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Jon J. Muth, David Pittu. (2005). Zen Shorts. United States. Scholastic Press.

Reading Age: 4+

A panda named Stillwater becomes friends with Addy, Michael, and Karl, Stillwater teaches the children lessons through philosophical stories that help them understand and work through their emotions.

The fables included inside the story teach valuable life lessons & I enjoy the peaceful illustrations

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Suess. (1960). Green Eggs and Ham. New York, NY: Beginner Books.

3-8 years

The character Sam-I-Am tries to get the narrator to eat green eggs and ham throughout the whole book. The narrator refuses because he is convinced he won’t like them until the end of the book when he gives in and figures out that he enjoys green eggs and ham.

Shows children that even if you think you’re not going to like something, if you try it you may turn out really enjoying it.

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Newman, Leslea. (2009). Mommy, Mama, and ME. Berkeley: Tricycle Press.

3-6 years

A young boy gets to spend the day doing various activities with his two moms. It shows a loving family through games like hide and seek along with goodnight kisses.

I will have children in my class with same sex parents and it is important for all children to see that different looking families exist.

LGBTQ+ community is being represented

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Salzburg, Barney. (2010). Beautiful Oops. New York: Workman Publishing.

4-8 years

When you make mistakes (specifically to this book in arts and crafts) it is okay because you can turn that into something creative! Sometimes when you make mistakes they help you solve a problem, or help you discover something cool!

Teaching children that making mistakes is okay

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Miller, Sharee. (2018). Don’t Touch My Hair! New York: Little, Brown and Company.

2-6 years

Everywhere Aria goes people want to touch her hair. She goes through jungles, outer space, and many other places but everyone wants to touch her hair until she finally speaks up for herself!

Reading a book about consent, while also appreciating black girls’ hair is important for little black girls.

Consent, black hair is beautiful

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Lukoff, Kyle. (2019). When Aidan Became A Brother. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc.

4-7 years

Aidan was born as a girl and then transitions to a boy. His family is also welcoming a new baby into the family. This book talks about how Aidan feels uncomfortable and uncertain about his choice to transition due to misgendering that he encounters. His family reassures him and tells him how lucky they are to have him as a big brother to the new baby in the family.

This book depicts a black family, a character who is transgender, and about becoming an older sibling.

Represents black families and the LGBTQ+ community

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Best, Cari. (2015). My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay. Farrar, Straus and Giroux

4-8 years

Zulay and her three best friends are in the same first grade class and they enjoy doing many things together despite Zulay being blind. Their teacher asks the class what they want to do on field day and Zulay says she wants to run a race! Zulay is able to run the race with the support of her friends and help from a special aide.

Representing someone who has a disability in the classroom

Disability representation & represents black children

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Suess. (1971). The Lorax. New York: Random House.

4-8 years

The character The Lorax “speaks for the trees” meaning he confronts the capitalistic “Once-ler” who is killing the environment for money. Once the environment is destroyed the Once-ler realizes the damage he has caused and hopes by planting one last seed that the Lorax will return.

Teaching children the importance of environmentalism

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Barnes, Derrick. (2019). The King of Kindergarten. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Books Random House LLC.

4-6 years

A little boy gets excited for his first day of kindergarten. He goes through a morning routine and enjoys making friends on the playground and going to school.

It represents a little boy who is black and who is excited to go to school.

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Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2014). Separate is Never Equal. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

6-9 years

A girl and her family from Puerto Rican descent is denied access to a “whites only” school. Her and her family challenge that and all segregated schools in California.

A child is challenging something huge, teaches about how segregation is bad.

Segregation issues & speaking up for what you believe in.

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Henkes, K. (1996). Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Up to 3rd grade

Lilly is so excited to bring her new purple plastic purse to show off in her class. She is disruptive and inconsiderate during the school day so her teacher Mr. Singer takes away the purse and all the cool things inside of it. Lilly has to reflect on her actions and make amends to get her purse back by the end of the day.

This book shows children to reflect on their actions and shows that being inconsiderate and disruptive has consequences

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Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1964.

2-8 years

The book follows the life of a young boy and a tree and as the boy goes through his life he keeps coming back to the tree and keeps asking her for more until she is just a stump left in the ground and he is an old man.

This book teaches the importance of not keeping tally's when someone you have a relationship with needs something. But it also emphasizes the importance of not usurping things from people you have a relationship with.

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Parents Choice Gold Award 2002
Caldecott Honor 2001

Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. Simon & Schuster Children's.

Grades K-3

Olivia is a pig who has a lot of energy! She takes trips to the ballet, to the art museum, and the beach. Her behavior almost gets to be too much for her mom to manage and she ends up in time-out before bedtime. But then it all ends up okay when her mom reads to her after bedtime.

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Lawson, R. (1936). The Story of Ferdinand. Viking Books.

Ferdinand the bull lives in Spain and would rather sit in fields and smell flowers than fight in the bullfights. One day a bumblebee lands on him and some bullfighters think that he wants to go in the ring and they give him the chance to go in the ring. When Ferdinand gets in the ring he ends up sitting there and smelling all of the flowers in the ladies hair instead of fighting.

k-2nd grade

I loved this book when I was a child and it always leaves a warm fuzzy feeling inside of me.

