# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jory John
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: 40
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: A sunflower seed is dropped from its home and harvested into a bag of seeds. It manages to escape but becomes a bad seed, doing all the things it should not do. It is rude and impolite and leaves messes. One day the seed decides it is done being bad and chooses to be kid. The bad seed becomes a good seed and realizes that it is much better to live this way.
Response to the Book: This book shows a lot of examples of what not to do in a way that makes them unappealing. It makes it seem important to do the right thing which I think is great!

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jacky Davis
Illustrator: David Soman
Publisher: Dial Books
Date: October 2011
# of pages: 40
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: Sam loves to go on adventures as Bumblebee boy where he becomes a hero and helps people. During his adventures, his little brother Owen tries to join in on the action. Annoyed by this, Sam says no, Bumblebee Boy flies alone. Owen tries time and time again to join him but Sam continues to say no. One day, when Bumblebee boy is trying to stop a lion, he notices that a small boy has made the lion lay on his back to get a belly rub. The little boy was Owen. Sam was impressed by this and finally agreed to allow Owen to play with him, realizing that they make a great team.
Response to the Book: This is a fun book that teaches that teamwork and getting along with siblings is not actually all that bad and can be a lot of fun! Kids will love the exciting superhero element.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Shel Silversteen

Illustrator: Shel Silversteen

Publisher: Harper Collins

Date: 2014

# of pages: 66

Grade Level: PreK-3

Genre: Fiction

Visual Elements: Pictures in this book are black and white and have a cartoon-like feeling.

Literary Elements:  This book is about a tree who gives apples and love. A young boy uses the tree for these things but as he grows older he begins to take more and more until the tree has nothing left to give.

Response to the Book: I think this is a good story that illustrates the importance of taking care of ourselves and those around us, and avoiding greed because people can only give so much before they are drained and cannot help anymore.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Barbara Park

Illustrator: Denise Brunkus

Publisher: Random House Inc.

Date: 1999

# of pages: 68

Grade Level: K-3

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Visual Elements: There is just a few drawings in the book. They are all in black and white and depict specific things relevant to that point in the story.
Literary Elements: Junie B. Jones is very disappointed when she finds out that she does not get to be the flower girl at her Aunt Flo's wedding after her and her friends decided that she should be. Instead, she is made the alternate flower girl. She tries her best to act as a grown up, but eventually realizes that she has more fun as a child.
Response to the Book: I love this book! It is easy to read and captures the attention of the reader, bringing them into Junie B. Jone's world. There are no curricular connections but it is a great book to read just for fun.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jon Schieska

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Publisher: Viking Children's Books

Date: 1989

# of pages: 32

Grade Level: K-3

Genre: Fiction, Fairytale

Artistic Elements: Pictures are drawn with dark colors. High contrast contributes to the tone of the story.

Literary Elements: The Three Little Pigs as told by the wolf (A. Wolf). The wolf claims that he was baking a cake for his grandma when he found that he was short a cup of sugar. He went to ask his neighbors for sugar but he sneezed and accidentally blew their houses down. He eats the dead pigs for dinner because its the right thing to do. He then tries to break down the last house as his grandma is insulted. When the cops show up, they paint a bad story of him.

Personal Thoughts: I thought this was an interesting twist on a classic story, and one that would be great to teach perspective and point of view.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: James Dean

Illustrator: Eric Litman

Publisher: Harper Festival

Date: 2018

# of pages: 24

Grade Level: PreK-2

Genre: Fiction
Visual Elements: Colors are vibrant, and while the cat is drawn as a cartoon, he is depicted doing human things.
Literary Elements:  This book is about Pete the Cat going to the library for the first time. He does all the different activities you can do at the library.

Response to the Book: This is a fun, colorful book that would be a great introduction to the school library for young students.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: David Shannon

Illustrator: David Shannon

Date: 1998

# of pages: 33

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: K-5

Literary Elements: This is the story of Camilla, a young girl who is always struggling to be happy with her appearance and is always looking for people's approval. Suddenly, everybody's opinions become reality and she has so much happening to her appearance. She eventually realizes that what matters is what she likes and not what everybody else thinks.

