monitor’s ended up saving the day and the kickball showdown.

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The Last Kids on Earth, June's Wild Flight

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The Last Kids on Earth, June's Wild Flight

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Title: The Last Kids on Earth June’s Wild Flight

Author:  Max Brallier

Illustrator: Douglas Holgate

Medium: Comic Ink drawings

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/April 7, 2020

# of Pages: 272

Grade Level: 4th-6th

Genre: Juvenile fantasy and science fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference, Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Adventure, monsters, friendship

Summary: June is a brave girl who was the editor for her school newspaper before the monster apocalypse. She lives in a treehouse with her friends. The story starts with June in a fun go cart competition with friends and friendly monsters. Enemies show up and capture June and take her to a place with never before seen monsters. Through her mad skills and friendly monsters she escapes and makes her way home. She also discovers new things along the way about “The Tower”, which is a mystery that they are working on and their search for Thrull.

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Title: A Map into the World

Author: Kao Kalia Yang

Illustrator: Seo Kim

Medium: Digital drawing

Publisher/Date: Lerner Publishing Group/August 2021

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: K-3

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Gaining perspectives, Systems organize our lives and world

Topic: Family, neighbors, art

Summary: A story of a young girl who is trying to find her place in the busy world. Things are changing for her as she moves and experiences birth and death.

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Title: Every Dog in the Neighborhood

Author: Philip C. Stead

Illustrator: Matthew Cordell

Medium: Ink drawings/water color

Publisher/Date: Holiday House/June 21, 2022

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 2-5

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference, Contribution to the community

Topic: Dogs, neighborhood, community involvement

Summary: Louis wants a dog badly, but his grandmother tells him there are too many dogs in the neighborhood already. He asks how many and she doesn’t know. Louis then goes door to door taking a tally of how many dogs there are. In the meanwhile, the grandmother is building a dog park. Louis ends up with one of the dogs who is about to lose his owner.

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Title: Life

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel

Medium: Water color/collage

Publisher/Date: Beach Lane Books/June 27, 2017

# of Pages: 48

Grade Level: K-3

Genre: Juvenile fiction, nature writing

Theme: Systems organize our lives and world, Appreciation for nature

Topic: Animals, nature, preservation

Summary: The story of nature that begins with small things and then grows into bigger things. Animals are shown in their habitats and their environments. Hints of preservation for the future.

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Title: Eloise

Author: Kay Thompson

Illustrator: Hillary Knight

Medium: Drawings

Publisher/Date: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/October 27, 2015

# of Pages: 84

Grade Level: 2-5

Genre: Juvenile Fiction, humorous

Theme: Social, Etiquette

Topic: Adventure, hotel

Summary: Originally written in 1957, this is the story of a young girl who lives at The Plaza in New York. It is a story of her adventures at the hotel with the employees, the guests, and her nanny. She is mischievous, but knows her boundaries. She is adventurous and enjoys meeting people who aren’t boring. Every day is a new adventure.

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Title: Where Are You From?

Author: Yamile Saied Mendez

Illustrator: Jaime Kim

Medium: Digital design

Publisher/Date: HarperCollins/July 7, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Developing self-esteem and confidence

Topic: Family

Summary: A young girl asks her grandfather where she is from because everyone at school keeps asking her. Her grandfather responds by saying she is from all of the natural surroundings of her ancestors and family. It ends with him saying she is from her heart.

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

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Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See?

Author: Bill Mart Jr.

Illustrator: Eric Carle

Medium: Collage

Publisher/Date: Henry Holt and Company/May 2, 2017

# of Pages: 28

Grade Level: Pre-K

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Theme: Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Animals, colors

Summary: A collection of animals are asked by the author what do they see and they respond with another animal and their color. The book ends with the students seeing the teacher. Great for beginning readers.