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Barry, D., Pearson, R. (2004-2009). Peter and the Starcatchers. Hyperion Books for Children.

This book series has four books and it is an in depth spin off on the Peter Pan story. It includes a prequel, all of the characters backstories, and different quests and adventures that they go on throughout the series.

Grades 3-6

I read this series when I was in third grade and absolutely loved it! It was challenging to read and I read it with one of my friends and it was one of my favorites.

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Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake for troubled boys where they each have to dig a hole a day out in the hot desert. Stanley was falsely accused of stealing a million dollar pair of sneakers and he tries to save his reputation by breaking a family line of curses.

Grades 3-6

This was such a compelling book that I read when I was younger and I could not put it down.

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John Newberry Medal

Applegate, K. (2012). The One and Only Ivan. New York: Harper.

This book was inspired by a real silverback gorilla who was held captive for 27 years. It is told from his point of view about the friendships he forms with an elephant and a dog and about his experiences in the different cages he was in.

Grades 4-8

I chose this book because I read it and was personally moved about the kind of treatment animals receive when they were in captive and it raises a lot of moral questions.

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DiCamillo, Kate. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Candlewick Press.

A stray dog helps a 10-year-old girl make friends in her town.  The book goes through a little bit of her navigating her life in a Southern working-class town with her realizing her mom is not coming back, and how she deals with loneliness.

Grades 4-5

This award winning book made me realize a lot of things about how living life with people who care about you is so important and taught me how to feel with feeling lonely.

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From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

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From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

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The Newberry Medal

Konigsburg, E. L. (1998). From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Atheneum Books For Young Readers.

Claudia and James decide to run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art to teach their parents a lesson. Claudia discovers a statue and she must know who made it. Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler helps them figure it out and helps them get home.

Grades 3-5

I enjoyed this book when I was a young reader.

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The Newberry Medal

L'engle, M. (1963). A Wrinkle in Time. Square Fish.

Meg, Charles, and Calvin go through space and time to try and save her missing dad who is a scientist. They have to navigate a tesseract problem that a far away government was investigating. The tesseract is the wrinkle in time that they have to learn how to navigate in order to save Megs dad.

Grade 5

I read this book when I was younger and it really opened up my world to science fiction and taught me how to question everything.

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Brandt, L. (2014). Maddi's Fridge. Brooklyn, New York: Flashlight Press.

Maddi and Sofia do everything together. One day Sofia finds out that Maddi rarely ever has anything in her fridge. Maddi swears Sofia to secrecy and Sofia has to ask herself if she should keep the secret to tell her parents so that they can possible help.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it touches on the topic of poverty and introduces it to kids at a young age so that they can be aware of things that may go on behind closed doors.

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Dooley, N. (1991). Everybody Cooks Rice. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books.

A little girl is sent out in the neighborhood to get her brother for dinner and while walking through the neighborhood she notices all the households making their dinners. She smells, sees, and learns about all the diverse dishes that her neighbors are making for dinner!

Grade 2

A lot of different countries and cultures are represented in this book and teaching children about the different kinds of cultures through food is a great way to educate them and emerge them into a different world.

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Higginbotham, A. (2018). Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness. Dottir Press: new York.

A white child watches a news report of a black person being killed by a white police officer and starts to ask questions. The child's mom tells them that "we don't see color" but the child is left unsatisfied. They go to the library one day and uncover some truths about white supremacy in America.

Grades 4-5

I chose this because it talks about white children discovering the harsh truths of the history of America and about educating themselves on how they can be better. Social Justice Topic: Racism

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Seeger, P. (2006). The Deaf Musicians. G.P. Putnam's Sons: New York.

Lee is a jazz musician and is sad when he has to leave his band because he starts to loose his hearing. He then meets a deaf saxophone player in a sign language class they are in. They decide to start a band together and they start performing for the subway.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it represents deaf people and instead of focusing on their deficits, it focuses on the positive side of things like being able to form a new band. It shows people who have disabilities being able to do things that they enjoy doing.

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Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

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Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

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Sotomayor, S. (2019). Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You. New York: Philomel Books.

A community of children from all kinds of backgrounds work together to build a garden. They ask questions to each other while working on the garden so they can get to know each other and talk about challenges they face or experiences they have had.

Grade Kindergarten

I chose this book because it was written by Sonia Sotomayor who is the first Hispanic and Latina to sit on the Supreme Court. She wrote this books because of her own struggles of being different as a kid and because she wants to educate children on why asking questions is important.

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Tal, E. (2006). A New Boy. Milk and Honey Press.

This book is written in English and in Hebrew. It is about a little boy named Boris who is an immigrant to Israel. Boris doesn't talk to the other kids cause he doesn't know Hebrew yet. One day Boris's dad gets called in for army duty and that's when another boy becomes friends with Boris.

4-6 years

I chose this book because it is written in another language and because it tells the story of friendship.

