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I LOVE this book a little extra than all the others because my mom's best friend wrote it!!! Although I might have some bias, I truly think that this chapter book discusses real life problems and feelings teenagers go through when it comes to puberty and growing up. The main character, Olivia Hughes, wants to be an actress when she grows up, but when she starts to get pimples on her face, she becomes super self conscious of her looks and worth. I know I definitely felt that way when I hit my puberty stages. Published in 2011, I was quite literally 11 years old reading this book and thinking oh my gosh someone gets it! I think this could be a super fun read for students in 4th-5th grade, especially for young girls about to, or are already, experiencing the same thing.

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The Judy Moody series was such a fun read that I think students from 3rd-5th grade would really enjoy to read for fun on their free time. Written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, students are shown all the different types of emotions a young girl, and person in general, can go through. They get experience with family life, internal feelings, friendships, and just the struggles of being a young girl with a lot of passions and feelings. I loved reading these as a kid, and I loved all the realistic ideas that she worried about because I knew I'd have to face those in my life as well. Published in 2000, I truly grew up knowing and reading all of these books!

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The Amelia Bedelia books are so cute and useful for students from 1st-3rd grade. Written by Peggy Parish and illustrated by Fritz Siebel, students are able to laugh through the stories by the colorful and sometimes funny illustrations, and they are also able to see the reality of being a housekeeper at times. People have tried to classify Amelia with autism, and even though some people try to fight it, regardless I think that helps people of all kinds relate to the stories and themes being presented. First published in 1963, the artistry and easy vocabulary to read makes this series withstand the test of time.

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Lord of the Flies has so many amazing themes and lessons for students to learn about, the main one being human chaos and the consequences of anarchy. William Golding wrote and published this chapter book in 1954. I think 6th graders would be the lowest you could go for this book, but I do think they could learn so much about human instincts and how harmful it can be to not have a set government/rules.

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Probably in my top 3 book series to ever read as a kid!! Nancy Drew Mystery Series was so well and creatively written, forcing the reader to come up with possible outcomes and solutions to all the mysteries. I instantly felt like a detective when I read Carolyn Keene's series. Meant for 4th graders and above, I think students can learn so much about problem solving, and even how to work together with friends as a team. Published in 1930-2003, I still loved how involved and detailed they were in order to keep me engaged. I think students would be able to be super engaged in the style of the series and could be super creative with writing their own mystery stories even.

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These are/were such a classic!! Jeff Kinney does a fantastic job at bringing to life comic book characters in only black and white and at times just a little bit of detail. I had so many of these as a kid, but The Ugly Truth was one of my favorites of them all. Published in 2010, this specific book in the series explores Greg's stage of pre-teen to teenage years and everything that comes along with it; the awkward stages, talking to girls, responsibilities, losing your best friend, etc. It was one that I could relate to so perfectly in that time, and Kinney made me laugh through those stages with the comical aspects throughout the story. This book would be great for 3rd and 4th graders because it has elements of real life, and creativity with the way it's written.

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One of my favorite movies and books to read as a kid!! Written by Beverly Cleary, this series brings to life the relationship of a younger and older sister, and all the little quirks, arguments, and love that comes along with it. These reminded me so much of my relationship with my sibling, and I think students in a variety of grades would relate to the same thing. First published in 1955 and more continuing to be published today, this series explores the uniqueness and creative side of Ramona, and how this affects her interactions with her family, friends, and strangers.

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When I found out there was a "sequel" to Before We Were Yours, I knew I had to read it! Co written by Lisa Wingate and Judy Christie, this true story, nonfiction, historical novel retells the stories of so many people who were victims of the Tennessee Children's Home Society. Thanks to these authors efforts, the unbelievable was done; people were able to reunite with their families both immediate and/or extended that they never knew existed, were helped by learning more about their past, or were just given them a platform to share their story. A truly mind blowing book to read about how the whole weekend came together and to read about numerous people who were victims of this tragedy. Published in 2019, it's crazy to see what two years of a book being published can do to get people to find family members.

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This book is nothing short of amazing!! Written by Lisa Wingate, this is truly one of the most memorable books I've ever read and i recommend it to so many people. The history that is carved throughout the story is mind blowing to learn about. The book revolves around Georgia Tann's adoption organization in Tennessee where she sold young kids to wealthy families. The historical truth behind that is so disturbing, but the storyline of the book is hands down a page turner. Published in 2017 originally, I think students in 5th grade would find this book to be truly riveting.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is such a well written chapter book (by Taylor Jenkins Reid). The plot twists throughout the story make it a super interesting and engaging read. (I read 3/4ths of it on a plane ride to the East Coast, it was that good!!). The two main characters, Evelyn and Monique, have such unique and at times inspirational stories it makes you picture what it must be like to live in their shoes. Around 350 pages long, I think this would be a great read for 5th-6th graders (maybe a little challenging) because it teaches a lot about chasing your dreams and never giving up on your true love.

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Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

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Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

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I love this book!! Written by Rob Sander and illustrated by the incredible Steven Salerno, we are able to see the importance of accepting people for who they are. This is the first picture book about pride! What can be better than that!! Published in 2018 (much overdo in my opinion), readers are finally able to learn more about the symbolism behind the flag and what it means for people apart of the LGBTQ+ community. Having people in my life who are apart of this group of people, I feel so proud and lucky to read more about their identity and the value behind it.

