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Author: Corey R. Tabor
Illustrator: Corey R. Tabor
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date: March 29, 2022
# of Pages: 72 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: 1 - 5
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Adventure, Bravery, Friendship
Summary: This book is about Sir Ladybug who is on a quest to save a caterpillar from a monster. Sir Ladybug and his friends embark on a fun journey saving their community in the dandelion patch.
Personal Response: This book is a very fun read and a graphic novel! It is fun and exciting to follow along with. The characters are relatable and inspiring for young read.
Activity: I would use this book as a part of my classroom library. This book is perfect for independent readers who are looking for more exciting books and it is part of a series.

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Author: Terry Catasús Jennings
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Date: June 14, 2022
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Community Support, Immigration
Summary: This book features the Esperanza family who make their house a center for help for new immigrants. As a immigrant family themselves they do everything they can to make their home a safe place in a new land. This book explores the immigrant journey of finding comfort in a new country.
Personal Response: This book is a very inspiring read! This story gives great perspective into the immigrant journey and the importance of building community. I was able to relate to the feeling of a common safe place because my grandparents house feels like a safe place for all my family.
Activity: I would use this book as a chance to teach students about building community. I would read this book aloud and have a discussion with students about the importance of building a classroom community.

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Author: Amina Luqman-Dawson
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date: February 1, 2022
# of Pages: 416 pages
Visual Elements: Illustrated Cover
Grade Level: 3 - 4
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Escaping Slavery, Finding Freedom
Summary: This book is about Homer a slave living in a Southerland Plantation with his sister Ada. Homer and Ada flee their plantation is hopes of finding freedom. In doing so they find the secret Freewater community of formerly enslaved people and Homer starts to plot the rescue of his still enslaved mother.
Personal Response: This book is a very good read. The story is very impactful and informative. I was able to learn more about communities of formerly enslaved people and how they came to be during Slavery.
Activity: I would use this book to teach students more about the communities of formerly slaves who had escaped their capture.

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Author: Oriane Smith
Illustrator: Alice Gravier
Publisher: Milky Way
Date: June 21, 2022
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 4
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Different Perspectives, Nature
Summary: This book is presents nature using two different perspectives. The illustrations are very detailed and give the readers insight into different experiences within nature such as a sunrise or a mountaintop.
Personal Response: This book is a very fun read! The different perspectives make this book very exciting for readers and is a fun twist. I loved getting to explore nature in a new way.
Activity: I would use this book as a example of perspectives and how they affected what we read. This book would showcase the differences that can come from different perspectives.

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Author: Jessie Sima
Illustrator: Jessie Sima
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Date: March 29, 2022
# of Pages: 48 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship, Positivity
Summary: This book is about a pegasus named Nimbus who is looking for friends. The sky is a lonely place and Nimbus decides to search for a fallen star to find more friends. On the way she finds new friendships she didn't know were possible.
Personal Response: I was drawn to this book because of the cute cover and ideas. This book is a fun and cute story to read.
Activity: I would use this book to get students interested in reading on their own. I would use this book in my class library for students to read in their free time.

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Author: Jessie Ann Foley
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Date: July 12, 2022
# of Pages: 256 pages
Visual Elements: Illustrated Cover
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Family, Solving Mysteries
Summary: This book is Breda who gets sent to Ireland after stealing to live with her Grandfather. Her grandfather is a Gaelic storyteller and her family is full of secrets. Throughout her time Breda learns to love Ireland and the art of Gaelic storytelling while discovering her family secrets along the way.
Personal Response: This book is a very fun read! It gave me a better perspective on the art of Gaelic storytelling and the role it played in Irelands culture. This book is very exciting and kept me on my toes throughout!
Activity: I would use this book as a part of my classroom library for students to read. This book was a very fun read for me and I would use it to help get students interested in reading.

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Author: Colin Meloy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date: September 13, 2022
# of Pages: 336 pages
Visual Elements: Illustrated Cover
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Suspense, Horror
Summary: This book takes place in the town Seaham where Archie and his friends start to notice suspicious things happening after an old cliff was opened for the first time in years. Things start to get strange in the town and this group of friends is determined to find the source of this new evil.
Personal Response: I loved the twists and turns taken in this book! The book explored an intriguing mystery that sends a chill down your spine. This book reminded me of the Stranger Things series and was a fun read.
Activity: I would use this book as a part of my classroom library. It would be a fun read for students who enjoy mysteries and scary books.