Personal Response: I think this book does a great job of illustrating what happens when you allow people's opinions to impact you too much. It is a fun read and kids love how crazy and silly the idea is with all of the colors!

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Vera Brosgol

Illustrator: Vera Brosgol

Date: 2021

# of pages: 25

Genre: Fiction

Literary Elements: This book tells the story of a young girl names Freda who finds a way to keep all of her memories by keeping them in jars. As Freda goes through her memories and adventures she realizes that she has a lot of jars of jam for later. As she is eating her grandmas jam on day she realizes that she is missing her grandma. It is a story about living in the moment and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Personal Response: I like that this book includes a recipe for jam at the end so kids can practice making it with their own family. I think the overall theme of the story is very sweet. It is a good reminder for us all to cherish the time we have with our loved ones and enjoy the moments that we have rather than focusing only on saving those moments for later.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Oliver Jeffers

Illustrator: Olivers Jeffers

Date: 2008

Number of Pages: 22

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: PreK-1

Literary Elements: This is a simple story about a boy and a penguin who go on an adventure to find the penguin's home.  One day when a young boy finds a penguin he becomes very invested in trying to locate his home. This book goes through the steps of what to do if you lose something. He realizes that the penguins home is very far away.

Personal Response: This is a very enjoyable story. It is a fun and simple read that was new to me. I like the way that the words flow and the lightheartedness of the book.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael Lopez
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Date: 2018
# of pages: 32
Grade Level: K-5
Genre: Fiction
Literacy Elements: This is a story about several students who feel left out and alone in various scenarios. The students eventually realize that everyone is uncomfortable or insecure about some things, and that is something that brings them all closer in the end.
Personal Response: I really enjoyed this book. I remember being very insecure as a child so I think its really nice that it teaches kids that everyone has unique and different lives. I like that the book includes a lot of different cultures and shows kids that being different is something to celebrate.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Kevin Noble Maillard
Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Date: October 2019
# of pages: 48
Grade Level: PreK-1
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: This book explains the importance of the food fry bread and how it came to be a part of Native American History. In this book, many children gather with their grandmother and other adults to make fry bread. This book shows everything that fry bread is, everything it means to Native American people, and shows a great example of how food can be shared to bring people together in a common culture, creating a sense of community.
Response to the Book: I really enjoyed the comforting feeling this book brings. It is full of interesting cultural history and I love the unified community that is created through the fry bread and the way that this is communicated through the story. My family is Ukrainian, and this book reminded me a lot of the days I spent helping my mom and grandma make vareniki or pelmeni as a child. It is so fun to see the ways that food brings people from all cultures together.
Curriculum Connections: Social studies; culture; family

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Robert McCloskey
Illustrator: Robert McCloskey
Publisher: The Viking Press
Date: 1941
# of pages: 72
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a place to raise a family but everywhere they find has some problem. They finally end up in a park in Boston where they make friends with a police officer and have some ducklings. The police officer sends his friends to stop traffic so the ducklings and Mrs. Mallard can make it through town. This book is the story of the ducks' lives and their adventures in Boston, including several major landmarks.
Response to the Book: This book is a classic. It is such a sweet story and I love the way that the ducks are personified in it. The detailed story and simple, classic illustrations make this a high quality childrens book and one that I certainly think deserved to be awarded.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Ken Mochizuki
Illustrator: Dom Lee
Publisher: Lee and Low
Date Published: March 1993
# of Pages: 32
Grade Level: 3-5
Genre: Historical Fiction
Artistic Media: The images in this book are very unique. They were created by applying encaustic beeswax on paper, then scratching out some images, and adding oil paint color.
Literary Elements: The story mainly focuses on a young Japanese American boy. The characters are fictional, but the setting is based on the Japanese internment camps during World War II and the conditions the people faced. The families in the internment camp were forced to leave their homes and go to the camp where they endured harsh conditions. Because the United States and Japan were at war, Japanese Americans were treated poorly and mistrusted. The young boy gets teased for being small and for not being very good at baseball, until he practices enough and hits a home run. When the families return home, the boy continues to be teased for being a “Jap” and looking different than everyone else. He uses baseball again to persevere through this challenge.

