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Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

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Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

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Author: Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrator: Liz Amini-Holmes

Publisher: Annick Press

Date: September 1, 2010

Grade level: 4th- 7th grade

Genre: Nonfiction

Theme: Cultural identity, self-esteem

Synopsis: Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, an Indigenous child, faces many challenges during her two years at a religious boarding school. She decides to leave her village because she desires the ability to read so badly. She is badly abused by nuns and struggles in school. Despite it all, Margaret's bravery shines through, such as getting rid of her red stockings.

Personal response: I learned a lot from reading Fatty Legs. I haven't read a nonfiction book in a very long time, and this one was impactful to say the least. The themes of courage and self-esteem are strong throughout. I think having students read this book would teach an important message about standing up against bullying.

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/10076

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Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

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Author: Tom Angleberger
Illustrator: Gillian Reid

Publisher: Epic

Date: 2019

Grade level: 2nd- 5th grade

Genre: Historical fiction

Theme:

Synopsis: Nellie Nutgraf is a reporter finding the most exciting stories. However, his stories are not always the most accurate. Her first story was her own birth announcement, where she spoke in full sentences immediately after birth. Nellie has problems finding new and exciting stories when she decides to drive up a mountain that is about to explode.

Personal response: I like how this book is humorous but also incorporates historical elements. I think young students might relate to Nellie!

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/57593

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Author: Jessica Rinker
Illustrator: Bethany Stancliffe

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: May 19, 2020

Grade level: 3rd- 5th grade

Genre: Science fiction

Theme: Exploring

Synopsis: Allie and Vic Taylor are helping their parents' in their antique shop. After finding an Infinity Spinner, Allie and Vic Taylor time travel back in time and appear on the Titanic.

Personal response: I think this science fiction would be good for students with interests in historical events. I liked this book and how it had a few illustrations as well!

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/69004

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I Love You and Cheese Pizza by Brenda Li

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I Love You and Cheese Pizza by Brenda Li

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Author: Brenda Li
Illustrator: Brenda Li

Publisher: Summer and Muu

Date: April 15, 2021

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Love

Synopsis: Brian and his mom discuss the new artwork, a painting that said love, that he noticed hanging in their home. Him and his mom describe love and how one can show it. Brian decides to write cards for all of the people he loves. Carrying a pile of cards down the stairs, Brian falls and hits his head. When his mom comes to help him, he tells her that all of the cards he was carrying were all for her!

Personal response: I love this book and the theme that is portrayed throughout! This book is different than the other books I've read. I liked how Brian could think of so many things he loved!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXQpwfBWIs8

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I Love You and Cheese Pizza by Brenda Li

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Author: Andy Lee
Illustrator: Heath McKenzie

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: October 6, 2020

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Disobedience

Synopsis: A blue monster warns readers to not open this book, to not turn the page, and even says little kids hair will turn grey if they open it. He gets so upset when the reader keeps turning pages and reading the book, he starts crying, begging, and trying to trick the reader.

Personal response: I think this book is silly but I don't think it is the most beneficial book for students to read. It doesn't portray a strong theme or teach any lessons.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3-zHBmfQSg

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Author: Erica S. Perl
Illustrator: Henry Cole

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Date: July 19, 2016

Grade level: Kindergarten- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Pets

Synopsis: A classroom opens up a box to find there new class pet, Fluffity. They yell how cute and sweet she is! Quickly after, Fluffity starts biting all of the children. It got so bad, they all had to run from tiny Fluffity and hide. Mr. Drake tried to save the children from crazy Fluffity, but got bit in the process. They found out that exercising Fluffity, such as using her hamster ball and wheel, makes her less aggressive.