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Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Story

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Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Story

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Ruurs, M. (2016). Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Story. Orca Book Publishers.

This book is written in Arabic and English and tells the story of Rama and her family are walking to Europe from Syria for freedom. They take everything they own in their backs because their country has entered a civil war.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it is written in Arabic and English and it tells the story of what many people have to go through when fleeing their country.

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Manju, G. (2000). Hansel and Gretel. Mantra Lingua.

This specific version of Hansel and Gretel is written in German as well as English. It tells the story about how Hansel and Gretel are hungry and lost in the woods. They come upon a house made with sweets and an old lady. The old lady gives them as many sweets as they want to fatten the children up and then plans on baking them in the oven. They have to figure out how to escape.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it is written in English and in German. This is a German fairytale that has been around for a long time.

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Wong, J. S. (2014). This Next Year. Pomelo Books.

This is a Korean-English book about a little boy who is excited to celebrate the Lunar New Year. His friends come from different cultures so he has a fun time telling them all about the Lunar New Year. He cleans his house so there is room for luck, and talks about how his palms itch which means he should be coming up on some money. This book depicts a joyous celebration and can educate young children on what the Lunar New Year is.

Grade Kindergarten.

I chose this book because it is also written in Korean and can educate young children on the Eastern cultures that we often do not see represented in Western classrooms.

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Arroz con leche: canciones y ritmos populares de América Latina Popular Songs and Rhymes From Latin America

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Arroz con leche: canciones y ritmos populares de América Latina Popular Songs and Rhymes From Latin America

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Delacre, L. (1992). Arroz con leche: canciones y ritmos populares de América Latina Popular Songs and Rhymes From Latin America. Scholastic Paperbacks.

This is a collection of popular Latina rhymes and songs that are in Spanish and also in English.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it is in Spanish and English and because it is about popular rhymes from Latin America. I can teach my students about different stories from different cultures with this book

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Khan, H. (2019). Under My Hijab. Lee and Low Books.

Written by Hena Khan who is a Pakistani America writer.

This book is about a little girl who witnesses the women in her life and they way they choose to wear their hijabs. Her grandma clasps it under her chin, her aunt puts it under a sunhat when she hikes, and her sister styles hers to match her outfit. This young girl spends her time exploring how she wants to express her personality through her hijab. This book is written in a  rhyming, rhythmic, and lighthearted way that shows the love and pride that Muslim women have for their religion and culture.

Grades 1-2

This book can educate children on the Islam religion and can show them the different customs and things that they participate in. This book represents Muslim women who are very prideful of their religion.

Social Justice Topic: Religion representation

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Mora, O. (2018). Thank You, Omu! New York: Little, Brown and Company.

This book is about Omu and her famous stew. People follow their noses into her kitchen and each get a bowl until the pot is empty. The author also notes that the meaning of "Omu" is "queen" in the Igbo language.

Grades Pk-3

I chose this book because Oge Mora is a Nigerian American. I like how she included a name from the country her family is from and the meaning of it.

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Quintero, I. (2019). My Papi Has a Motorcycle. Kokila.

Daisy Ramona rides with her dad on his motorcycle all around town. She sees people and places that she's always seen but she also sees how her community is changing. The book ends with a beautiful sunset and she knows that the love she has for her community and her Papi will always be there.

Grades PK-2

I chose this book because the author Isabel Quintero is the daughter of Mexican immigrants.

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Yang, K.K. (2019). A Map Into the World. Lerner Publishing Group.

This is a moving picture book that depicts a young Hmong American girl moving houses. She experiences and explores many new things. She starts collecting little bits of the natural world as she explores life inside and outside her new home.

Grade 2

I chose this book because the author is also a Hmong American woman who experienced similar things that she depicts in this book.

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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

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Maillard, K. (2019). Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Roaring Book Press.

This book shares the values that Native Americans hold and emphasizes fry bread and its cultural importance. It is written in the form of poetry. It talks about the food that is shared and loved among Native Americans and includes a recipe for fry bread, and an authors note that talks about the social aspects, the cultural aspects, and the political aspects that the 573 recognized Native American tribes face.

Grade 1

I chose this book because the author is Native American and is writing about his own culture. I also chose this book because I feel like Native Americans are severely underrepresented especially in literature.

Social Justice Topic: Recognition and representation of Native Americans

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Keller, T. (2020). When You Trap a Tiger. New York: Random House.

This book is about Korean folklore and how a young girl names Lily goes on a journey to unlock stories to save her grandma. A magical tiger arrives that prompts Lily to uncover her family's history when she and her family move in with her grandma. The tiger offers her a deal with a twist and Lily must face the tiger with her voice.

Grades 4-6

I chose this book because it won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. It also won the Newberry Medal.

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Speare, E. G. (1983). The Sign of the Beaver. Houghton Mifflin.