Personal Response: This story shows the power of community and common interests that bring joy and comfort in difficult times. It makes the historical events more relatable and understandable for children because of the narrative that is created. I think this story shows adversity and creates a good sense of hope for the reader. I love reading fiction books with accurate historical details because they are often written in a way that brings the historical event to life and makes it much more vivid and real in my imagination, rather than just being something we talk about at school and I think this book does a great job of accomplishing that.
Curriculum Connections: Social studies; WWII and Japanese internment camps

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Kate Dicamillio

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date: 2000

Page Number: 182

Grade Level: 3-6

Genre: Children's Novel

Literacy Elements: This is a book about a young girl named Opal. Opal lives in a trailer park. She goes to the store one day and finds a dog, she begs her dad (the local preacher) who eventually agrees to let her keep him. Opal struggles with the disappearance of her mother and their lack of a relationship. She and the dog become best friends and do everything together.

Personal Response: A good read for a heart warming story. It teaches that friendship can be found in many forms, including some that are unexpected.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Scott O' Dell

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Date: 1960

Page Number: 177

Grade Level: 5-9

Genre: Historical Fiction

Literary Elements: This book is about a 12 year old girl named Karana, who is stranded on an island with wolves when her family leaves very suddenly. She is forced to adapt to their lifestyle and be with them to survive. She spends 18 years on the island. The book is centered on a theme of friendship and community. Karana depends on this community to survive, and when that community no longer exists in her life, she depends on friendship with her environment for survival.

Personal Response: I felt the heartbreak and desperation of the main character as I read this book. The action and adventure was captivating and the situation was so bizarre that it was incredibly interesting to read. I loved this book as a child, and as an adult.