Personal response: I think children would find this book silly because Fluffity is so small and cute! After reading this book, students might want to share out experiences they have had with their pets at home.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN5P74iPQQI

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Author: Stewart Heritage
Illustrator: Nicola Slater

Publisher: Puffin

Date: September 26, 2023

Grade level: PreK- Kindergarten

Genre: Fiction

Theme:

Synopsis: Pancakes and Cha-Cha head out to the park to play and eat pizza. They find the bin genie who grants them three wishes. They were told to only NOT yell elephants. On the first and second wish, Cha-Cha yells elephants and they are left with one elephant and one cheesy elephant. On their third wish, they wish for two pillows for the elephants to sleep with.

Personal response: I loved this book. I wasn't expecting the bin genie, it was so funny and sassy. I recommend this book.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fevn2ZlGqBw

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Author: Vince Cleghorne
Illustrator: Vince Cleghorne

Publisher: Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream

Date: May 24, 2022

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Bad behavior

Synopsis: Tim Sprocket is naughty. He steals from stores, his friends birthday parties, and even money from his grandma. Tim and his parents go to the doctor to see why Tim has gone bad. The doctor says Tim is just plain naughty! The word goes around and Tim ends up in jail.

Personal response: This book teaches a message to students about how to responsibly behave. It is unacceptable to steal, and Tim finds that out! I don't know if I would want to own this book because I did not enjoy the ending much.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCwJcH9h1BQ

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Author: Jerry Ruff
Illustrator: Simona M. Ceccarelli

Publisher: Amicus Ink

Date: August 10, 2021

Grade level: PreK- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction/poetry

Theme: Imagination, chaos

Synopsis: When a boy tries going to sleep, all of his animals need something. His room becomes a zoo! After every animal has made so much noise and played, he tells all of his toys its time to go to bed. He cuddles up with bear and mouse at the end.

Personal response: A great book to teach about the alphabet and animals! Each letter of the alphabet is used to introduce a different animal. Tendencies of each animal are also mentioned. I would love to own this book!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRH4qyvYFrk

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Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

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Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

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Author: Victoria and Elizabeth Kann
Illustrator: Victoria Kann

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Date: May 23, 2006

Grade level: PreK- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Temptation

Synopsis: Pinkalicious eats so many pink cupcakes the day before, she wakes up completely pink! She is pink from head to toe and very happy about it. At the doctor, she is told she cannot eat anything pink and instead eat green food. Even after being chased by bees at the park, Pinkalicious still wants to eat more pink cupcakes. She then turns red! She starts to eat green foods after turning red and goes back to normal.

Personal response: This book is a good way to teach students about resisting temptation. Although this book is very fictional, it shows how Pinkalicious didn't resist eating more cupcakes and behind her mother's back. It can sometimes be hard for students to understand why they can't have all of something, like candy, and this book might help!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imu24G_ZTek

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Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

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There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro

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There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro

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Author: Lucille Colandro
Illustrator: Jared Lee

Publisher: Scholastic

Date: December 1, 2003

Grade level: PreK- 1st grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Winter

Synopsis: A cold lady is swallowing all sorts of things, such as snow, coal, a pipe, a scarf, a branch, and a hat. All throughout the author asks if we might know why she swallowed each of these items. At the end, the cold lady hiccups twice and out of her mouth pops a snowman!

Personal response: This book is really silly and would be great to read to students during the colder months. I think children would find this very funny and definitely know why she was swallowing each item by the second or third item!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buGDbGjcP-4&t=10s

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There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro

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Author: Lauren Holowaty
Illustrator: EOne

Publisher: Scholastic

Date: April 6, 2021

Grade level: PreK- Kindergarten

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Calmness

Synopsis: Peppa and friends go to yoga and learn how yoga can be used to calm down. Miss Rabbit teaches the children different yoga poses and the children feel so calm they fall asleep!

Personal response: I think this book would be fun to read in a preschool or kindergarten classroom before having the children try yoga poses of their own! Warrior, tree, and downward dog poses would be so fun!