This book is about thirteen-year-old Matt who's dad leaves him for the winter and it is up to him to survive in the wilderness in Maine in the 1700's. Matt is doing fine until someone steals his gun for hunting. With no way of surviving, Matt becomes friends with a Native American named Attean who teaches him the ways of his tribe. As time goes on, Matt learns about the people who have been here for much longer than he realizes, and must come to terms with the fact that his father may never come home.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because I read it and I loved it. It also won 5 different awards including the Newberry Medal.

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Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One Crazy Summer. Amistad.

This book is about three sisters who go to visit their mom who abandoned them seven years ago to move to California in 1968. When they visit her they are expecting to go to Disneyland to meet Tinker Bell and other princesses. Instead, their mom sends them to a day camp run by Black Panthers. The three girls end up learning a lot about their family, themselves, and their country during that summer.

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it has won the Newberry Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and was a National Book Award finalist.

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Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad

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Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad

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Levine, E. (2007). Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad. Scholastic Press.

This book is about a little boy named Henry Brown. He does not know how old he is because nobody keeps records of slaves birthdays. Henry is constantly worn down working as a slave and longs for freedom. He grows up, gets married, and has children and he is eventually torn from his family. One day, when he is a man and working at a crate warehouse, he realizes he must mail himself to the north to be free.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it won the Coretta Scott King Award. I also like this book because it is based on a true story of a man who actually mailed himself to freedom.

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Crossan, S. (2012). The Weight of Water. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.

This book is about Kasienka and her mother immigrating from Poland to England. Kasienka's home life is not the best with an emotionally absent mother who has been searching for her father for years. She also is having a hard time making friends at school. The only place she feels safe is when she is swimming laps in the pool. Even then, she still has a sinking feeling in her body until she meets a boy who she befriends.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it won the CILIP Carnegie Medal, YA Book Prize, and the CBI Book of the Year

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Gantos, J. (2011). Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

This book is about a boy named Jack who plans a summer vacation in 1962 but is then "grounded for life" by his parents. Jack only gets to leave the house when an elderly woman, Miss Volker, who is a medical examiner requests help. As the summer goes on Jack and Miss Volker find themselves caught up in a mystery. Who keeps murdering all the elderly people in the town?

Grade 5

I chose this book because I read it when I was younger and is an amazing and interesting realistic fiction read.

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Drapor, S. M. (2010). Out of My Mind. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Melody cannot talk or walk but she has a photogenic memory. She is smarter than most everyone she meets including the adults who diagnose her. Her classmates see her as mentally challenged and can't see her as anything else. She refuses to be seen as only a person with cerebral palsy, and she wants everyone to know that she is a person too.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it is a realistic fiction work that focuses on the life of a young girl with cerebral palsy. I read this book when I was in fifth grade and it changed the way that I subconsciously saw people who had disabilities.

Social Justice Topic: People with disabilities.

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Lord, C. (2006). Rules. Scholastic Press.

This book is about 12-year-old Catherine who wants to live a "normal" life. She finds this hard because her younger brother has autism and her family seems to revolve around the disability. She has spent a long time trying to teach him rules such as "keep your pants on in public." She is constantly trying to save herself from being embarrassed. One summer Catherine meets a boy named Jason who is a paraplegic and a next door neighbor friend Kristi. Catherine realizes it is her own behavior that turns everything sideways and forces her to ask "what is normal anyway?."

Grade 3-5

I chose this book because it fits into the realistic fiction category and because, again when I read it, it tore down certain unconscious stereotypes that I had even as a young kid. I also had a friend who was in the exact same situation as Catherine, and this book reminds me of watching her struggle with her family dynamics.

Social Justice Topic: People with Disabilites

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Clements, A. (2009). Extra Credit. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Abby Carson does not like doing her schoolwork. In February she gets a letter home that if she does not get her grades up she will have to repeat the sixth grade. She is required to take on an extra credit project where she will communicate with a pen pal from Afghanistan. In the village in Afghanistan, the elders decide the letters must be written in English, but the only student who knows English is a boy named Sadeed. Boys and girls are not allowed to communicate however, so Sadeeds younger sister signs the letters and he writes them. But then the villagers do not like the idea of a girl being around a school, and that having contact with America is unhealthy. Throughout this book the children find out who each other are and learn about different cultures.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it falls under the realistic fiction category and it talks about different cultures and their norms.

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Creech, S. (1994). Walk Two Moons. Harper Trophy.

Sal is a thirteen-year-old girl who's mother left her family. Her family then moved to Ohio and she became friends with Pheobe who's mom also went missing. Eventually Pheobe's mom comes back, and Sal and her grandparents decide to drive across America. Sal's grandparents have her drive to the location of her mother as it prompts Sal to remember things that were blocked from her memory.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it falls under the realistic fiction category and it moved me when i read it in fifth grade.

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The Teachers March! How Selma's Teachers Changed History

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The Teachers March! How Selma's Teachers Changed History

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Wallace, S. N., Wallace, R. (2020). The Teachers March! How Selma's Teachers Changed History. Boyds Mills Press.

This book is a tribute to the teachers who participated in the 1965 Teachers March is Selma. It talks about reverend F. D. Reese who was a principal and saw that his colleagues had a lot of respect in the city. Can he convince them to risk their jobs and their lives to participate in the march for their right to vote?