# data[].attributes.headline
Butterfly For A King: Saving Hawaiʻi's Kamehameha Butterflies

# data[].attributes.subject
Butterfly For A King: Saving Hawaiʻi's Kamehameha Butterflies

# data[].attributes.body
Author : Cindy Trumbore, Susan L. Roth

Illustrator: Susan L. Roth

Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Date: February 2021

Page Number: 48

Grade Level: 2-6

Genre: Nonfiction

Literary Elements: This is a beautifully written book full of facts about the native Hawaiian butterfly, the Kamehameha Butterfly. It specifically talked about a group of fifth graders who were able to make it the state insect and a conservation group who has been working to restore the species and allow them to thrive in their natural habitat. It is full of interesting facts and beautiful pictures.
Response to the Book: I learned a lot of cool things by reading this book, and it was particularly interesting to me because I have been to Hawaii and love learning about the culture and life there. I think it is really fun for kids to get to learn about the wildlife and insects in places different from where they live.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Heather L. Montgomery
Illustrator: Maribel Lechuga
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Date: September 2021
# of pages: 50
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: This book tells the stories of several young scientists who explore the world and collect things as they go. It is a "journal" of sorts, telling of all the things they found.
Personal Response: This book is a series of short, funny stories that are fun to read. They encourage kids to think like scientists in their daily lives in a simple, relatable way. The book encourages kids to make personal connections between the kids in the story and the things they put in their pockets as they go about their days.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Josh Cochran
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Date: May 2020
# of Pages: 64
Grade Level: 3-6
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
Theme: Art
Literary Elements: This book is a biography on the life of Keith Haring. Keith was creative his whole life and always felt that art shouldn't be limited to museums. He loved to be able to see people's responses to his art and he loved children.
Personal Response: I think this book is very inspirational. It tells the story of a person who found something that he loved and spent his life passionately working towards that thing. His passion for art and life is interesting to read about and encourages kids to seek things that they love, regardless of any negativity in their life. Keith died of AIDS at a young age (31) which is something to be aware of when reading this book with children.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Illustrator: Stevie Lewis
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Date: 2019
# of pages: 40
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Nonfiction, picture book
Literary Elements: Told from the perspective of the moon, this book teaches information and history about the moon and it's relation to earth, as well as important aspects of friendship. Moon describes that she is Earth's only natural-made satellite, and is her #1 sidekick and best friend. Moon explains why she looks different every night, how her characteristics compare to Earth's, that she isn't the only moon in the solar system.
Response to the Book: The personification of the moon is such a fun way to introduce kids to these ideas. I love that this book tells about the moon in an engaging and easy to understand way.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrator: Micha Archer
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Date: February 2019
# of pages: 35
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Seasons, spring
Literary Elements: This book tells of multiple events that occur throughout the spring season, using a pattern of "math" to explain. For example, it states "warmth+light=alarm clock," explaining that in the spring time it starts to get warm outside and the sun rises early in the morning waking living things up. The book states factual information about things that happen in the spring and gives examples of the changes.
Response to the Book: I like the pattern that this book follows with the equations of spring events. I think it's a really cool way to introduce equations and seasons at the same time, because most kids will likely be familiar, to some extent, with things that happen in spring.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Chris Rashka
Illustrator: Chris Rashka
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Date: 2021
# of pages: 32
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Fiction/Picture Book
Literary Elements: This book is a book of images and no words so the pictures tell the story. It is about a small white dog named Daisy and her favorite red ball. She is devastated when it is ruined by a bigger dog.
Response to the Book: I was amazed at the emotion shown in this wordless book. The images convey powerful emotion and I think it is such a fun book for young children who have yet to learn to read because it includes them in the process and allows them to understand the story.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Irene Latham
Illustrator: John Holyfield
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Date: 2019
# of pages: 32
Grade Level: K-2
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: The book starts with a description of how much Frank loves elephants. He discovers that if he raises enough money then Miss Fancy, an elephant that travels, might move close to Frank’s house. He works hard to raise the money and then goes to Avondale park to meet Miss Fancy, but there is a sign outside of the park saying that colored people can’t enter. Frank, being a young person of color was very upset and tries multiple ways of getting into the park but always gets shut down. He helps the elephant escape and leads her to his house so he could finally meet her.
Response to the Book: I think this book does a good job of illustrating the issues of segregation in a way that is easy for children to understand and appropriate for their age. I think it is important for young readers to learn about a wide variety of things, including difficult things from our past.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jacqueline Davies
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date: May 2009
# of pages: 192
Grade Level: 3-6
Genre: Children's fiction
Literary Elements: This book tells the story of Evan Treski and his math wiz sister, Jessie. Evan and Jessie decide to have a lemonade war on the 5th to last day of Summer vacation. Evan and Jessie experiment with different ideas and ways to sell the most lemonade. They decide that the winner of the competition will get all of the money that both of them make. The book goes through the highs and lows of Evan and Jessies lemonade sales. The siblings break morals and sabotage each other until they finally come together and forgive each other. This Lemonade War ends with no winner but two siblings who learn what is truly important in business and friendship.
Response to the Story: I think this book does a good job of teaching a lesson without being overly preachy. It allows the story to teach the lesson and has a good balance. I like how clever and funny this book is and I think it would be enjoyed by students of many ages.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Roald Dahl
Published: October 1988
# of pages: 232
Grade level: 3-6
Literary Elements: Matilda Wormwood is a wonderful, bright little girl who found herself surrounded by awful people. Matilda is a gifted child who has unpleasant, selfish parents. She spends her days reading books and walking to the library while her parents are out. Once Matilda is old enough to go to school she meets Ms. Honey. Ms. Honey is kind and generous and is very impressed by Matilda's abilities. She also discovers that her mind has magical abilities that allow her to move things. This book takes the reader through all of Matilda's adventures as she hides from her parents, practices her mind powers, and connects with Miss. Honey.
Response to the Book: I really enjoyed reading this story. Matilda is the type of character who is easy to cheer for. She continues to have good things happen to her, despite all the chaos in her life.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Marcus Pfister
Illustrator: J Alison James
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: January 1999
# of pages: 32
Grade level: K-2
Genre: Children's fiction
Literary Elements: The Rainbow Fish lives in the ocean. He has the most beautiful green and blue scales. One little fish asked the rainbow fish for one of his sparkly scales and the rainbow fish aggressively said no. Soon, all of the fish knew about how the rainbow fish didn't want to share his scales and no one wanted to be around him anymore. The rainbow fish traveled to a magic octopus to see if he could get the other fish to like him again. The magic octopus told rainbow fish that he needs to share his sparkly scales to the other fish and be kind if he wants to have friends. The rainbow fish did what he was told and got his friends back.
Response to the Book: This brightly colored children's fiction book that teaches kids about the importance of friendship. Children can learn that how we look is not as important as the friendships that we have.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Mary Pope Osbourne
Publisher: Random House
Date: 1982
# of pages: 80
Grade Level: 2-4
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: This adventurous book tells the story of explorers Annie and Jack as they go back in time. Annie and Jack find a magic tree house filled with books that take them back in time if they touch one. When Jack and Annie open their eyes they are taken back 65 million years ago. They explore a jungle full of scary (and cute) dinosaurs. They find a gold M medallion that they believe can save them and take them back to their time. After a journey of running from and fighting dinosaurs, Jack and Annie find their tree house and touch the book to take them back home.
Response to the Book: This is a fun, adventurous book that includes accurate information about dinosaurs, along with an exciting story line. It is one that I read as a child and it brought back a lot of memories about elementary school when I read it again as an adult.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Louis Sachar
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: September 2000
# of Pages: 233
Grade Level: 4-7
Genre: Fiction