Source: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CCIUncmu6uY

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Pete The Cat Screams for Ice Cream by Kimberly and James Dean

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Pete The Cat Screams for Ice Cream by Kimberly and James Dean

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Author: Kimberly and James Dean
Illustrator: James Dean

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: June 4, 2024

Grade level: PreK- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Kindness, friendship

Synopsis: Pete is so excited for the ice cream truck to come! He runs to find the truck, when Gus is seen looking lonely. Pete decides to spend time with him and talk, even if it means he might miss the ice cream truck. Grumpy Toad has a problem with his motorcycle and Pete lends another hand! Callie recieves help from Pete cleaning up the park. He is worried about the time, but to his surprise, he was just in time for the ice cream truck!

Personal response: What a cute book about friendship! I love how each animal friend had a different problem and Pete was able to spread kindness to brighten each of their days.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdzB3rxiyVE

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Pete The Cat Screams for Ice Cream by Kimberly and James Dean

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Author: Jennifer Jones
Illustrator: Jennifer Jones

Publisher: Random Source

Date: June 28, 2021

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Respect

Synopsis: The chairs are unhappy about the way they are treated, such as smelling stinky feet and farts. One day, they had enough and went on strike. They wrote letters to tell the class why they are on strike and ask for respect, which they receive from the children.

Personal response: I think this book would be great to read students when teaching about persuasive writing. The chairs are very persuasive and communicate clearly what they ask of the class!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2lPsxyO9XM

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Author: Devorah Petty
Illustrator: Mike Boldt

Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Date: January 2, 2024

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Trust

Synopsis: A dog shares who to trust and how to interact with others they see each day. Trusting people, your nose, the fire hydrant, and more is okay. But most importantly, do not trust cats!

Personal response: I think students would find this book humorous! There was a part about not trusting intruders at the door, which were just girl scouts. I would like this book in my classroom!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pVbx2PUVYo

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Children's Books Read Aloud | 😺Don't Trust Cats | Lessons From A Dog🐶

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Don't Let the Pigeon Eat Chocolate by Mo Willems

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Don't Let the Pigeon Eat Chocolate by Mo Willems

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Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Mo Willems

Publisher: Scholastic

Date: January 1, 2009

Grade level: PreK- 1st grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Resisting temptation

Synopsis: A pigeon begs and begs for chocolate. He says many other pigeons have eaten chocolate and that he isn't asking for much despite being told no many, many times.

Personal response: This book is cute but I think the message of resisting temptation could be modeled better! I wish that the pigeon wasn't only told no, but also told a reason for why he can't have any chocolate.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwxUgkMIc74

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Don't Let the Pigeon Eat Chocolate | Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App ( Kids Books Read Aloud )

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Author: Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: September 22, 1999

Grade level: Preschool

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Comparing and contrasting

Synopsis: Animals share physical things they do, such as an elephant stomping and a giraffe bending their neck. A human then models how they can do it as well.

Personal response: I think it would be to read this book to young students and then ask them if they can do it! It could be kind of a game like Simon Says.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJz1gWTgGko

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Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni by Marilyn Sadler

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Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni by Marilyn Sadler

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Author: Marilyn Sadler
Illustrator: Lucie Crovatto

Publisher: Blue Apple Books

Date: July 1, 2023

Grade level: PreK- 1st grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Trying new foods

Synopsis: Tony Baroni is obsessed with buttered macaroni and cheese. It is all he likes to eat everyday. Tony's Nonna cooks a variety of delicious pasta dishes for Tony, but he refuses and only wants macaroni and cheese. Until one day, Tony decides he has had enough macaroni and starts eating pizza with tomatoes and peas.

Personal response: This book would be interesting to have in the classroom. I think students who are picky eaters might relate to this book and many students would find his macaroni obsession funny. The YouTube channel I watched this read-aloud on is from Vooks, I would highly reccommend!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMZvxbKIV3k

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Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni by Marilyn Sadler

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Author: Will Hillenbrand
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand

Publisher: Children's Board Books

Date: January 2, 2012

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Spring, friendship

Synopsis: Mole wakes up excited for spring. He runs to Bear's door, but he is still sleepy from hibernation. Mole gets a special treat to wake up Bear.