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Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around Earth

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Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around Earth

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There'd just something so fun about reading informational books!  This is another one written by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm.  It tells readers all about how the sun moves the oceans waters and how it carries it from place to place. Students are taught all about waters movement in this 48 page book. Students also learn about just how important the sun is in maintaining life on Earth. I think it's a great book to use when talking about the Water Cycle or even just the impact the Sun has on life on Earth. Published in 2017, I think so many great messages are laid out for students to learn about.

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Going along with the theme of informational books, Michael Garland wrote and illustrated a super engaging one called Birds Make Nests, and I think you can guess what it's about! Readers learn all about the different nests birds make, and where they make them, in order to keep their eggs safe. With a variety of 20 species of birds throughout the book, readers learn so much from owls to puffins and the vast difference between their nests. Fro ages 4-8, I think kindergarteners would be super fascinated reading this.

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For children grades K-3, Pamela Hickman and Zafouko Yamamoto wrote and illustrated such a cute informational fiction book. Walking readers through the seasons, one is able to see what life is like for animals, plants, and humans during each one. As the reader you learn about what the seasons mean for creatures living in trees as well as humans who live right down the road. Although it's only 16 pages long, published just recently in August of 2021, I think this book is super useful if you're trying to teach students about the seasons and what happens in each one.

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Written by Daniel Nayeri, and it being a memoir about his life, made this book so crazy impactful and a must read! 360 pages long and published August 25, 2020, this true story makes the reader reflect so much on their own lives and how different or similar it can be/is to the authors. All about perseverance, bravery, and telling your story, I think students everywhere can gain something from reading this masterpiece- I know I did!

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Written by Cynthis Rylant and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, I found this book to be super cute and a fun read! This book was super heartfelt about the love and care families/relatives have for each other. The colors go along with the words so well and made the words inspirational. Published in 1985, for grades 1-2, and 32 pages I think students could gain a lot of insight into their own relationships with their family members and relatives, and it might even influence them to take on some of the characteristics presented in the story. Readers are taken on a road trip of a family going to see their loved ones; it reminds me a lot of the things I used to do as a kid. I think this is a super cute book to read for fun!

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This book is so creative!! Hey, Little Ant written by Hannah and Phillip Hoose along with the help of Debbie Tilley's illustrations, this book provides readers with a moral of being empathetic. (I still struggle with this concept towards ants, bugs, and little insects that annoy me!) The book switches back and forth between the boy and the ant's perspective. As the reader we gain an insight into what a creature might feel towards us humans when we are getting ready to or debating on whether to kill them or not. What makes this book even better is that it's a rhyming children's book so it makes the reading very smooth and engaging. I just think this book would be a really fun end of day read or just for fun that young students would enjoy.

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This is Rome is a part of a group of books that guide readers through the history and culture of many different cities and countries across the world. This is Rome is one of my favorite from the series because when I went to Rome to explore its beauty I fell in love, and I learned even more about the infamous city after reading Miroslav Šašek's work of art. Published in 1960, this book would be really great for 3rd-4th graders who are studying a history unit, and it is a great resource to teach them about different cultures that occupy countries they might've never heard of or been to. I want to read all the other books he's written about my dream countries to visit now!

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Written and illustrated by Ruth Heller, I didn't think this children's book was going to be what it actually was about. (Looking at the cover might've given me some better context :D) I think Chickens Aren't the Only Ones is a really good resource to use if you were teaching about the different ways animals reproduce, and in this case specifically by eggs. Published in 1981 by Puffin books, 48 pages long, and meant for kindergarteners, readers are given examples of animals who lay eggs by going to different places in the world. For example, they start off at a chicken hatch, and end up in Florida where sea turtles lay eggs on the beach. I thought it was a super cute book and I can definitely see kindergarteners being super engaged the whole time!

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Written by Giles Andreae and illustrated by David Wojtowycz, this children's book caught my eye in the way that it's organized. it opens up with a poem describing the animals that live underneath the water. Following that, there are 16 pictures of animals along with descriptions also written in poetic forms. Published in 1996, I wish I had known this cute book existed because I know I would've loved reading it as a kid. Meant for kindergarten to second grade, I really think the students would enjoy reading this because the illustrations are super captivating as well!

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The creativity behind this book is insane! I had to read through it a couple times, the second time much slower, to fully grasp what was happening. Christian Robinson came up with such a fun and interactive childrens book, but with a twist; it has NO words!! It took a second to get used to because there was so much to look at, but the basis of the story is that this girl and her cat go on this journey (a dream) where up is down and down is up, they walk through portals, and they find two others exactly like them, just different colors. At the end, the girl ends up with this toy mouse from the other "world" which makes the reader think this was all real. A super cool idea and very well execution! Published in 2019, I think this could be confusing for students in kindergarten, but first graders could really love the challenge of figuring out the storyline on their own!