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Author: Alice B. McGinty
Illustrator: David Roberts
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Date: February 8, 2022
# of Pages: 48 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 1
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Family, Overcoming Challenges
Summary: This book is all about a family preparing for their Grandma to come visit by finishing their chore list. One of the chores they have to do is bathe the cat. This book takes you on the journey of this family attempting to finish their chores and bathe the cat!
Personal Response: This book is a very fun read! The book is great for emergent readers and is also very fun to read. It is simple, but still inviting and exciting. I related to having problems trying to finish a chore list before Grandma comes over.
Activity: I would use this book as a read aloud because it includes rhyming and repeated words. This book would be a great read aloud for emergent readers.

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Author: Karen Romano Young
Illustrator: Angela Hsieh
Publisher: What on Earth Books
Date: April 19, 2022
# of Pages: 64 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: 5 - 8
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Climate Change, Nature
Summary: This book is all about Antarctica's history, animals, and future. It breaks down what lead to the creation of Antarctica and how scientists are studying climate change using the ice cores found here.
Personal Response: This book is a very informative read! It includes helpful illustrations that give good context to the information and talks about climate change in a very helpful way. I loved getting to explore Antarctica in a fun book!
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about climate change. We could explore why climate change is happening and what it will change.

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Author: Bernette Ford
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
Publisher: Holiday House
Date: May 3, 2022
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Community, Family, Nature
Summary: This book is about a girl visiting her uncle in the city.  Her siblings and her join the Uncle in cultivating a garden exploding with amazing fruits and vegetables. This book focuses on the detail the girl has when farming in the gardening.
Personal Response: This book is a very interesting story! It is not only very informative about plant life cycles, but it is a fun story about a family's love for one another. I was able to connect with the family farming together because I have fond memories of working in the garden with my siblings.
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about the life cycle of plants and what goes into farming them.

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We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know 

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We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know 

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Author: Traci Sorell
Illustrator:  Frane Lessac
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Date: April 20, 2021
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Justice, Community, Determination
Summary: This book is about the experience of Native Americans in the past, present, and future within the United States. It dives into topics that haven't always been taught in school of forced assimilation, land allotment, reservations, and etc. All while connecting to the theme that Native Americans are still here fighting for their rights and justice.
Personal Response: I was drawn to this book because of the powerful cover. This book gave me great insight into topics I had learned in school at surface level. This book really dives into the topics it discusses and gives good perspective on the Native American experience in the U.S. I loved the use of illustrations in this book as well as it really added to the meaning.
Activity: I would use this book to have a conservation with my students about Native Americans and the injustice they have faced and that they still face today. This book covers very important topics in an informative and straight-forward way that makes it easy for students to understand.

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Author: Ray Anthony Shepard
Illustrator:  Keith Mallett
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Date: January 5, 2021
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Paintings, Fabric Collage
Grade Level: 1 - 2
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Escaping Slavery, Freedom
Summary: This book is about Ona Judge (her real name was Oney) who was enslaved by George and Martha Washington. She was important part of their household growing up alongside their grandchildren and known for her skills as a seamstress. This book explores why she ran away from her life of enslavement because on the outside her life seemed better than most other slaves.
Personal Response: I was drawn to this book because it is a poem. The poem really adds to the overall feeling of her powerful story told in the book. This book also gave me better insight into slavery and how engraved it became within our society. Oney's story is told beautifully by this book.
Activity: I would use this book to have a conservation with my students about slavery. This book could be used to introduce what helped lead up to the Civil Rights Movement. Students could be introduced into why slavery was unjust and the steps taken to free those who were enslaved starting at the beginning with those who fled.

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Author: LeUyen Pham
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Date: January 5, 2021
# of Pages: 48 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 1
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Theme: Community, Fear, Change
Summary: This book is about a girl and her cat who observe the ever-changing world from their window. This book takes place during the height of COVD-19 pandemic when our world changed. They watched as people went inside and the world became quiet. This book documents how our world changed and how we grew closer together as a community.
Personal Response: I was drawn to this book because of the topic. The pandemic can be a controversial topic of conversation, but this book brings an important insight. It dives into the changes that happened in our communities. I was able to connect with the sudden change of not seeing friends and extended family because of the pandemic. This book allows us to reflect on the scary times during the pandemic when we were stuck inside.
Activity: I would use this book to have a conservation with my students about the pandemic and how our world changed. This book is simple for young students to understand and would help give important insight into something that forever changed our lives.