Personal response: I would like to read this books to my student's to teach them about the season's, specifically spring! I also like how it is two different species of animals sharing a friendship.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKAyvvJwG8U

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Author: David Cunliffe
Illustrator: Ivan Barrera

Publisher: Bedtime Press

Date: August 14, 2023

Grade level: PreK- Kindergarten

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Things are not always as they seem

Synopsis: A lizard is relaxing when some poops fall on his head. He goes through asking all of animal friends if they pooped on him. It is revealed that a bird holding an ice cream cone just dripped some on his head. At the end of the story, a bird really does poop on his head.

Personal response: This book is so silly! I think young students would enjoy reading this and find it very hilarious.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txSsFiVA0tY

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Author: Dara Goldman
Illustrator: Dara Goldman

Publisher: Troll Communication

Date: January 1, 1996

Grade level: PreK- 1st grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Hard work

Synopsis: The three little pigs, Pokey, Lazy, and Will, each build houses. The big, bad wolf blew down Pokey and Lazy's homes, as each had built homes as quick as possible and didn't consider sturdiness. The house that took the longest to build, Will's house, was the sturdiest and the big, bad wolf could not blow it down.

Personal response: This classic story teaches a wonderful lesson about hard work! This version of the three little pigs would be great for early education classrooms because none of the pigs are eaten or die.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN-73zQtNC0

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If You Think There's Nothing To Do by Dr. Seuss

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If You Think There's Nothing To Do by Dr. Seuss

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Author: Dr. Suess
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Date: January 2, 2024

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction/poetry

Theme: Creativity

Synopsis: Dr. Suess rhymes and brainstorms ideas for children to do when they are bored. There are so many fun things to do!

Personal response: I would like to read this book to my students before they leave for summer break to give them some ideas of activities they can do when they are home!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taZIYvYOqcU

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If You Think There's Nothing To Do by Dr. Seuss

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: James Ransome

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: August 1, 2017

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Realistic fiction

Theme: The Great Migration, family, tradition

Synopsis: A granddaughter shares the story of a rope that is passed down and utilized within her family for generations. Her grandmother first found the rope under a tree in South Carolina, used to transport belongs to Brooklyn when her family moved to Brooklyn, used as a jump rope by her mother, used for a game by her uncles, used by her dad to teach her how to tie knots, and more.

Personal response: This book would be interesting to read to students when they learn about the Great Migration. The rope symbolizes the granddaughters families resistance through challenging times.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN_LjwRIFL0

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The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson

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The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Leo Espinosa

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: May 10, 2022

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Joy, summertime

Synopsis: Children play many fun games and enjoy the simple joys of summer! When the kids are called home by their mothers at the end of the day, they leave excited for what they will do and play tomorrow.

Personal response: I would love to read students this book at the end of the year to get them excited about summer! I also learned some new games that students might be interested in by reading this book.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak6lcfy_sjk

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The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: October 17, 2013

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: New baby, family, change

Synopsis: Gia's mom is pregnant and Gia deals with a variety of emotions now that a new baby is joining her family. She feels frustrated that everyone is talking about the new baby all of the time, mad about how her family will change, and she feels alone. Her mom supports her by saying she will miss the days of just the two of them too and they will get to tell the new baby all about it.

Personal response: I think many students could relate to this book and the feelings Gia has about getting a new sibling. Gia might be able to help other students put into words how they feel about a big family change.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlv3v7-3RnQ

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: October 2, 2012

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Impact of kindness

Synopsis: Maya is a new girl at school and Chloe and her friends are mean to her. They do not smile back at her, always say no to playing with her, make fun of her clothes, and deny being friends with her. After learning about kindness, Chloe feels badly about the way she treated Maya. Chloe isn't able to make it up to Maya because Maya's family moved away before she could apologize.