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An incredible book written by Matt De La Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson, published in 2015, this book provides such an important message I think young students/people need to read about in order to understand the world. No one person is the same. We need to rejoice in our differences, what makes us happy, and even the inequity that separates us because it's what makes unique, special, and human. A little boy named CJ becomes curious about why him and his Nana have to take the bus to the last stop on market street every Sunday after church when everyone else is driving. Readers are brought on the journey of CJ learning about who he is, where he's from, and the importance of loving and accepting that in every stage of life. A quick 32 page picture book read, students will relate in more ways than one.

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I know I've said this before about other books, but this one truly will make it to my classroom, and I'll read it on the first day, last day, or somewhere in between. Even as 21 year old, this book has a message I still need to hear a lot; we matter. The adorable illustrations and the extremely impactful and important message written by the incredible Christian Robinson is something that people don't hear enough, regardless of the circumstance, how they feel about themselves in that moment (whether that's good or bad), or how they feel about the people around them. Published about a year ago in 2020, this book has become one of my new favorites that I know for certain I'll recommend to other teachers and just my friends in general to read to their kids in the future. WE ALL MATTER, ALWAYS!!

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Ban This Book by Alan Gratz brings up a really interesting perspective that I think every student should read about : censorship. As a student in elementary school, I never learned much about books being banned and why, but we need to! Amy Anne, who's in elementary school in the book, learns about her favorite book being banned from her school library. Infuriated, depressed, upset, and feeling empowered, she starts a book club where they read banned books, because once you ban one book, you can ban them all. Eventually being front and center of this problem, Amy, although at times wouldn't speak up because of her shyness, makes you as the reader want to take action in her place when she feels too small to. 256 pages, published in 2017, and it's said to be a book that every classroom needs, and I couldn't agree more!

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This is another informational childrens book that I think is such a great learning resource for so many students. Written by Dianna Hutts Aston and written by Sylvia Long, the two teamed up to write a creative book about how a seed works/the life of a plant. Written poetically, students are drawn in by the words/how they're spoken, and the pictures compliment everything so well. Published in 2007 by Chronicle Books, the 28 pages are so helpful when you need something physical for young students to look and hear about when going through a plant unit in science.

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This book I found to be different than the other ones I've chosen because it teaches about a concept rather than a theme/takeaway.  Darlene Stille and Sheree Boyd created such a cute and fun way to help explain motion to really young students (kindergarten-2nd grade). Stille uses examples like kicking a soccer ball and then explains what happens when we do that through the use of academic language like inertia, gravity, friction, force, etc. Published in 2004 by Picture Window Books, this 24 page short childrens picture book teaches so many hard concepts in such tangible ways for students to see how it works. I love how well the pictures go along with the text as well!

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What the Road Said by Cleo Wade is such a fun picture book!  The illustrations by Lucie de Moyencourt bring the whole story together. A poetic story about how sometimes we make mistakes, are afraid, and take the wrong road, it's important that we remember to lead with kindness and curiosity in life and to always keep going no matter how hard life throws us down. I love the way this story is framed because it makes it easy for readers to understand the overall message (the poetry isn't too confusing for 2nd graders to understand). Published in 2021, I love all the new children's books finds that people are writing!

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Ambitious Girl written by Meena Harris, and illustrated by Marissa Valdez, is the most empowering picture book! Seeing things on tv that women "aren't supposed to be", the most ambitious girl of them all takes herself on the journey of past, present, and future of the limits that society has put on women. She finds ways in which we can resist, assist, coexist, and excel. I think young women everywhere can learn from this 40 page picture book and find the strength within themselves to rise above the standards and be who they want to be, achieve the goals they are aspiring for, and create a community among young women! Published in 2021 by Little Brown, this was a long awaited book for young women to read.

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One of the best books I had to read for school, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925, takes place in one of the best times in history I think; The Jazz Age/Roaring 20's. If I could travel back in time to any period, it would be this! The story follows along with Nick Carraway and millionaire Jay Gatsby who uses Carraway's help to reunite with his former love, Daisy Buchanan. Meant for youngest being 6th graders, the details throughout the entire book hook readers in every step of the way. I know this will be something I'll probably incorporate into my classroom at some point to help teach my students about the good and bad times the Roaring 20's brought for people after the war.

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My all time favorite movie and book, and that will never change!! Safe Haven written by Nicholas Sparks has such an infatuating storyline. The book follows along with Katie and her rush to start over in a new city. She runs into Alex, a lost soul ever since his late wife passed away, and the two form this epic love story. With unexpected twists along the way, I fell in love with everything this story offered. Published in 2010, and 432 pages long, I would recommend this to 5th and 6th graders. I could read this book over and over again and never get bored!!

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus caught my attention just based on the title. Come to find that it has nothing to do about a literal cactus, I was very drawn to the story, formation, and relationship between Aven and Connor, two young kids who both have a disability; Aven born without arms, and Connor, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. The beautiful friendship these two have with each other is based on love, care, and connection, which is a great example for how all friendships should be started; not something of social status. Published in 2017, Dusti Bowling wrote a phenomenal chapter book that I think 5th graders everywhere can learn from. Everyone is a gift to this world, and has significance and a purpose, and this book does an amazing job at reiterating that.