Literary Elements: This book is set in Green Lake, Texas at a rehabilitation program for troubled boys. Rather than a lake at camp green lake, there are a lot of holes. The main character is a young boy names Stanley, whose family has been cursed for generations and he was unjustly sent to Camp Green Lake. The boys have to dig a five foot wide by five foot deep hole everyday as part of the "character improvement." Stanley discovers that they are digging for something, and the boys work to figure out the secret before the Warden does.
Response to the Book: I was excited to read this book because it is one that I remember my classmates and friends talking about when I was a child, but I never actually got the chance to read. It was fun to get to "catch up" in that way. I think its a fun chapter book for older kids to read, one that I would consider a classic now.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Amber Ren
Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide
Date: March 2019
Number of Pages: 40
Grade Level: K-2
Genre: Children's Fiction

Literary Elements: The main character of this book is a little girl who turns into a grown adult by the end. It is set at a variety of different locations, including an orchestra hall, the musicians' homes, and the little girl's uncle's house. Cause and effect are emphasized throughout this story. Because people were inspired by a man's music, they created an orchestra. Because people have practiced music for years, they were asked to join the orchestra. Because her uncle had a cold, the little girl was able to attend the orchestra. Because the music moved her, she began to learn about music. Because the little girl was passionate about music, she grew up and created her own orchestra show.
Response to the Book: I really enjoyed the way this book followed a pattern to get its point across. It was very easy to follow and I liked the way that everything was interconnected with a simple but profound message - everything affects everything else. I really enjoyed this book and I think it is a sweet story to share with children. It is inspiring for them to know that their actions, however simple they may be, can have a profound impact on the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: William Steig
Illustrator: William Steig
Date: 1982
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Genre: Fiction
# of pages: 32
Visual Elements: Simple illustrations bring the story to life.
Grade Level: 2-4
Literary Elements: The main character, Dr. De Soto, is a mouse who is a dentist. As a dentist, he serves all different kinds of animals, except for animals who are a danger to mice; he does not want to risk his life. One day, a fox comes in with a big toothache and the mice decide to serve him. The fox becomes convinced he wants to eat the mice, but Doctor De Soto outsmarts him. The fox leaves embarrassed, and the mice feel good and safe.
Response to the Book: This story reminded me of the old fables and fairy tales I read as a child. It seemed to focus on the theme of not judging others based on stereotypes or generalizations without taking the time to truly get to know them. This is a useful message for all kids and one that would be good to introduce in a classroom.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Chelsea Clinton III
Illustrator: Gianna Marino
Date: 2019
Publisher: Philomel Books
Genre: Nonfiction
# of pages: 40
Visual Elements: Visual elements include bright, colorful illustrations of several endangered animals in their habitats.
Grade Level: K-5
Literary Elements: This book is about the beautiful animals that share our planet, and what we can do to prevent them from becoming extinct. It talks about several endangered species, includes many fun facts about animals, and provides a list of days that celebrate these endangered species.The colorful illustrations bring the book to life and capture children's attention.
Response to the Book: I think this book includes a good balance of informational elements and facts, and storyline. It is full of useful information that children can apply to their lives in a non-overwhelming way. This is a book that can be enjoyed at all ages.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Date: 2015
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Children's literature, Fiction
# of pages: 32
Grade Level: K-3
Literary Elements: This book is about C.J, a child walking in the rain with his Grandma towards the bus stop. He observes things that people have and he does not have. He is upset he doesn't have a car, C.J.s grandma was very kind in explaining to him that they didn't need one. The book has beautiful visuals of diversity and different lifestyles that people may have.
Response to the Book: I really like this book's message. It emphasizes that some people may have more or less things and can live different lives, but reminds kids of the importance of being thankful for what we do have, rather than wishing for what we do not.