Personal response: I think this book is impactful because the main character, Emma, is unkind to Maya. It is important for students to understand how their actions can impact others and that words can be hurtful.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi2pQJdMc9M

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The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

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The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael López

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: January 4, 2022

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Imagination

Synopsis: Two siblings learn a lesson from their grandmother, who teaches them that their imaginations can help them overcome obstacles they face. The two siblings "fly" and they used their imaginations to overcome rainy days, loneliness, and moving away.

Personal response: I would love having this book in my classroom to teach students how powerful their imaginations can be! It would be fun to read this book if I lived in an area that had harsher weather causing recess to be indoors.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIyxqKS0wqk

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The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: January 15, 2001

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Friendship, overcoming prejudice

Synopsis: Clover, an African American little girl, and Annie, a white little girl, spend days looking at each other across a fence that separates the black and white communities in their area. They find ways to go against their mothers rules and become friends, ignoring the segregation symbolized by the fence between them. They know that one day the fence will be knocked down.

Personal response: This is such a sweet book that teaches children about friendship and how segregation used to occur between white and black people. The fence used to symbolize segregation is a clear example even very young students will understand.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csay6Kv_q2U

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Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tontiuh

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Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tontiuh

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Author: Duncan Tontiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tontiuh

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Date: March 1, 2010

Grade level: PreK- 2nd

Genre: Realistic fiction

Theme: Extended family, culture, connection

Synopsis: Carlitos and Charlie are cousins who live in different countries. Charlie lives in America and Carlitos lives in Mexico. They write letters back and forth comparing and contrasting their lives. At the end of the book, the cousins have the idea to visit each other!

Personal response: I would love having this book in my classroom. I think many students could relate to having family who live far from their homes.

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/59840

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Read Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin on Epic

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Read Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin on Epic

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Instantly access Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

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Author: Adam Rubin
Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri

Publisher: Dial Books

Date: June 14, 2012

Grade level: PreK- Kindergarten

Genre: Fantasy

Theme: Planning

Synopsis: Dragons love tacos, but hate spicy foods. If they eat a spicy sauce or topping, their ears will smoke and they will blow flames. Dragons also like parties and games. Dragons especially love taco parties. At the taco party, the party host forgot to read the fine print on the mild salsa and the spiciness made the dragons burn the house down.

Personal response: Silly book to read to young children! Really cute.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7TY3D4mqL8

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 

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Author: Katherine Applegate

Illustrator: Patricia Castelao

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Book

Date: January 17, 2012

Grade level: 3rd- 6th grade

Genre: Animal fantasy

Theme: Identity and friendship

Synopsis: Ivan, the gorilla, lives in captivity at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall. Stella, Bob, and eventually Ruby join him in captivity. Ivan begins to question his life and the condition him and his friends live in. With the help of Julia and George, he paints murals to spread awareness and get him and his friends out of the mall and into better homes.

Personal response: I am so glad I was able to read this book! This book was so popular when I was younger but I never read it. In the classroom, this book would be great to get students thinking about the treatment of animals in society.

Source: Library

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

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Author: Ann Clare LeZotte

Publisher: Scholastic

Date: March 3, 2020

Grade level: 5th- 8th grade

Genre: Realistic/historical fiction

Theme: Transforming through forced journey, finding self, community

Synopsis: Mary, a deaf, 11 year old girl living in Massachusetts in 1805. Her brothers passes, her family and other deaf people in their community experience prejudice against them, Mary is kidnapped, and many other life-changing events occur.

Personal response: Wow, this book was interesting! This book held my attention so well and I believe others would feel the same.