Grades 2-5

I chose this book because it portrays the real life experiences of the Civl Rights Movement in the 1960's in the deep south.

Social Justice Topic: Civil Rights Movement.

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Thompson, L. A., (2015). Emmanuel's Dream. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.

This book is a true story about a boy named Emmanuel who was born without a leg. He at first had a hard time making friends but eventually made some and they taught him how to ride a bike. When he was 13 his mom died and he has to move away to work to provide for his family. Then, he decided he was going to bike across his country Ghana. He gained a lot of national coverage and popularity. His message was that disability is not inability and he biked over 400 miles.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it is an inspiring true story about a boy with a disability who decides he is not going to be put down by others views of him.

Social Justice Topic: Disabilities

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The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives

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The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives

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Greenfield, E. (2019). The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives. ALAZAR Press.

This book highlights the hard work and training that black enslaved women went through to become midwives. It is told in a poetic way of the untold stories of many midwives and how they contributed to countless births and how they "caught" the babies when they were born.

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it talks about untold stories of women and how they contributed in history through delivering babies.

Social Justice Topics: Women's stories, Black Lives Matter

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Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

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Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

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Engle, M. (2015). Drum Dream Girl. Clarion Books.

In Cuba, girls cannot be drummers, and no one questioned it. Until the drum dream girl. She dreamed of pounding drums but she had to practice in secret. Until one night her drumming was heard and everyone started singing and dancing and then decided that both boys and girls should be able to become drummers.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it is inspired by true accounts of a girl in Cuba fighting for her right to drum.

Social Justice Topic: Women's rights

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I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

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I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

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Baddeley, E. (2016). I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent her whole life disagreeing with unfair treatment and standing up for whats right. This is a biographical picture book that tells her story through many of her famous dissents and disagreements.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because RBG is a great American hero and because i want my students to know the huge impact she had on American politics.

Social Justice Topic: American rights

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Warner, G. C. (1924-Present). The Boxcar Children. Albert Whitman & Company.

Four orphan children are afraid of being split up, so they run away and make a home for themselves in a boxcar. They come up with creative solutions to their problems as they work together. This story shows the love between siblings and creative problem-solving.

Grades 1-4

I chose this book because I read a lot of them when I was younger, they are intriguing, and it provides great problem solving skills for children.

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Riordan, R. (2005-2009). The Percy Jackson Series. United Kingdon: Miramax Books, Hyperion Books & Penguin Books.

Percy Jackson and his friends go on a series of adventures to solve problems regarding Greek and Roman Gods. They journey all over the world (and sometimes to the underworld) to uncover secrets, go on quests and different adventures.

Grades 3-5

I chose this series because I read it and so did many of my peers. It was incredibly informational about Greek and Roman Gods along with enjoyable reading about all the quests they go on.

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Kinney, J. (2007-Present). Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Amulet Books.

The series follows Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler who illustrates his daily life in a diary(although he constantly tells the audience that it is a journal). Greg Heffley is a 12 year old who is fresh out of elementary and transitions to middle school, where he has to learn the consequences and responsibility to survive the year. To Greg Heffley, middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented.

Grades 2-7

I chose this book because it is a great read for children who may need extra help with reading because it is similar to the graphic novel feel. It is also enjoyable and relatable.

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Snicket, L. (1999-2006). A Series of Unfortunate Events. HarperCollins.

The series follows the unfortunate lives of the three extremely unlucky Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, trying to get by in their difficult lives and survive the pursuit of their nemesis Count Olaf and his various associates who attempt to steal their inherited fortune.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book series because I read some of it. I also think this would be great for challenging some of my students.

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Osborne, M. P. 1992. Magic Tree House. United States: Random House.

Jack and Annie discover a tree house and, using the magical books there, they unwittingly travel back in time, into the future, to deserts and rainforests, and many other places to go on adventures and solve mysteries!

Grades 1-4

I chose this series because it is a very popular series and while I did not enjoy them, these books can be used to challenge readers, create ideas, and can be used as the base for many creative projects that we do in class.

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Carle, E. (1975). The Mixed Up Chameleon. HarperCollins.

Hilarious pictures show what happens when a bored chameleon wishes it could be more like other animals, but is finally convinced it would rather just be itself. An imagination-stretcher for children.

Grades K-1

I chose this book because it is illustrated by Eric Carle and his very famous illustration style. These books can be the basis for different projects we do in class.

Social Justice Topic: Individualism, Self-Acceptance

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Carle, E. (1969). The Very Hungry Caterpillar. HarperCollins.

This all-time favorite not only follows the very hungry caterpillar as it grows from egg to cocoon to beautiful butterfly, but also teaches the days of the week, counting, good nutrition and more.

Grades K-1

I chose this book because it falls under the category of Eric Carle being the illustrator. It is also a fun book that a lot of children have heard of.

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?

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Carle, E. (1967). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? HarperCollins.