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Sitti's Secrets, written and illustrated by Naomi Shihab Nye and Nancy Carpenter, was published in 1994.  This children's picture book describes the story of Mona, who live in America, and her grandmother, or Sitti, who lives on the complete other side of the world in Palestine.  The relationship between this grandmother and granddaughter duo reminds me a lot of the one I have with my own.  The way that the two speak to each other even though they don't know any of the other's language is very inspiring. It shows how family is important, powerful, and the love prevails over the obstacles that try to keep you away. I almost teared up a couple times reading this just because I could relate. Super good read for 2nd graders!

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The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks is not only one of my favorite movies ever, but one of my favorite books as well. The same outline as A Long Walk to Water, Sparks takes readers on the beautiful love story of Luke, a bull rider, and Sophia, a college aspiring artist. Their paths cross with an old man, Ira, as he retells his love story with his forever love Ruth, who passed years before. The two stories are very similar in many different aspects which it makes it much more compelling to read. Published in 2013, and 568 pages long, I would recommend this book to 5-6th graders. I would, and will for years to come, tell anybody to go to the store and grab this book because it's a page turner for sure!!

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Written by Linda Sue Park, A Long Walk to Water is one of my favorite styles of writing to read; a mix of two stories, from two different time periods, somehow intersecting.  As the reader, at least for me, you become so much more connected to the characters because it shows so much raw emotion.  Published in 2010, this chapter book describes the story of two young kids in Sudan, Africa over the span of 20 years. The truth to the story allows for a lot of history to be learned, and provides readers with so many examples of perseverance, mental strength, and hope which can be applied in a lot of areas of life. As the reader you are taken on a journey through Sudan from the perspective of Salva and Nya; this allows for so much comparison between the two time frames, and a true story and one based off it.

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Bewilderment written by Richard Powers is a very impactful, inspiring, pulls on your heart strings, chapter book. Based on the discovery of 9 year old Robin's possible autism spectrum disorder, and his relationship with his recently widowed father, readers are brought along a journey not enough people know about; how to live with a disability. Robin's father, Theo, doesn't want to put his son into the category of autism spectrum disorder, but what he doesn't understand is that your disability doesn't define who you are/what you can do as a person. Published in 2021, only a couple months ago, I found out about this 288 page masterpiece in one of my other classes, and I think so many people can learn from this touching story.

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I Want My Hat Back, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, is a fun, lighthearted story about a bear who's lost his hat, and he really wants it back. He goes around asking every animal he sees if they've seen his hat, and they all say no. Through his descriptions, he's able to remember where he's last seen it, on the head of a rabbit, who he hunts down and asks for it back. I think this book would be a really good resource when teaching students about word choice in their writing. Published in 2011 by Candelwick Press, 4-8 year olds are able to enjoy a good life and story over something that they might be able to relate to because kids that age lose countless things all the time! I would totally use this as a resource and just a story time read with my students.

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A Bad Case of Stripes was written and illustrated by David Shannon. Published in 1998 by Blue Sky Press, and 33 pages long, this children picture book walks readers through Camilla's journey to find herself, but in an unconventional way. She develops a case of the bad stripes when she becomes worried about what people will think of her for liking lima beans. Shannon incorporates areas of sillyness within his books, and the case of the bad stripes doesn't disappoint. After eating the beans, and people still thinking she's odd for liking them, she overcomes her bad stripes case, and uses it to her advantage by staying unique. Students will love to read this book! I've seen it before, but never really knew what it was about, and I'm glad I chose to read it!

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Dan Santat I think was a creative genius with this book! Both the storyline and the illustrations capture the essence of the story and the message perfectly! After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty lost all of his courage and developed fear and anxiety over heights, which used to be his favorite thing. Everybody knows about the story of Humpty Dumpty, and I think this 40 page book published in 2017, almost 200 years after the nursery rhyme, teaches students a fantastic lesson about getting back up again, facing your fears, and never giving up. Although this is based on an egg, young readers will become attached the the character and storyline, and will want to help him succeed in overcoming his fear.

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This book reminded me of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs! Written and illustrated by David Wiesner, the main character Holly Evans wants to conduct a science experiment regarding the growth of vegetables. She throws seeds high into the sky, and eventually all these vegetables start falling from the sky! I think this is a super light hearted book that not only will make kids laugh, but teaches them about the growth of plants. Published in 1992, it's almost like this book was written for the future, due to the title June 29, 1999. I found myself gravitating towards this 32 page picture book based on the title, but the pictures and story made it that much better!

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This book was beautifully written by Christine Day. It reminds me of something similar that happened in my family; discovering a part of ourselves we hadn't known for years and years. Students learn a lot about reservations and Native American history. For those who may be adopted, this is a great book to read and would be very relatable. Published in 2019, 288 pages long, and full of family history, heartbreak, growth, and strength, I really enjoyed reading this!

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Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust

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Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust

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This book caught my eye off of the list because I can relate to the secrecy behind the Holocaust.  My grandpa was separated from his family, never to see some of them again, at a very young age, and we never found out about it until after he passed away.  Hidden, written by Loic Dauvillier and Marc Lizano is based on a similar experience.  Dounia shares with her granddaughter her story of living through this traumatic time.  Being a stowaway from Nazis because her parents were taken from her, this comic-strip chapter book expresses great knowledge behind what a young kid's life was like during this time. Published in April 2014, this book pulls on your emotions, and provides reader's with an insight to the bravery, strength, and fight people possessed at such a young age during WWII.