Source: Library

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Author: Antwan Eady
Illustrator: Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Date: January 30, 2024

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Determination, tradition, family

Synopsis: A young boy helps his Papa with the produce stand he owns. They have a routine of harvesting and collecting eggs together every Sunday, and the stand has many regular customers from the community. When Papa gets sick, the young boy collects treats, like jam and pies, as get well soon wishes from the community. Instead of harvesting one Saturday, his family gathers and has a meal together.

Personal response: The Last Stand is a really sweet book. I would love to have this in my classroom for students to read!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1btcO39iSg

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Author: Cube Kid
Illustrator: Saboten

Publisher: Andrew McMeel Publishing

Date: May 30, 2017

Grade level: 2nd- 6th grade

Genre: Science fiction

Theme: Adventure, dreams

Synopsis: Runt, a young Minecraft villager, dreams of becoming a warrior like Steve. Him and his friends train, battle, and experience adventures on his journey to becoming a warrior.

Personal response: I do not know much about Minecraft but I still enjoyed this book! Would be a great book for students who like gaming.

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/32495

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

I enjoyed reading this book. This animal fantasy book was very popular when I was younger, but I never got the chance to read it until now. I was invested in Ivan's experiences, friendships, and journey to freedom. The captivity Ivan, Stella, Ruby, and Bob endure is eye opening and moving.

I think this novel is an effective learning tool for teaching empathy and compassion, as those themes are modeled throughout the chapters. Additionally, the journey map strategy is very effective to allow students to model their comprehension of a text.

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Title: The Cats in Krasinski Square

Personal response: I enjoyed reading this book and learning about life during World War 2. I think the illustrations and colors do a wonderful job portraying the feelings of the story. The two sisters should great courage and reading this book was very inspirational.

Academic value: This book is a great historical fiction to teach students about life for Jewish people in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War 2. I believe students will find this book interesting, informative, and clever.

Effectiveness of visual representation activity: I think this activity is great for students to model their comprehension of literature. I would definitely implement this activity in my classroom!

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The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse

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The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse

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Author: Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Wendy Watson

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Date: September 1, 2004

Grade level: 3rd- 5th

Genre: Historical fiction

Theme: Courage, bravery

Synopsis: Two sisters plan, among others, to smuggle food through the cracks in the wall and to the Warsaw Ghetto. Their plan forms when they observe cats walking back and forth from cracks in the walls. The sisters become aware that the Gestapo knows of their plan and are planning to bring dogs to sniff out the smuggled food. The sisters and others pack cats in their satchels. The Gestapo's dogs are distracted by the cats and the food is able to be transported

Personal response: This story is written based on a true story. A great historical fiction to tell a little about life for Jewish children during World War 2!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJjnTaMqOI

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The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse

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The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella by Rebecca Hickox 

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The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella by Rebecca Hickox 

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Author: Rebecca Hickox

Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand

Publisher: Holiday House

Date: January 1, 1998

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Fairy tale

Theme: Resilience, kindness

Synopsis: Maha is treated as a maid by her stepmom and sister. One day, Maha's father brings home four fish. One of the fish, a red one, asks Maha to spare his life, mentioning Allah will reward her and he will come to her whenever she needs help. He provides her with her wish, to attend a brides henna. As she leaves the event, her sandal falls over a bridge. Once the merchant's son sees the sandal, he knows he wants to marry the owner and they search until he finds her.

Personal response: I loved reading a middle eastern version of Cinderella!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fov7U4FGqI0

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The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella by Rebecca Hickox

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The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

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The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

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Author: Shirley Climo
Illustrator: Ruth Heller

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: February, 1992

Grade level: PreK- 3rd grade

Genre: Fairy tale

Theme: Resilience, kindness

Synopsis: Rhodopis is a slave who is treated badly by other girls. She shows kindness and dances for animals barefoot. Her master sees her talent and makes her a special pair of slippers. Fed up by the behavior of the other girls, the animals she dances for step in. The god, Horus, drops one of her slippers infront of the king. He wants to marry the owner of the slipper and searches and searches until her.