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Odd Beasts: Meet Nature's Weirdest Animals

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Odd Beasts: Meet Nature's Weirdest Animals

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Author: Laura Gehl
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Date:  November 2, 2021
# of Pages: 22 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 1
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Celebrating Nature, Odd Animals
Summary: This book is about the crazy animals of our world. It uses techniques such as rhyming verses and repetition to help readers easily follow along. The end of the book contains further details and pictures of the animals mentioned throughout the book.
Personal Response: I was drawn to this book because of the animals explored within it. I hadn't learned about a few of this interesting creatures, so it was a fun read! I loved how informative this book also was at the end with additional facts and pictures. This book is great for emergent readers and contains great information!
Activity: I would use this book to interest emergent readers in reading. Young students love animals, especially animals that are unique, so this book would be a great way to hook their interest into reading.

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Author: Shawn Harris
Illustrator: Shawn Harris
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Date: May 4, 2021
# of Pages: 48 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Collage Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - Kindergarten
Genre: Picture Book
Theme: Celebrating Nature, Childhood
Summary: This book has a very simple message of looking for the beauty in nature that surrounds us. It shows the wonders of getting to run through a vibrant field of flowers and getting to explore nature as child. It also shows the contrast between the gray city life and the vibrant nature that is just outside of our view.
Personal Response: I was drawn to this book by the amazing cover! This book contains very beautiful illustrations and has an amazing message. The illustrations really gave the meaning within this book. Not only were the illustrations stunning but the message itself is beautiful. It teaches students to explore and celebrate the beautiful nature all around us. It teaches students to be more mindful about the little things in life, just like flowers.
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about flowers and the importance they have for their ecosystems. I would have students explore different flower species for themselves and create an illustration of their unique flower.

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Except Antarctica: A Hilarious Animal Picture Book for Kids

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Except Antarctica: A Hilarious Animal Picture Book for Kids

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Author: Todd Sturgell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
Date: July 6, 2021
# of Pages: 30 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Determination, Adventure
Summary: This book is about a turtle that is determined to make it to Antarctica after being told that it is one place they cannot go. The turtle finds other animals to embark on this journey together and they go all across the globe exploring different places in an attempt to make it to Antarctica. Eventually they make it to Antarctica only to find out they don't know what to do once they arrive.
Personal Response: This book contains a lot of great information about animals and different geographical areas. It is not only a very funny book, but a very informational book. I loved the stubbornness of the turtle in the book and the determination it showed.
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about different habitats. This book explores different habitats and animals from these areas. All the animals attempting to go with the turtle aren't from the Artic habitat so this book would help teach students why animals habitats are important for their survival.

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Author: Tricia Elam Walker
Illustrator: Ekua Holmes
Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books
Date: November 16, 2021
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Collage Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Hope, Dreams, Community
Summary: This book is about Dream Street, a neighborhood street that is full of joy and hope. The book explores different characters that live and prosper on dream street from different generations. It explores the importance of community and having hope.
Personal Response: This book contains very beautiful illustrations and has an amazing message. The characters in this book give you hope for the future and are beacons of light. The illustrations within the book are made out of collages which look so beautiful in the book. There is one illustration in particular that is an outline of a face with butterflies surrounding it and it really inspired me. I loved how this book shines the light on beauty within community!
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about creating a classroom community like the community within this book. I would teach students the importance of having joy and hope for each other and to inspire others to follow their dreams. I would want my classroom to become a 'dream street' for my students.

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Author: Carrie Finison
Illustrator: Daniel Wiseman
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Date: January 26, 2021
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Body Autonomy, Respect
Summary: This book is about a normal kid named Doug who simply does not like hugs. Personally he prefers to give high fives, or some kind of variation of a high five, rather than hugs. This book explores why it is okay that Doug doesn't like hugs and why we should ask for permission before hugging someone.
Personal Response: This book is an important read for students! It teaches them about body autonomy and respect in a fun way. Doug provides a good example to students of what body autonomy looks like and why it is important. I was able to connect with Doug because I also am not a big fan of hugs. If I would've been shown a book like this when I was younger I could've learned much earlier in life the importance of body autonomy (even when it comes to simple hugs).
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about respecting each other and asking for consent. I would teach students that not everybody is comfortable giving hugs, and that's okay, so we need to ask permission to not make them uncomfortable.