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Written by Melanie Florence, Stolen Words brings to life the Canadian residential school system and the impact it's has on a young girl and her grandfather. By going to school, this young girl is able to see how her grandfather's first, and home, language was stripped from him, and works to help him regain it again. Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, I think her illustrations provide so much emotion and further analysis of how tragic it was to lose the indigenous side of him. It's a beautiful story revolving around the relationship between a granddaughter and her hero so to speak. For 6-9 year olds, and published in 2017, I think this book can teach a lot about history in simple terms to students who don't know much about Native American culture and what they went through years and years ago.

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When Jessie Came Across the Sea, written by Amy Hest and illustrated by P.J. Lynch, I found to be a very captivating story about the strength a young 13 year old girl had in order to leave everything behind in hopes for something better. Jessie was given the opportunity to travel to America to start a better life for herself, and although she was terrified to leave her grandmother, the hopes and dreams she had for herself led her on the journey that we follow along with as the reader. Published in 1997, this book teaches students how important never giving up, striving for what you want, and gaining an education is. Really enjoyed reading!

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I've heard of this book before, and never got a chance to read it until now. This book hits home for the history of the U.S. As someone who was only 9 months old when this tragic event happened, reading this book gave such a powerful message and insight to what it was like to live during this day. Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes, published in July 2016, this book walks readers through the impact this event has had on the lives of many fifteen years after the attack. It teaches readers to appreciate those who fight to keep us safe, the history of our country, and the unity we gained with those around us during the life changing weeks that followed. 256 pages of raw emotion and reliving history of those who never got to remember the unforgettable day itself.

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Written in 1985 by Eiko Kadono, Kiki's Delivery Service is a lighthearted book about a 13 year old girl and her witch abilities. At such a young age, she must go away for a year to better understand her magic, and along the journey reader's are able to see what it's like for someone to be on their own for the first time. We're able to see just how important this transition is in life when we take more responsibility for ourselves and our actions. I really enjoyed reading this for class, and I think students at the same age as Kiki can relate so much to the feelings and life events she's going through. Although it is based on witches, the life messages can be applied to anyone! A super cute and easy book to get through, highly recommend, and it can be used for culture inclusion if students are from Japan.

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I read these books all the time, and reading one again brought back so many memories!! Written by Ann M. Martin from 1986-2000, this chapter book series is meant for grades 3-5.  Kristy Thomas and her friends start a babysitting club when Kristy's mom can't find someone to watch her kids one night.  The series follows along the successful club, but readers get an insight into their friendships and family relationships and how they attempt to navigate through the good and bad times.  I loved reading these books, and I know my friends did too!  They're definitely a hit that I think will last for much longer.

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I fell in love with the cover of the book the second I saw it, so I knew I had to read it! Written by Salina Yoon, this children's book published in 2012 retells a beautiful story between two friends, a penguin and a pinecone. The penguin shows his love and care for the pinecone by knitting him a scarf to keep him warm, and that sparked a true friendship between the two. Mainly for young kids, ages 3-6, this book does an excellent job at portraying the importance of being kind to others because that results in genuine and happy friendships!

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I love the creativity of this book! Written by E.B. White, and published in 1952, this book demonstrates the value of friendship, and does so through the characters of Wilbur and Charlotte, a pig and a spider. 192 pages of entertainment, I remember reading this book and seeing it become a movie. It taught a lot about how to stand up for your friends, and doing so in a creative way (Charlotte wrote in her web to convince the farmer to keep Wilbur alive). Even though Charlotte dies in the end, the way all of the animals on the farm work together to help Wilbur escape slaughter is a beautiful story of self-sacrifice for your friends. Highly recommend this book, it's great for grades 2-4!

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A Friend for Henry is a very touching and eye-opening book about the realities for a kid with autism trying to make friends. Written by Jenn Bailey and illustrated by Mika Song, published February 26, 2019, readers get to experience the thoughts, journey, and emotions Henry has as he tries to find a friend who listens, shares, and even enjoys the same things as he does. As the reader, you get to see how hard it is for someone with a disability to make friends because they sometimes clash personalities with other people. It makes you want to change as the reader, because even though their brain is wired a little different, they want the same things we all do: true, genuine friends to feel loved and supported by!

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Written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree is a world known book! First published in 1964 by Harper and Row, this children's picture book follows along with the relationship between a boy and this tree. The two start out as givers, but slowly the boy turns into a taker the older he gets which puts a strain on their relationship. The hidden message in this book is all about the implications of being selfish, and how it can impact the relationships you have with the people/things in your life. It teaches students how to be grateful instead of greedy, selfless instead of selfish, kind instead of rude. I like how it also symbolizes the relationship between a parent and their child.

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Written by Yamile Saied Méndez and illustrated by Jaime Kim, Where Are You From? is a children's picture book for grades 1-3, 40 pages long, and published by HarperCollins on June 4, 2019. This book is about a little brown girl who is constantly being asked where she's from, but the answer to that question is a long and complicated one. What makes it harder, is that she's being questioned by adults and friends alike which makes her upset resulting in confiding in her grandfather. This book pulled on my heart strings a little, but it also teaches a great lesson about self-acceptance and reaches people the most when they feel like they don't belong.