Personal response: I love the similarities and differences from the classic Cinderella I grew up with!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxCH4mO09RA

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The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

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Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes

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Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes

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Author: Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes
Illustrator: Sanjay Patel

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Date: September 7, 2012

Grade level: PreK- 1st grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Sharing, temptation, looking for positives in a negative situation

Synopsis: A Hindu myth is retold- Ganesha is tempted to eat a jawbreaker laddoo. In the process, he breaks his tusk. When he throws his tusk in the air out of frustration, it hits Vyasa. Vyasa asks Ganesha for his help writing the Mahabharata.

Personal response: I think children would love to learn about this Hindu myth! The colorful illustrations are very engaging.

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/73171

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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Date: August 28, 2014

Grade level: 5th- 6th grade

Genre: Poetry

Theme: Family, identity, belonging

Synopsis: We follow an African American girl, Jacqueline, as she grows up in the 1960s. As she grows up in Ohio and South Carolina, we see her explore her identity, family, and love for storytelling.

Personal response: I love how this book flows! So interesting and written beautifully! I learned so much about Jacqueline’s experience growing up in the 1960s.

Source: Albertson's Library Book

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Author: Charles R. Smith Jr.
Photographer: Charles R. Smith Jr.

Publisher: Cartwheel

Date: July 1, 2003

Grade level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Genre: Poetry

Theme: Diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds make up America.

Synopsis: Charles R. Smith Jr. celebrates the many faces that make up America by writing verses and including photographs of a variety of people.

Personal response: I think children would love to read this book and see similarities to themselves represented!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOLpoOqFVqI

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Author: J Roman Pérez Varela
Illustrator: Jose Ramirez

Publisher: Lil' Libros

Date: August 22, 2023

Grade level: PreK- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Hard work, family love

Synopsis: A son tells the story of his fathers daily life as a farm worker, emphasizing the sacrifice, hard work, and dedication his father shows to support his family.

Personal response: Wonderful, authentic book for children to learn about hard working field workers.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjP8i5dmyXg&t=2s

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The Pirate Kids: The Great Treasure Hunt

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The Pirate Kids: The Great Treasure Hunt

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Author: Johanna Gohmann

Illustrator: Jessica von Innerebner

Publisher: Magic Wagon

Date: December 15, 2017

Grade level: Kindergarten- 2nd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Sibling relationships, teamwork

Synopsis: Siblings Piper and Percy can't seam to get along. When their mom gives them a treasure map to set out on an adventure, they rip the map in half. As they work together to follow the map, they realize the real treasure is in their friendship.

Personal response: Wonderful, short chapter book to teach children the importance of friendship and teamwork.

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/65305

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Get unlimited access to 40,000 of the best books, audiobooks, videos, & more for kids 12 and under. Try it free.

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Author: Lea Taddonio
Illustrator: Hatem Aly

Publisher: Magic Wagon

Date: September 1, 2017

Grade level: 4th- 5th grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Dealing with hate, friendship

Synopsis: Cadence, a newly successful pop star, is getting ready for a huge show when she sees someone created a hateful diss track about her singing. Her and her friends work through her feelings and remember their loving friendship is more important than hate.

Personal response: This would be a great chapter book to teach students about dealing with hate comments on social media! Some students in 5th grade might have social media, and teaching how to deal with negativity online is very important.

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/59269

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Unicorn Island Book 1: The Secret of Lost Luck

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Unicorn Island Book 1: The Secret of Lost Luck

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Author: Donna Galanti
Illustrator: Bethany Stancliffe

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Date: February 9, 2021

Grade level: 3rd- 6th grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Moving, nerve-wracking adventures

Synopsis: This chapter book is the first of a series of three, following Sam as she faces a new adventure. Her mother is a musician and gets a new gig touring Europe for two months. However, Sam has to spend the summer with her Uncle Mitch, who was not expecting her. She feels nervous and doesn't know what to expect.