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Title: Wonder Walkers

Author: Micha Archer

Illustrator: Micha Archer

Medium: Collage

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/March 30, 2021

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Pre-2nd

Genre: Juvenile fiction, Nature writing, picture book

Theme: Appreciation for nature, Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Nature

Summary: Two children go for a walk and wonder about their environment. They ask very interesting questions about nature and relate nature to human characteristics. They open your mind by asking deep questions about nature with amazing artwork.

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Title: Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

Author: Nikki Grimes

Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon

Medium: Collage

Publisher/Date: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky/2020

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Pre-3rd

Genre: Juvenile fiction, bedtime story

Theme: Belonging creates relationships and conformity, Exploration and curiosity

Topic: Family, animals, bedtime

Summary: A young boy and his mother go through various animals to represent his feelings and actions at bedtime.

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Title: Watercress

Author: Andrea Wang

Illustrator: Jason Chin

Medium:

Publisher/Date: Holiday House/March 30, 2021

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: 1st-3rd

Genre: Juvenile fiction, cooking

Theme: Gaining perspectives, Life is a journey across many kinds of pathways

Topic: Family, food, hunger

Summary: A young Chinese girl and her family stop at the side of a road in rural Ohio and pick watercress out of a ditch. She is embarrassed by this and refuses to eat the watercress at dinner. Her mother then tells her about the famine in China and shows her a picture of her family who were starving during that time. The girl changes her perspective and eats her meal.

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Title: All of a Sudden and Forever

Author: Chris Barton

Illustrator: Nicole Xu

Publisher/Date: Lerner Publishing Group/2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 2nd-5th

Genre: Juvenile nonfiction/Informational picture book

Theme: Overcoming challenges and difficulties

Topic: Oklahoma City bombing

Summary: A look at a devastating bombing of a building in Oklahoma City. The book takes simple steps through the tragedy and does a great job at being honest, respectful, and informative. An elm tree near the building survives and seedlings from the tree are used to help people heal and build a memorial.

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Title: Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea

Author: Elizabeth Suneby

Illustrator: Rebecca Green

Publisher/Date:Kids Can Press/May 2018

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: 3rd-7th

Genre:Juvenile Non-Fiction

Theme: Informative Picture Book

Topic: Family, sustainability, science

Summary: Iqbal, a boy from Bangladesh, enters a science fair with the idea of a solar cooker so that his mother and sister don’t suffer from the smoke of the flame. Iqbal won first prize which allowed him to buy his family a propane stove for the monsoon season.

Evaluation: Based on the criteria of Evaluation and Selection of Informational Books, this book was very clear and easily understandable. The information is correct and easy for young minds to understand. This book definitely encourages analytical thinking by leading them through the process of developing a solar cooker and ultimately cooking an egg. It’s organized around a theme of indoor pollution of smoke that is harming his family. The level of science used is appropriate for 3rd-7th grade.

Activity: The end of the book suggests a great activity which requires a pizza box, foil, black paper, and plastic wrap. By cutting a whole in the pizza box and placing the foil at an angle above the whole in the box, a smore can be made inside from the reflection of the sun.

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Title: Ban this Book

Author: Alan Gratz

Publisher/Date:Tom Doherty Associates/August 29, 2017

# of Pages: 256

Grade Level: 3rd-7th

Genre: Juvenile novel, fiction

Theme: Taking action can make a difference/courage for taking action

Topic: School, family, friends, books, free speech

Summary: Amy Anne is in the 4th grade and her favorite book is banned from the school library. She is afraid to speak out about it, but she gains courage as she creates the Banned Book Locker Library where she secretly loans out the banned books from her school with the help of her friends. She is finally caught and has an explosive speech at the school board meeting where she wins her argument to get the books back.

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Title:Galaxy Zack Hello, Nebulon!

Author: Ray O’Ryan

Illustrator: Colin Jack

Publisher/Date:Little Simon/April 2, 2013

# of Pages: 129

Grade Level: 5th-6th

Genre: Science fiction and science fantasy

Theme: Difference is a resource, not a problem. Life is a journey across many kinds of pathways

Topic: Family, friendship, adventure

Summary: Zack has to relocate to another planet and is very worried that it is going to terrible and gross. When he gets to school he finds out that it isn’t that bad and soon makes a friend, Drake Tucker. Even though he starts to fit in, he still misses earth. In the end, his father finally brings his dog to Nebulon, which makes Zack very happy.