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Written by Onjali Q. Raúf, this 5th grade chapter book is about Ahmet a refugee from Syria (I'm 25% Syrian, so I just felt connected to this book when I first read the back of it!). Four classmates are persistent in wanting to become Ahmet's friends, and when they finally succeed they are faced head on with an obstacle of reuniting Ahmet with his family, and they must act fast. Published July 12, 2018 by Orion Children's Book, this 320 page book presents readers with a lot of really impactful lessons on friendship, kindness, and informs readers on the refugee crisis from a much more relatable perspective.

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What I found most interesting about this children's book is the fact that an actress wrote it; it gives it a much more real and authentic vibe because it makes an (mostly) unattainable life, feel realistic. Written by Lupita Nyong'o, and illustrated by Vashti Harrison (I also chose this because I like his illustrations), published in October 2019, and for ages 4-8, this book walks readers through the journey of a young girl who wishes for her dark skin to be lighter due to her lack of self-esteem. This inspiring children's book presents the theme of loving yourself no matter what, through all of your differenes!

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I really liked this book because Hair Love is based on a Matthew Cherry's short film. The book is all about celebrating the connection between a father and daughter, and their identity with black hair. Zuri, the little girl, wants to do a fun hairstyle for her mother's return challenging her father to do her hair for the first time. It walks readers through the trials the father went through to perfect the hairstyle, and it honors the black culture while doing so. Written by Matthew Cherry and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, it diminishes the stereotypes of what a father can and can't do!

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This children's picture book is the epitome of embracing your cultural diversity! The Name Jar is about a young Korean girl named Unhei who is maneuvering through the ups and downs of starting a new school. Due to her name being so unique and different, she questions if she should change her name to something basic, something that fits in. Written and illustrated by Yangsook Choi, this 3rd grade level book teaches students the importance of embracing your cultural identity because it's what makes you unique and special.

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I chose Freedom in Congo Square because I was drawn to the fact that it was a NON-FICTION poetic picture book based on the lives of slaves in New Orleans in the 19th century.  Written by Carole Boston Weatherford, and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, this book opens the minds of young readers to the brutal life slaves lived, and the resistance that they faced daily. This would be a great book to use as a resource during a history unit during this time! Published in 2016, and only 40 pages, readers are introduced to new concepts about slavery they might've never known, especially the significance of Congo Square where every Sunday they got a sense of freedom.

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My Heart Fills With Happiness, written by Monique Gray Smith, and illustrated by Julie Flett, is a beautiful, poetic, picture book that reminds people of all ages to reflect on what makes them happy. When I read this, I found myself smiling the whole time, and it lead me to look back on so many found memories I hold dear to my heart. Published March 2016, I think this is a staple resource that teachers can use to introduce poetry in a very light hearted way because it's only 24 pages (PreK-2nd grade). The book is also focused on Indigenous people, allowing for diversity to be brought into the classroom :)

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Words With Wings, written by Nikki Grimes, walks readers through the life of "Gabby the Dreamer." Going through the struggle of her parent's divorce, I think this verse novel could be something a lot of students can relate to (unfortunately). As a teacher, this also taught me how to help use student's emotions, that may be inhibiting their learning, and put it towards something inspirational; in the case of this book, it's writing. Published in 2013 (grades 3-7) this 96 page poetry book teaches students new ways to write poetry, but also that we should celebrate the words and imaginations we come up with.

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El Deafo, written and illustrated by Cece Bell, along with David Lasky, brings awareness to the deaf community and the experiences they have in and outside of school. Bell, a deaf author, wrote about her experience with being deaf in school and how it affected her. This graphic novel/comic best suits ages 8-12, and really teaches the idea that we have to spread kindness to everyone. Struggling with trying to fit in as the only deaf kid at her school, Cece, the main character, is someone a lot of students might be able to relate to because they might be different as well. Published in September 2014, El Deafo provides students with the understanding that they can use their differences as a superpower!

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Genuinely think this has become one of my new favorite books. The way the book is structured in novel verses was super captivating, and the way the book takes you through such a heartbreaking, yet inspiring story of a young girl during the Vietnam War touched my heart in many different ways. Written by Thanhha Lai, this poetic genius is based on true events that happened in her life, which was crazy to read about. Published February 22, 2011, this 260 page book is a great resource for students in grade 3-5; teaches about diversity, economic status, suffering, etc.

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Red Scarf Girl, very much like Orange for the Sunsets, has an overarching lesson that people of all ages can gain some kind of insight from. I'm going through something very similar in my life with withholding grudges against people who have wronged me, and this book taught me so much about how to allow forgiveness because I would only end up hurting in the end. Written by Ji-Li Jiang, this 285 page memoir brings the reader into her life and walks through the events that shaped her into who she is today. I think this would be a really great book to have as an educational resource for the events that occurred in twentieth century China; this chapter book helps eliminate a single story bias from happening.

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Written by Tina Athaide, the thing about this book that drew me in the most was the fact that it focuses on friendship and the way we treat others. The morals and values displayed in this book can be a resource and learning lesson for people of all ages. Although it's a historical fiction book taken place in 1972, people can relate to this book in so many different ways as you try to figure out where you feel the most at home, and with whom.