Appealing animals in bold colors are seen and named in a rhyming question-and-response text that delights as it invites young readers and listeners to participate actively.

Grades K-1

I chose this book because it is written by Eric Carle and because it can support children in articulating things they observe, and help them learn how to observe and look for things.

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Carle, E. (2011). The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. World of Eric Carle; First Edition.

The artist in this book paints the world as he sees it, just like a child. There's a red crocodile, an orange elephant, a purple fox and a polka-dotted donkey. More than anything, there's imagination. Filled with some of the most magnificently colorful animals of Eric Carle's career, this tribute to the creative life celebrates the power of art.

Grades K-1

I chose this book because it is illustrated by Eric Carle.

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Carle, E. (1987). A House For Hermit Crab. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

One day Hermit Crab discovers that he has outgrown his shell. He is frightened and moves into another shell but thinks that it looks too plain. So, each month he finds a new friend to live with him. Eventually, Hermit Crab outgrows his shell and must find an even bigger shell to make his home.

Grades K-1

I chose this book because it is illustrated by Eric Carle and because projects in my class can be based around it.

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Dahl, R. (1964). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Charlie Bucket lives on the outskirts of town with his poverty-stricken family: his parents and all four grandparents. Each day on his way to school, Charlie passes the best and biggest chocolate factory in the world, run by the secretive Willy Wonka. When Charlie's father loses his job, things go from bad to worse. But then, Charlie receives a Golden Ticket inside a chocolate bar inviting him on an exclusive tour with Willy Wonka and five other children.

Grades 3-7

I chose this book because it is a fantasy book and a lot of people have enjoyed it.

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Dahl, R. (1982). The BFG. Penguin Books.

An orphan little girl befriends a benevolent giant who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the human world.

Grades 2-5

I chose this book because it falls under the category of fantasy with giants and made-up creatures.

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Sendak, M. (1984). Where the Wild Things Are. HarperCollins.

When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes havoc in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him. But then from far away across the world, Max smells good things to eat.

Grades K-1

I chose this book because it is a classic children's fantasy book that I read when I was younger.

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Barrett, J. (1982). Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

In the town of Chewandswallow, nobody ever goes grocery shopping. All their food simply falls out of the sky — pizza, pasta, peanut butter, you name it. The citizens seem to have it made in the shade (of a meatball-filled cloud)... until some unfortunate weather patterns start to wreak havoc, and they wonder whether edible precipitation really is such a blessing after all.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it is another classic fantasy about a made up town and I could base projects or activities around this book.

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Rubin, A. Salmieri, D. (2012). Dragons Love Tacos. Dial Books.

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.

Grades K-2

I chose this because I have never heard of it and I think it would be a great fantasy addition to my class.

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DuPrau, J. (2004). The City of Ember. Yearling.

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. Now, she and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues to keep the lights on. If they succeed, they will have to convince everyone to follow them into danger. But if they fail? The lights will burn out and the darkness will close in forever.

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it explores the science fiction realm and makes kids ask certain questions. I also enjoyed reading this book when I was younger.

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Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Clarion Books.

Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated birthmothers produce newchildren, who are assigned to appropriate family units. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Everyone is the same. Except Jonas. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Gradually Jonas learns that power lies in feelings. But when his own power is put to the test—when he must try to save someone he loves—he may not be ready. Is it too soon? Or too late?

Grade 6

I chose this book because it can be a challenge to some of my students and because it talks about a lot of challenging ideas. I could also read it aloud to the students.

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Scott Card, O. (1994). Ender's Game. Tor Science Fiction.

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut--young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers, Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Grades 1-5

I chose this book because it is science fiction and because I think it is something my students would enjoy.

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Brown, P. (2016). The Wild Robot. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

Grades 3-5

I also chose this book because it's science fiction and could be an easier read for my students.

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Brown, P. (2017). The Wild Robot Escapes. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming animal inhabitants and adapted to her surroundings--but can she survive the challenges of the civilized world and find her way home to Brightbill and the island?

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it is science fiction and the sequel to the previous book.

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Smith, J. (1991). BONE: Out From Boneville. Graphix.

After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins -- Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone -- are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures.Eventually, the cousins are reunited at a farmstead run by tough Gran'ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter, Thorn. But little do the Bones know, there are dark forces conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!

Grades 1-5

I chose this book because I enjoyed this graphic novel series when I was younger.

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Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. Graphix.

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

Grades 2-5

I chose this book because it is a graphic novel and because it can help my students if they are feeling left out or not themselves.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise Part 1

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise Part 1

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DiMartino, M. D., et. al. (2012). Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise Part 1. Dark Horse Books.

This series rejoins Aang and friends for exciting new adventures, beginning with a face-off against the Fire Nation that threatens to throw the world into another war, testing all of Aang's powers and ingenuity! Written by National Book Award Nominee Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese), in close collaboration with series creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this is the story that Avatar lovers have been clamoring for, as well as a perfect jumping-on point for new fans!

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it is a graphic novel

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Pilkey, D. (2016). Dog Man: A Graphic Novel. Graphix.