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Title: The One and Only Ivan

Author: Katheryn Applegate

Illustrator: Patricia Castelao

Publisher/Date: Harper/February 1, 2012

# of Pages: 305

Award: John Newberry Medal

Grade Level: 5th - 6th

Genre: Novel, Children's literature, Biographical Fiction

Theme: Resilience, hope, and dream

Topic: Family, friends, loneliness, animals, loyalty

Summary: Ivan is a silverback gorilla who was taken captive after his family was killed. He lived in a cage at a mall for 27 years. After being pushed to help save his friend, a baby elephant, he uses his drawing skills to get them moved to a zoo.

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Title: Jo Jo Makoons

Author: Dawn Quigley

Illustrator: Tara Adibert

Publisher/Date: HarperCollins/ May 11, 2021

# of Pages: 80

Grade Level: 2nd-3rd

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Resilience, hope, and dream

Topic: Friends, family, pets

Artistic Medium: Digital graphics

Summary: JoJo is an active young native American girl who loves who she is. She is a 7 year old who lives on the Ojibwe reservation. Her best friend is her cat, Mimi, and she has a friend, Fern, from school. She is worried that Fern will not want to be her friend for long so she searches for a way to make new friends.

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Title: Star Fish

Author: Lisa Fipps

Publisher/Date: Penguin Young Readers Group/2021

# of Pages: 256

Grade Level: 5th-8th

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Theme: Alienation and acceptance by peers/ Overcoming challenges and difficulties

Topic: Family/Friendship

Artistic Medium: Digital graphics

Summary: Ellie is sick of being fat-shamed and bullied at school and by her mother. She finds safety in her swimming pool where she feels weightless and can stretch out like a starfish. She is accepted by her father and her new neighbor, Catalina. This is her journey in being accepted by others and to accept herself.

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Title: Baseball Saved Us

Author: Ken Mochizuki

Illustrator: Dom Lee

Publisher/Date: Live Oak Media, 2018

# of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Historical

Theme: Taking action can make a difference/Alienation and acceptance by peers

Topic: Family/WWII/Sports

Artistic Medium: Painting

Summary: While in a Japanese internment camp during WWII, the detainees built a baseball field to give them something to do. Shorty was not good at baseball, but got better while in the camp. When he returned to school he was called names, but he was a better player and his teammates appreciated him.

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Title: Arnie the Doughnut

Author: Laurie Keller

Illustrator: Laurie Keller

Publisher/Date: Square Fish/May 10, 2016

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 1st-2nd

Genre: Fiction/Humor

Theme: Belonging creates relationships and conformity/Difference is a resource, not a problem

Topic: Friendship

Artistic Medium: Painting

Summary: Arnie is a donut who gets surprised when he finds out that he has been bought to be eaten. He convinces Mr. Bing to not eat him, but they don’t know what his purpose can be. They figure out that Arnie can be his pet dog (or donut).

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Title: Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods

Author: Rick Riordan

Illustrator: John Rocco

Publisher/Date: Disney-Hyperion/February 23, 2016

# of Pages: 416

Grade Level: 4th-8th

Genre: Greek mythology/short story/young adult fiction

Theme: Force creates movement/systems organize our lives and world/exploration and curiosity

Topic: Adventure

Type of Literature: Short stories
Summary: This book is a collection of short stories of Greek mythology from the perspective of Percy Jackson. Percy explains how the world was created through humorous stories of ancient gods like Zeus, Poseidon, and Apollo. He uses current dialogue and slang to tell his stories. He takes stories about the gods, like Demeter, who is the goddess of agriculture and gives her a nickname of Grainzilla when she grows to a massive height to protect herself.