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My Two Blankets, written and illustrated by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood, is a great book to use as an example for the start of school and getting to know your students. A young girl moves to a completely new country and doesn't know how to act in the new culture. Having her blanket, it symbolizes the comfort and safety of her old home and culture. This book does a great job at reflecting what it's like to move to somewhere new and start a new life with so many unknowns. Published in 2014, this 32 page masterpiece is one of my new found favorites!

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Stella Brings the Family, written by Miriam B. Schiffer and illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown, this picture book follows along the story of a young girl named Stella. Having two dads, when her class Mother's Day party came around she was conflicted with what to do. I think the diversity in this book of having same sex parents is something that needs to be expressed more in children's books, and this aspect is what drew me to it. I loved how the theme of love and family is the main focus throughout the story! A good read for sure

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Published in April 2015, written and illustrated by Dušan Petričić, this children's picture book walks you through the journey of a young boy discovering his family's ancestry. Mixed with new discoveries about where he came from, Peričić reminds readers that families tend to have hidden secrets we would never know about unless we did some digging. I can relate to this book and complicated family relationships, so it made me like it that much more

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Almond is a very unique picture book written and illustrated by Allen Say. Almond Biggs, the main character, becomes inspired by the new girl at school who showcases her talent on the violin. It leads Almond to wanting, thinking, wishing, and discovering what her unique talent in life could be. I love the message behind this Pre-K-3rd grade book. It reminds readers that there is happiness to be found both inside your self and outside in the world around you. Published in 2020, I think this book does a great job at reiterating the idea that we all have talents, and in order to find those talents, we have to look inside and outside of ourselves; we'll find those talents and passions by putting our happiness first.

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Written by Tami Charles and illustrated by Bryan Collier, this picture book might be my new favorite that I've found. This beautifully poetic book reinforces the idea that no matter, you matter, and you will ALWAYS matter. I think children in elementary school are developing so much insecurities at a much earlier age, and I think this book does a great job at demonstrating that we all matter. Centered around black and brown children, this book is an extremely important reminder to these kids that they have love, pride, and joy all around them. A great diverse book to use as well to make sure that all students feel represented within the classroom. Published in October 2020, I think this book needs to be in every classroom, and I think people should've made a book like this years ago.

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Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, this picture book captures what it means to be a little dreamer in this big world. Although this book is for very very young readers, the oldest being kindergarden, I still was so drawn to the pictures and cute little message behind it that I think readers can take with them through the rest of their life. This book focuses on celebrating those dreams that we want to achieve in life and encourages people to go after what they've always wanted. Published in October 2020 by Scholastic, this picture book provides readers with the important message of never giving up and chasing after your dreams!

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Show Me a Sign is a chapter book that I was drawn to instantly because the story revolves around a deaf character named Mary Lambert (I did ASL in High school and I love when people incorporate their culture into things). Written by Ann Clare LeZotte, who is deaf author herself, LeZotte describes a story involving tragedy, pride, and is based on a true community that lived in Martha's Vineyard over a 100 years ago. The realness behind this book provides readers with information about deaf culture (it's a great educational book). Published in 2020, this new, award winning novel for grades 3-7 takes you into the life of a deaf community and the ancestry that lives through their island and Martha's family. Highly recommend!!

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What Do You Do With an Idea is written by Kobi Yamana and illustrated by Mae Besom. This book walks you through the journey of a young boy who had an idea and he doesn't know what to do with it. It provides readers with the lesson of how to put your ideas to use/your words are something that should be shared with others always. Published in 2013, this 36 page picture book teaches a really valuable lesson about ideas and how to act upon them, rather than letting people put you down for thinking something so unique. It's a great book you can use as a reinforcement for a writing lesson from young grades (first) to high school if you wanted (read this is my college class today and it reiterated a lot of things for me).

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I Wish My Teacher Knew is an extremely insightful and genuine audio book that walks listeners through the things that students wish their teachers knew. Written by Kyle Schwartz, the one who asked her students the open-ended question, was struck by the wide variety of responses she got from humorous, to heartbreaking, to enlightening. The audio is done by Allyson Ryan and the audio is 6 hours and 22 minutes long. This audio book provides teachers with the insight we need in order to create a safe, and supportive environment for our students to walk into everyday. Communities and teachers everywhere can gain something from this amazing book and everyday tool! It was published in July 2016.

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Written and illustrated by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade, and published in March 2020, this 40 page children's picture book for ages 3-6 walks readers through the wonderful journey of Indigenous people finding their way back "home". Inspired by the Indigenous movements in North America, the unnamed protagonist battles with reconnecting herself and her people with the spiritual, and sacred, water. Describing the steps people need to go through in order to save the water and Mother Earth, this is a very informative book that many readers can learn from. You not only learn about Indigenous groups and the things they value and the struggles they went through, but you also learn about water and why it's so important to Earth.

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Same Same but Different written and illustrated by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw is a very heart warming book about friendship and how important a meaningful relationship can be. Two best friends living in two different countries, Elliot and Kailash write each other letters across the world from America to India. Although they are completely different people, they spend the time getting to know each other's interests, country, and everything else about their home and outside life. This book published in September 2011, is a 40 page fiction picture book that takes readers through a beautiful friendship on opposite sides of the world and demonstrates how differences can bring us together.