George and Harold have created a new breed of justice. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound digs into deception, claws after crooks, rolls over robbers, and scampers after squirrels. Will he be able to resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?

Grades 2-5

I chose this book because it is a graphic novel and because it can be used for my readers who may need extra support.

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Jamieson, V. & Mohamed, O. (2020). When Stars Are Scattered. Dial Books.

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it is a graphic novel and because it has a diversity focus.

Social Justice Topic: Refugee's, Immigration, and having a sibling with a disability.

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Silverstein, Shel. (1996). Falling Up. HarperCollins.

Filled with unforgettable characters like Screamin’ Millie; Allison Beals and her twenty-five eels; Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear; the Human Balloon; and Headphone Harold, this collection by the celebrated Shel Silverstein will charm young readers and make them want to trip on their shoelaces and fall up too!

Grades K-5

This is a poetry book that is fun and engaging for children

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Woodson, J. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

Grade 5

This is an emotionally moving book that has won many awards and something that I can read aloud in my classroom.

Social Justice Topic: Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow laws

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Raczka, B. (2016). Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems. Roaring Book Press.

Concrete poetry is a perennially popular poetic form because they are fun to look at. But by using the arrangement of the words on the page to convey the meaning of the poem, concrete or shape poems are also easy to write! From the author of the incredibly inventive Lemonade: And Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word comes another clever collection that shows kids how to look at words and poetry in a whole new way.

Grades 3-4

I chose this book because it is a children's poem book.

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Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems

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Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems

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Janeczko, P. B. (2018). Firefly July. Candlewick.

It only takes a few words, if they’re the right words, to create a strong image. Whether listened to in the comfort of a cozy lap or read independently, the thirty-six very short poems in this collection remind readers young and old that a few perfect words and pictures can make the world glow. Selected by acclaimed poet Paul B. Janeczko and gorgeously illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, this anthology invites children to sample poems throughout the four seasons.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it is a poetry book that explains and teaches about the 4 seasons.

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Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word

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Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word

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Raczka, B. P. (2013). Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word. Square Fish.

Part anagram, part rebus, part riddle―the poems in Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word capture a scene from a child's daily life and present a puzzle to solve. Sometimes sweet and sometimes funny but always clever, these poems are fun to read and even more fun for kids to write. Bob Raczka is a fresh, new voice in children's poetry who knows that fun and games can turn a poetry lesson into lemonade!

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it is a poetry book that is fun and I used the same author as before so my students can read some of their other work.

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Ryan, P. M. (2002). Esperanza Rising. Scholastic.

Esperanza thought she'd always live a privileged life on her family's ranch in Mexico. She'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita to care for her. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard work, financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When Mama gets sick and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances-because Mama's life, and her own, depend on it.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it is a made up story about things that actually could have happened.

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Lowry, L. (1989). Number the Stars. Clarion Books.

Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it is a made up story about something that could have actually happened in history.

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Rhodes, J. P. (2013). Sugar. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy, the white plantation owner's son. Sugar has always yearned to learn more about the world, and she sees her chance when Chinese workers are brought in to help harvest the cane. The older River Road folks feel threatened, but Sugar is fascinated. As she befriends young Beau and elder Master Liu, they introduce her to the traditions of their culture, and she, in turn, shares the ways of plantation life. Sugar soon realizes that she must be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring the community together. Here is a story of unlikely friendships and how they can change our lives forever.

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it is based on something that could have happened a long time ago.

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Griffin, J. (2002). Phoebe the Spy. Puffin Books.

Someone is planning to kill George Washington, and young Phoebe Fraunces is trying to save his life. Phoebe gets a job as George Washington's housekeeper, but her real job is to work as a spy. She listens and watches very carefully, and she meets her father every day to tell him what she has learned. One day Phoebe's father tells her that Washington is planning to leave town in a few days, and the person plotting against him will act before then. Phoebe is very frightened, but she is determined to figure out who is after Washington before it's too late. . . .

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because I loved it when I was younger and because it fits into the category.

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Draper, S. M. (2016). Stella by Starlight. Simon & Schuster.

Stella lives in the segregated South—in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can’t. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn’t bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they’re never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella’s community—her world—is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don’t necessarily signify an end.

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it is a made up story of something that actually could have happened.

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Ringgold, F. (2015). The Harlem Renaissance Party. HarperCollins.

Lonnie and his uncle go back to Harlem in the 1920s. Along the way, they meet famous writers, musicians, artists, and athletes, from Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois to Josephine Baker and Zora Neale Hurston and many more, who created this incredible period. And after an exciting day of walking with giants, Lonnie fully understands why the Harlem Renaissance is so important.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it talks about music and the history of jazz and where it came from.

Social Justice Topic: The Harlem Renaissance was a huge movement that I can teach through this book.

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Weatherford, C. B. (2016). Freedom in Congo Square. Little Bee Books.

As slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when at least for half a day they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. Here they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. This story chronicles slaves' duties each day, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturday, and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it falls under the category and it is a great way to educate children about how life was a long time ago.