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Title:Easy Avenue

Author: Brian Doyle

Publisher/Date: Groundwood Books Limited, 1988

# of Pages: 144

Grade Level: 4th-6th

Genre:Juvenile Fiction/Humorous Stories

Theme: Life is a journey across many kinds of pathways, Alienation and acceptance by peers

Topic: Family/Friendship/

Summary: Hubbo is a poor young boy starting his first year in high school in Canada during the 1950s. He works as a caddy for a hot-tempered Donald D. DonaldmcDonald. He is being raised by an aunt, Mrs. O’Driscoll since both of his parents had died. Mrs. O’Driscoll talks non-stop about Mr. O’Driscoll who left her. As Hubbo becomes aware of class distinctions he surrounds himself with rich people, although he is not and he falls in love with a poor girl Fleurette. He starts to worry that he is becoming a snob, but he knows he enjoys his poor friends and family more than the wealthy boring people. In the end he finds out that Donald D. DonaldmcDonald has been giving him money to help with his education and Mrs. O’Driscoll finds that Mr. O’Driscoll has returned to her.

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Title: Red, White, and Whole

Author: Rajani LaRocca

Publisher/Date: Harper Collins/February 2, 2021

Award: NCTE 2022 Notable Verse, 2022 John Newbery Honor Winner

# of Pages: 224

Grade Level: 5th-9th

Genre: Poetry

Theme: Life is a journey across many kinds of pathways, Alienation and acceptance by peers

Type of Poetry: Novel in verse

Summary: This is the journey of an American Indian girl who wants to be a typical American girl, but struggles with her proper parents and what they expect from her. Her mother gets sick and passes away. She reads a letter from her mother that tells her that she belongs. She finally accepts her place as belonging, but also being unique.

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Author: Max Brallier
Title: The Last Kids on Earth and the Skeleton Road
Author/Illustrator: Douglas Holgate
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Incorporated, 2020
# of pages: 309
Grade Level: 3rd-7th
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Theme: Taking action can make a difference, courage for taking actions
Topic: Adventure
Summary: This is about a boy and his friends who face a monster invasion. Jack is 13 years old who is the hero. He has his friends Quint and June who help in his quest to save the earth. The villain is Dirk Savage. The kids find refuge in Jack’s treehouse as they defend the earth.

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Title: Crossover

Author: Kwame Alexander

Publisher/Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/1997

# of Pages: 237

Grade Level: 6th-8th

Genre: Sports/fiction

Theme: Gaining perspectives/Belonging creates relationships and conformity

Topic: Sports/Loss

Type of Literature: Verse Novel
Summary: This is a story of a basketball family of twin boys. The boys are very competitive and it causes a rift. Their father passes away and they come to realize what is important.

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Title: Dreamers

Author: Yuyi Morales

Illustrator: Yuyi Morales

Publisher/Date: Holiday House/September 4, 2018

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-2nd

Genre: Juvenile/Non-Fiction/Biography

Theme: Overcoming challenges and difficulties, Problem posing and solving

Topic: Family, hope, U.S., immigrants

Artistic Medium: Digital paint

Summary: The story of a woman who comes to America in 1994 with her infant son and very few possessions. But she has the most important things like her hopes and dreams for her future. She believes she has many things to offer her new country.

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Title: You Matter

Author: Christian Robinson

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher/Date: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/June 2, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-3rd

Genre: Juvenile fiction, picture book

Theme: Belonging creates relationships and conformity, Systems organize our lives and world

Topic: Friends, family, community, loneliness

Artistic Medium: Collage, paint

Summary: A book on perspectives of various people, animals, and things. It also touches on loneliness and everyone's place in the world.

Personal Response: Best book of the year by Barnes and Noble, NY Times, and others

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Title: All Because You Matter

Author: Tami Charles

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Publisher/Date: Orchard Books, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Resilience, hope, and dream

Topic: Activism

Summary: Written from the perspective of the father of a black son. He is wanting his son to know that he matters, he has always mattered, and always will matter. He connects his son to the universe and his ancestors, which give him meaning and purpose.