Personal response: This book is very relatable for students who move frequently or live with family members other than their parents. Explains feelings of unfamiliar and new experiences well!

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/71547

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Get unlimited access to 40,000 of the best books, audiobooks, videos, & more for kids 12 and under. Try it free.

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Author: Cece Bell

Illustrator: David Lasky

Publisher: Abrams Fanfare

Date: September 2, 2014

Grade level: 4- 6th grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Self-acceptance, communication, friendship

Synopsis: Cece struggles to accept herself as she navigates life with hearing devices, after her hearing is effected at a young age. She goes through ups and downs at school, in her neighborhood, and at home. She works through challenges of relationship building and communication.

Personal response: This is an amazing book for children with experiences like Cece's and children without any hearing complications. The book truly illustrates Cece's emotions and experiences!

Source: https://www.getepic.com/book/54572322/el-deafo

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. Get Started

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Author: Christina Soontornvat

Illustrator: Isabel Roxas

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Date: September 3, 2024

Grade level: PreK- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Voting and elections

Synopsis: Young Leo faces excitement and nerves as he experiences a pretend election in his class and his father voting in the real election. He learns the importance of a single vote!

Personal response: I think this is an amazing vote to introduce children to elections!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9QnM8_pQ2s

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Author: Carole Lindstrom

Illustrator: Steph Littlebird

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Date: March 21, 2023

Grade level: PreK- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Strength, self-expression, and family history within Indigenous culture

Synopsis: The main character goes through life and explains what powerful messages his ancestors say about his hair. Their experiences are woven into their hair as it grows.

Personal response: This is a great book for expanding students knowledge on Indigenous culture. The book has beautiful images throughout.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAjUYW2mTbY

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Author: Christopher Nicolas

Illustrator: Drew-Brooke-Cormack

Publisher: McClanahan Book Co.

Date: May 1, 1999

Grade level: PreK- 1st grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Daily life on a farm

Synopsis: Milo, the dog, walks around the farm completing his morning routine. He checks out each area on the farm to see what the animals and farm owners are doing.

Personal response: This is a fun book for young children to learn about farms, animals, the noises each animal makes, and functions of a farm. I would include this book in my classroom!

Source: https://www.getepic.com/app/read/60895

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Author: Andrea Beaty

Illustrator: David Roberts

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Date: September 6, 2016

Grade level: 3rd grade+

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Celebrating curiosity (STEM focused)

Synopsis: Main character Ada Twist deals with chaos at school and at home as she navigates her curiosity about the world. She wants to know why, what, how, when, and then why once more.

Personal response: I think this story would be great to introduce the scientific method to young children. It shows Ada Twist questioning different things in her life, making hypotheses, and experimenting.

Curricular connections: STEM

Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAmEQ2deJQQ

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: Rafael López

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Date: August 28, 2018

Grade level: K- 3rd grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Diversity and acceptance

Synopsis: Tells the story of Angela and Rigoberto beginning school. Both children feel like outsiders, but they learn to embrace uniqueness and find connections with others.

Personal response: I really enjoyed this book by Jacqueline Woodson. It made me think how about first days can feel so different for each of us. Both children and adults can have difficult first days, whether it be school, work, moving, starting a new club, etc.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5kietxyxM

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Be Your Own Best Friend Forever by Gary Robinson

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Be Your Own Best Friend Forever by Gary Robinson

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Author: Gary Robinson

Illustrator: Gary Robinson

Publisher: 7th Generation/Native Voices Books

Date: April 27, 2021

Grade level: 4th grade+

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Self-esteem

Synopsis: Main character Jayla focuses on self-love and embracing her heritage as she navigates ignoring negative self-talk and peer pressure.

Personal response: I really like this book! I have never read a children's book on this topic before. There are many adult versions of self-love books, its awesome there are children's versions as well!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62vDZBDUGhU

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Be Your Own Best Friend Forever by Gary Robinson