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Fitzgerald, E. (2003). A Tisket, A Tasket. Philomel/Penguin.

The song made famous by jazz great Ella Fitzgerald in the 1930s has been re-created, re-energized and newly presented in a picture book version. Sprightly cut paper collage illustrations show two children losing and ultimately finding both a lost basket and a friendship.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because educating my students on Ella Fitzgerald, her contribution to the musical world, and is just a fun book.

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Conoce a Pablo Picasso (Get to Know Pablo Picasso)

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Conoce a Pablo Picasso (Get to Know Pablo Picasso)

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Brown, M. (2016). Conoce a Pablo Picasso (Get to Know Pablo Picasso). Loqueleo.

The Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is considered one of the most important and revolutionary artists of the 20th century. More than 20,000 of his works can be admired in museums around the world. From a very young age, he showed incredible artistic talent. His father was a painter who let Pablo finish his paintings ever since he was a small boy. Pablo Picasso died in 1973, but his work continues to influence many artists today.

Grade 5

I chose this book as an option for students to learn about Pablo Picasso and how influential and revolutionary his art was.

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Gutierrez, R. (2019). Double Bass Blues. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Nic is an aspiring musician whose life spans two different worlds--his suburban school where he wows his friends in orchestra, and the busy city streets of his home where he's jostled by the crowd. Nic makes his way home from a busy day at school with a double bass on his back, the symphony of his surroundings in his heart, and a sweet surprise for the reader at the end of his journey. This is a sweet, melodious picture book about how dedication, music, and family can overcome any obstacle.

Grades K-3

I chose this book because it is a fun story about a boy who likes music.

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DePaola, T. (1975). Strega Nona. Simon & Schuster.

Strega Nona is a witch who helps villagers with their troubles. She employs a young man named Big Anthony to help her with her chores. One day, he observes her singing a spell to a magic pasta pot to produce large amounts of cooked pasta.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it was challenged to be banned.

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Herthel, J. & Jennings, J. (2014). I am Jazz. Dial Books.

From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel like herself in boys' clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz's story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it is on the list of banned books.

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Ruchardson, J. (2015). And Tango Makes Three. Little Simon.

At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.

Gradea K-1

I chose this book because it is banned and because it is based on a real life story.

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Telgemeier, R. (2012). Drama. Scholastic Inc.

Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

Grades 3-5

I chose this book because it is on the banned books list in Texas and because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it when I was younger. I also think it is something that my students will be able to relate to.

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Dahl, R. (1983). The Witches. Penguin Young Readers Group.

Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There's nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma's stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with The Grand High Witch herself!

Grades 4-5

I chose this book because it is on the banned book list and because as a young kid it terrified me.

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Floca, B. (2009). Moonshot: The Flight of the Apollo 11. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Here is the story of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon -- a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away by steady astronauts in their great machines.

Grades K-5

I chose this book because it is nonfiction.

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McGinty, A. (2013). Gandhi: A March to the Sea. Two Lions.

Mahatma Gandhi's 24-day March to the Sea, from March 12 to April 5, 1930, was a pivotal moment in India's quest to become an independent country no longer ruled by Great Britain. With over 70 marchers, Gandhi walked from his hometown near Ahmedabad to the seacoast near Dandi. The march was a non-violent means to protest the taxes that Great Britain had imposed on salt-not the salt that the Indians could get from the sea, but the salt that Great Britain forced them to buy. Gandhi believed that peaceful protests were an effective way to challenge British law, and his peaceful but ultimately successful movement became known as Satyagraha.

Grades 1-3

I chose this book because it falls under the category and because my students should learn about Ghandi.

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Pinkney, A, D. (2021). She Persisted: Harriet Tubman. Penguin Random House.

With her family's love planted firmly in her heart, Harriet looked to the North Star for guidance–and its light helped guide her way out of slavery. Her courage made it possible for her to help others reach freedom too.

Grades K-2

I chose this book because it is a biography.

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Rodriguez, P. (2018). Counting With Frida. Lil' Libros.

Introduce your little one to the life of one of Mexico's most iconic painters, Frida Kahlo, while teaching them their numbers, 1 to 10, in English and Spanish. Count una casa azul (one blue house), tres flores (three flowers), and cinco retratos (five portraits).

Grade K

This book is good to introduce them to Frida Kahlo and to help them with counting.

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Jenkins, M. (2019). Beware of the Crocodile. Candlewick.

You probably know a little about crocodiles already. They’re reptiles, they have an awful lot of teeth, and they’re pretty scary — at least, the big ones are! They’re not very fussy about what they eat, and when it comes to hunting down dinner, crocodiles are very determined . . . and very cunning. But there’s more to crocodiles than just their appetites. They love to nap on warm sandbanks and cool off in calm waters, and crocodile mothers are very gentle with their babies. This fascinating look at one of Earth’s most infamous creatures is full of information for amateur scientists, with back matter that includes an index, notes on species, and suggestions for further reading.

Grade 1

I chose this book because it falls under the category and because it would be nice to have a lot of nonfiction books about animals.