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Title: Be Your Own Best Friend Forever

Author: Christian Robinson

Illustrator: Gary Robinson/Jayla Rose

Publisher/Date: 7th Generation/April 27, 2021

# of Pages: 36

Grade Level: 4th - 7th

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Theme: Developing self-esteem and confidence

Topic: Friendship, diversity, confidence

Artistic Medium: Digital graphics

Summary: Jayla gives advice and tips to girls who have low self-esteem from body shaming and exclusion. She talks about being proud of who she is and helps the readers do the same. She steers kids away from the negative statements that they are receiving to help them realize that they are worthy and wonderful.

Personal Response: The book was excellent and had a powerful message. People are frequently so hard on themselves that they forget to be good to themselves. The major message of this book is to teach kids that it's alright to be different and to appreciate themselves for who they are. The author does a fantastic job of writing for young readers and provides ways to stop the negative chatter. The book displayed creativity with the various images, had moral character, and revealed the truth. Instead of lecturing students, this book provided them with questions to explore. It raised awareness of self-harm and the value of being kind to oneself.

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Title: All Because You Matter

Author: Tami Charles

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Publisher/Date: Orchard Books, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Resilience, hope, and dream

Topic: Activism

Summary: Written from the perspective of the father of a black son. He is wanting his son to know that he matters, he has always mattered, and always will matter. He connects his son to the universe and his ancestors, which give him meaning and purpose.

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Title: Show Me a Sign

Author: Ann Clare LeZotte

Publisher/Date: Scholastic Incorporated/March 3, 2020

# of Pages: 288

Grade Level: 7th-12th

Genre: Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction

Theme: Overcoming challenges and difficulties/Viewpoint of a societal issue/Resilience, hope, and dream

Topic: Family, Friendship, Deafness

Summary: This story takes place in 1805 on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Mary Elizabeth Lambert is deaf and is 11 years old. Mary’s older brother is killed in a carriage accident and Mary feels she is to blame. Many people are deaf at this time on the island so a scientist wants to do research. The scientist is racist and assumes that the deaf people are not smart. The scientist kidnaps Mary and takes her to Boston where she is mistreated. She finally meets another scientist who realizes that Mary is smart and helps her to escape. The scientist chases her and drowns at sea. She learns from her experience and decides to become a teacher.

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Book Title: Maybe Something Beautiful
Author/illustrator: F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell
Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: April 12, 2016
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Taking action can make a difference
Grade Level: K-2nd
# of pages: 42
Artistic media: painting
Summary: Mira is a young Hispanic girl who lives in the city and loved to draw and paint. She would paint pictures for people in her community. A muralist asked her to paint with him and they gave community members paint brushes as well. They together painted their community beautiful colors and celebrated together.
Type of the literature: multicultural

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Title: Bud Not Buddy
Book Award: The John Newberry Medal and The Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Book Title: Bud Not Buddy

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Publication Date: 1999

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Adult Readers

Grade Level: 5th-7th

Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: Life is a journey across many kinds of pathways, Resilience, hope, and dream, Overcoming challenges and difficulties
Topic: Family, adventure, history

# of pages: 243

Summary: Bud, a young boy from Flint Michigan in the 1930s, mother passes away and becomes an orphan. Bud runs away from his foster home in search of his father with only a few clues left from his mother. He ends up finding the man who he believes is his father, a famous band leader, then finds out that he is really his grandfather.

Personal Response: This is a very powerful book with an exciting twist when he finds out that who he thought was his father is really his grandfather. All of the characters are interesting and Bud is a great character.

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Title: Jackie Robinson

Author: Matt Christopher and Glenn Stout

Publisher/Date: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009

No. of pages: 128

Grade Level: 5th-8th

Genre: Biography, Juvenile Nonfiction

Theme: Overcoming obstacles, racism, resilience

Topic: Sports, civil rights

This is the story of the first African American to play major league baseball.

This book is truly inspiring and has many great points to teach about such as civil rights, sportsmanship, and resilience. This is a good book for social studies as well as PE.