# data[].attributes.headline
Radiant Child: The Story of a Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

# data[].attributes.subject
Radiant Child: The Story of a Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Javaka Steptoe
Illustrator:  Javaka Steptoe
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Date: October 2019
# of Pages: 40
Grade Level: 2-5
Genre: Biography
Literary Elements: This is a biography picture book that focuses on Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life and his artwork journey. The author focuses on several traumatic events that shaped him and his artwork as a whole. It shows that he confided in art and found fame because he didn’t give up on his passion, despite his struggle.
Response to the Book:  This book discusses sensitive subjects in a way that is age appropriate for young readers and proves that success comes, in spite of the hardships we may face in life.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Alice Biere- Haquet
Illustrator: Oliver Philipponneau and Raphaele Enjary
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Date: October 2016
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Visual representations of each counting step in the story with pictures of the animals.
Grade Level: PreK-1
Genre: Informational
Summary: There is one very big bear and the other animals see how many of them it would take to be the size of the bear.
Response to the Book: This is a cute book that models counting in a practical way. I think it would be very appropriate for young children.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Annette Bay Pimentel
Illustrator: Micha Archer
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Date: 2018
# of pages: 32
Grade Level: 2-5
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
Literary Elements: This is a story that is about a young girl named Bobbi. She lives in a time where rules for women were strict. At her school she was required to wear a skirt because that was what girls were expected to wear. She finds a passion for running, and as she trains for her first marathon, she is turned down because she is a girl. She buys mens running shoes (they did not make women's running shoes at the time). She wears a hoodie during the race to help her blend in. Later, she takes off the hoodie & runs with the men who support her and everyone cheers her on for the rest of the marathon.
Response to the Book: This is a great book that teaches children the value of pushing the boundaries and doing what they love, even when it is different than what is expected.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Isabel Thomas
Illustrator: Daniel Egneus
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Date: June 2019
# of Pages: 48
Visual Elements: This is a hardcover picture book. Text is wrapped around image in a collage.
Grade Level: 1-3
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Adaptivity, Survival
Literary Elements: This informational picture book tells the story of moths, but can relate to wide range of animals or insects, that were (and still are) effected by human evolution.
Curricular Connections: Introduction to Darwin's theory of Natural Selection, learning about how animals and insects adapt and change based on the world around them.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Alan Gratz
Illustrator: n/a
Publisher: Starscape
Date: August 2017
# of Pages: 256
Visual Elements: n/a
Grade Level: 4-6
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Literary Elements: Amy Anne, a fourth grade student, is devastated when she discovers that her favorite book has been banned from the school library, along with dozens of others. She and her friends work together to collect all of the banned books and create a little library of them in her locker for students to read. They find silly reasons to ban all of the books to make a point.
Response to the Book: This is a story of young children fighting censorship and a soft-spoken girl who learns to fight for what is important to her. I found it easy to identify with her and understand her struggle, cheering her on when she was brave enough to speak her mind. I think this story can inspire children to fight for what is right and teach them the importance of literature.
Curricular Connections: Social Studies (censorship)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Matt Lamothe
Illustrator: Matt Lamothe
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Date: May 2017
# of pages: 52
Visual Elements: This book is full of colorful, detailed, and realistic pictures of childrens' food, activities, school, and family inspired by the author's travels. They enhance the story and bring life to the stories of each child. Each page has a panel that shows a visual description made digitally.
Grade Level: K-4
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Literary Elements: This book tells the story of seven children from different countries all around the world and the way in which they spend an ordinary day of their life.
Response to the Book: I think this book is such a sweet way to expose children to a variety of different cultures and ways of living. They get to see a side by side visual of other children's lives all over the world which is so fun and something I wish I'd had as a child.