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Fry Bread is the epitome of what it means to be kind and alike to all, that everyone is the same regardless of our skin color, race, or gender. This picture book geared towards ages 4-9, walks you through the process of cooking a Native American meal. Not only does it show that we can all cook things no matter our identity (identity/race/ethnicity isn't something that should separate us) it also talks about the history behind this beautiful food dish acting as an educating book as well. It was published in October 2019, and written and illustrated by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal. I found this book to be one of my favorites to read during this whole thing so far!

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For grades 3-7, When You Trap a Tiger addresses relevant topics such as gender identity, family history, and the loss of people important to you. When trying to heal her sick grandmother, Lily is exposed to information about her family's background she had no idea about with the help from her friend, the tiger. Published in January 28, 2020, by Penguin Random House, this chapter book walks you through the mystery of family heritage, specifically Lily's Korean heritage. 304 pages, but is a MUST read!

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Wonder is a beautiful chapter book published on February 14, 2012 by Alfred A. Knopf. A 310 page chapter book written by R. J. Palacio tells the powerfully heart wrenching and heart warming story of a boy, August Pullman, going through life never looking normal due to his facial anomaly. This 310 pages of beautiful artistry demonstrates the true act of kindness and how big of a difference and impact that has on others. Cried my eyes out while reading this due to the pure truth behind the message: CHOOSE KINDNESS!!

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The Rainbow Fish, for ages 3-6, is a beautiful story about how important sharing with others is. Written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister, this was one of my favorite books to read as a kid. Published in 1992 by Simon & Schuster, this children's fiction book tells the story of what it's like when you don't share and treat others with kindness. The Rainbow Fish gains friends and happiness when he finally agrees to abide by the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

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Every Breath is a beautiful, romantic, and also heartbreaking love story written by the all time romantic Nicholas Sparks. This page turning novel tells the story of two lost souls looking for the love they long for. Tru and Hope, who are from opposite sides of the world, collide in the most unconventional way and the story of how they fight for each other is a must read! Published June 26, 2018 by Grand Central Publishing, this 320 page chapter book couldn't be long enough! I love the love story between the two characters and how their relationship forms over the course of many years. Children from ages 10-13 should for sure check this out.

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The Hunger Games series is an dystopian action packed adventure, and at times graphic, series. Geared towards 5th grade/ages 11-13, Suzanne Collins tells the story about a world in the future. Main characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark go through a crazy journey of fighting for their lives out on the battle field while the rest of the world watches from the screens in their homes. Published by Scholastic Press on September 14, 2008, consisting of 374 pages, this novel gives the readers an insight into what life could be like in a dystopian society. One of my favorite series I've ever read, and one of the best movie series as well!

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Green Eggs and Ham written by Dr. Seuss, who is an incredibly well known author, uses characteristics of poetry, such as rhythm and rhyme, to create a comical fiction story that keeps students engaged throughout the whole book. Published August 12, 1960 by Penguin Random House LLC, this 62 page book for children ages 3-8 provides readers with the message that you can accomplish anything you want as long as you never give up!

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Chrysanthemum, one of my favorite books growing up, describes the struggles of a mouse in elementary school. She gets bullied for having such a long, extravagant name based off of a flower. Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, published in 1991 by Greenwillow Books, and recommended for grades K-4, this fantastic fiction book emphasizes the importance of being unique, and how that's perfect for each and every one of us. This book embraces how to accept people for their unique features, and sometimes, there's people out there who are just like you too!

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If you Give a Moose a Muffin, written and illustrated by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond, is a comical fiction children's book about what happens when you give a moose a muffin.  The humorous aspect to the book keeps children engaged and wanting to know more.  Recommended for ages 3-7, and published in 1991 by HarperCollins, this short 32 page picture book is for sure a good laugh for students and the rhythm of the sentences makes it very easy to understand!  One of my favorites growing up.

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The Magic Treehouse series written by Mary Pope Osborne brings me back to my childhood!  This historical fantasy series written for ages 6-10 brings children on an adventure as they read about a magic treehouse that transports the main characters, Jack and Annie, also brother and sister, through different times in history.  First published in 1992 by Random House and Media Factory, Osborne provides young readers with the ability to learn information about topics such as dinosaurs, pirates, and mummies all while experiencing an adventure of a lifetime.  A must read series!

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The Day You Begin is a phenomenal children's book that encapsulates what it means to embrace our differences. Written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez, this picture book of just 32 pages tells the meaning behind being an outsider, and how that's not always a bad thing. Published August 28, 2018 by Penguin Young Readers Group, this fairly new book reminds young readers ages 4-9 to spread empathy to others and to embrace our cultures/differences because they're all beautiful. One of my favorite new children's books that I was lucky to find!

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The Art of Racing in the Rain was written by Garth Stein. It was published January 1, 2008 by HarperCollins. It's a chapter book consisting of 321 pages. This New York Times best seller, is a fiction novel told from the perspective of a dog. Recommended for grades 3-6, this novel walks through the life of a dog and his family, mainly Denny, who's a race car driver, the ups and downs they both experienced, and the importance of having a family full of love. This book draws you in from the very first sentence. It's a page-turner for sure, and I would highly recommend!