# data[].attributes.headline
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid, Smelly Bus

# data[].attributes.subject
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid, Smelly Bus

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Barbara Park

Illustrator: Denise Brunkus

Publisher: Random House

Date: 1992
# of pages: 80
Visual Elements: N/A

Grade Level: 1-3

Genre: Fiction

Literary Elements: The main character, Junie B., a six year old girl, is extremely nervous about attending school and riding the bus for the first time. She manages to successfully finish her first day and bus ride; however, she doesn’t want to ride the bus home because of a rumor that a student told her. She tries to hide and avoid riding the bus home, but she becomes even more nervous because she is lost and alone, and learns about the importance of not believing rumors and hiding from problems.
Response to the Book: The Junie B. Jones books were my absolute favorite as a child. I loved reading them so getting to read this one now brought back a lot of memories. I like that they teach life lessons to children in a humorous, entertaining way.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Kirsten Hall
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: May 8, 2018
# of Pages: 48
Visual Elements: Simple, colorful pictures enhance the poetry in this book.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Poetry
Literary Elements: This book is full of poetic rhymes about a honeybee's life throughout the seasons. It tells about their important role in an informational way. It uses alliteration and rhymes schemes, promoting a sense of admiration for bees.
Response to the Book: I thought this was a very sweet book and is a great way to teach children about bees and their important role through the use of poetry.
Curricular Connections: Science, Poetry (Language Arts)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Cece Bell
Illustrator: Cece Bell
Publisher: Amulet Books
Date:  September 2014
# of Pages: 248
Visual Elements: This paperback comic book is filled with fun visuals for children. Images are full of color and speech bubbles, bringing life to the pages.
Grade Level: 3-7
Genre: Graphic Novel, Autobiography
Literary Elements: The main character, Cece Bell, discovers that she is deaf. She tells the story of her discovery, the way that her peers view her, and how her life is as a child with a disability. With the use of the Phonic Ear, she finds out she has a superpower - the power of super hearing.
Response to the Book: Bell exposes us to the struggles that a person with a disability may face and a new perspective on the life that they live. This book can be used to help children understand their peers more, learn about compassion and empathy, and help those with a disability feel heard. This book teaches that our disabilities can be viewed in a positive way.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Beth Ferry
Illustrator: Molly Idle
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Date: October 2020
# of pages: 20
Visual Elements: The illustrator uses colored pencil to create beautiful, soft drawings for each page. I think that particularly in the case of this book, pictures contribute to a significant part of the meaning that is created. The words are only half of it and the pictures do a beautiful job of telling the story.
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Children's Fiction
Literary Elements: The main characters in this book are all different animals that pertain to the affirmation that is written on each page. It is an inspiring picture book about the shared goals and dreams of a community of animals, and it can apply to children's lives as well.
Response to the Book: This is a very gentle read, full of positivity and encouragement for children.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Traci N. Todd
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Publisher: Penguin Random House/G. P. Putnam’s
Sons
Date: September 2021
# of pages: 56
Visual Elements: Vibrant, collage illustrations bring this biography to life.
Grade Level: 3-5
Genre: Biography
Literary Elements: This picture book biography tells the story of Eunice Waymon, a young girl who grew up to be Nina Simone. She shares the story of the life she lived as she became a well-known singer. She was shaped by her mother's church songs and her father's jazz, and worked to find her own voice as an African-American musician pursuing social justice.
Response to the Book: I think this is a beautiful story of the obstacles Nina Simone overcame and the perseverance she had in working against all odds at the time, to make her dreams come true.
Curricular Connections: Social studies. This story could be used to bring a personal perspective to the issues of segregation and prejudice that existed at the time.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore
Illustrator: Kristi Valiant
Publisher: Lee and Low Books
Date: 2009
# of pages: 32
Visual Elements: Bright and charming illustrations on every page bring the story to life.
Grade Level: 1-4
Genre: Children's Fiction
Literary Elements: This book tells the story of Cora, a young Filipino girl who longs to be allowed to cook with her mom and do the grownup jobs. She loves being in the kitchen, but hates that she always gets stuck doing the little kid jobs like licking the spoon. She finally has an opportunity, helping her mom make Pancit, a Filipino noodle dish.

Response to the Book: This is a sweet, heartwarming story of a little girl and the memories that she shares with her mom in the kitchen, smelling the cultural food that she cooks and longing to be a part of it. This story could encourage students to talk to their parents about foods from their own culture and maybe even cook some themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Carole Lindstrom
Illustrator: Michaela Goade
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Date: March 2020
# of pages: 40
Visual Elements: Bright, colorful watercolor illustrations cover the pages of this picture book.
Grade Level: PreK-3
Genre: Children's Fiction
Literary Elements: This book is written from the perspective of the main character, a young Ojibwe girl, who remembers her grandmothers words about the sanctity of water. She urgently calls others to join her in a fight to protect the earth's water from an oil pipeline, portrayed as a dark snake that will soon come and take over.
Response to the Book: This book encourages children to be strong and brave, standing up for what is right. It encourages an understanding of different cultures and shows a new perspective of life and the ways that we are connected to those around us.
Curricular Connections:
This book was written in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests and could be used in a social studies unit, studying Ojibwe culture or learning about this or other Indigenous issues and protests.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Gianna Marino
Illustrator: Gianna Marino
Publisher: The Penguin Young Readers Group
Date: 2012
# of pages: 34
Visual Elements: Gouache and pencil on Fabriano Artistico paper are used to create a beautiful hardcover picture book.
Grade Level: PreK-3
Genre: Children's Fiction
Literary Elements: Owl and Rabbit live in two small houses on top of a hill. They are good neighbors and best friends. One day, Rabbits garden grows too tall and blocks Owl's view of the forest. Owl decides to make his house taller, but then his house blocks the sunlight from reaching Rabbit's garden. The two friends keep making their houses taller and taller until finally they come crashing down. They use the remnants from their two broken houses to build one small house that they can share. They learn a valuable lesson in humility and true friendship.
Response to the Book: This book teaches kids how detrimental being overly competitive with friends can be. Owl and Rabbit's story is an encouragement to be considerate of our friends' needs and reminds us all that friendships have their ups and downs.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Ruth Horowitz
Illustrator: Blanca Gómez
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date: 2017
# of pages: 32
Visual Elements: A combination of watercolor, pencil, and digital art create fun, detailed illustrations of a bear and mouse and the life that they share as neighbors. True to life colors show the differences between seasons on different pages.
Grade Level: PreK-3
Genre: Children's Fiction
Literary Elements: This book tells the story of Beatrice and Abel: two next-door neighbors who are best friends and do everything together. Beatrice raises bees and Abel grows apples. They work together to gather honey in the summer and apples in the fall. One day, Abel gets stung by a bee and shouts "Whee hee hee!" Hearing the silly sounds, Beatrice laughs. Abel is offended and the misunderstanding becomes a full-blown fight. They learn to communicate and solve the messy quarrel that stems from misunderstanding.
Response to the Book: This is a fun story of two friends who learn to deal with misunderstandings and learn that their friendship is stronger than an argument. It is a great way to illustrate to young students the importance of clear communication and showing them to be wary of misunderstandings. It celebrates teamwork, friendship, and saying "I'm sorry" in a way that interests young children.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
Publisher: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Date: September 2001
# of pages: 31
Visual Elements: Brightly colored, animals on every page, watercolor and pen and ink drawings, hard cover picture book.
Grade Level: PreK-2
Genre: Fiction
Literary Elements: Gerard, the main character in this book, is a long legged giraffe who loves to dance. But every time he tries, his knees buckle. The other animals make fun of Gerard and say "Giraffes can't dance." However, there is a little cricket who believes in Gerard. The cricket encourages Gerard, who learns to sway to his own tune.
Response to the Book: This is a lighthearted story with fun and simple rhymes and beautifully bright, eye catching illustrations. I think this story is a lovely, subtle inspiration for children, that they are capable of great things, even if greatness for them looks different than it does for others.