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Author: Yuyi Morales
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Date: September 7, 2021
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Hand-embroidered lettering, painting, sketching, digital paintings
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Journey of Life, Courage, Hope
Summary: This book is about a fawn making her way through life starting at her birth. The fawn has to overcome dangerous obstacles in her desert home and challenge her fears. The fawn explores the beauty that surrounds her and has the courage to explore her full potential despite her fears.
Personal Response: This book is a very beautiful read! The story is inspiring and very beautifully done. It teaches students to feel empowered in themselves and their abilities. It showcases that it is okay to be scared but that being scared shouldn't hold us back from trying new things. The art style is this book is also very unique as the words look like they have been hand-embroidered within the book. This book also includes words in Spanish allowing it to be used for Translanguaging for students that speak Spanish as a first language.
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about exploring their full potential and to live life to the fullest. I could have my Spanish speaking students help pronounce and define the Spanish words within this book. This would offer them a unique opportunity to share part their primary language.

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Author: C. G. Esperanza
Illustrator: C. G. Esperanza
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Date: August 10, 2021
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Graffiti Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Graffiti, Art, Celebrating Community
Summary: In this book the city is alive and beautifully decorated with graffiti art, but everyone seems to ignore the marvels of this city. Except for the kids in this city who make it there mission to share the art of their city to their community through dance.
Personal Response: This book is an important read for students! It teaches them to take the time to appreciate the art that surrounds us. It teaches students to find joy in their communities and to celebrate the beauty that brings us together!
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about graffiti art and how impactful it can be. I would use Freak Alley as an example to share with students. We could explore some of the important pieces and the meanings they hold.

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Author:  Reem Faruqi
Illustrator: Fahmida Azim
Publisher: Holiday House
Date: April 13, 2021
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Colorful Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Celebrating your Heritage, Finding Balance
Summary: In this book Amira is getting ready to celebrate Eid with her family. She is excited to stay at home and attend the family festivities when she realizes that it is the same day as her school picture day. Her family comes up with a creative solution to help Amira attend picture day on their ride home.
Personal Response: This book was such a fun read! I have never heard of Eid before and it was interesting to explore this tradition. The illustrations in this book covers the whole page of each page and is beautiful. It really adds to the story overall.
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about the importance of celebrating their unique heritage.

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Author:   Raúl the Third III
Illustrator:  Raúl the Third III
Publisher: Versify
Date: October 12, 2021
# of Pages: 48 pages
Visual Elements: Drawn Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Community, Dual-language
Summary: In this book there are two cities that are connected together by a bridge. This bridge is used everyday to connect people and families together from both cities. Lobo and his dog are trying to make a very special delivery and are stuck because the bridge is busy. They must find a way to pass the time with all the other people stuck with them.
Personal Response: This book was such an interesting read. It includes both English and Spanish! It was very easy to understand and fun to get to read the book with the inclusion of both languages. I have a small understanding of Spanish from High School so I was able to connect to some of the language used within the book.
Activity: I would use this book to engage my multi-language learners who speak Spanish. This book would give them an opportunity to share part of their heritage with their class. I would have them teach the class how to say certain phrases and explain what they mean.

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Areli Is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient

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Areli Is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient

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Author: Areli Morales
Illustrator: Luisa Uribe
Publisher: Random House Studio
Date: June 8, 2021
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Drawn Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Chasing Dreams, Navigating a New City
Summary: In this book Areli's family had immigrated from Mexico to New York when she was a baby. She was able to join them when she was in kindergarten. Her life changed very quickly from the friends and family she was surrounded with to not being able to communicate with her classmates. This book explores her journey navigating a new life and exploring the possibilities it offered.
Personal Response: This book is an important read for students! It helps give them perspective on students that are new to not only a classroom but a country! It gives good insight into how hard and scary it can be to learn new cultural norms and a new language. I loved the art used in this book and the overall message about dreaming!
Activity: I would use this book to teach students about being inviting to new students. This book could teach students empathy for newcomers because it gives insight into how scary and challenging it can be to enter a new classroom and country.

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Author: Corey R. Tabor
Illustrator: Corey R. Tabor
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date: March 2, 2021
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Drawn Illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Emergent Readers, Overcoming Fear
Summary: This book details the journey of a fox throughout the night on the search for monsters. Throughout the book the fox learns that the monsters at night aren't as scary as he thought. This book uses basic language, repetition, and sight words to help early readers follow along.
Personal Response: This book is not only very easy to follow but has fun illustrations! The journey of the fox is interesting for students and the strategies used in the book help emergent readers comprehend the story. I loved how this book can help introduce students into reading.
Activity: I would use this book to have emergent readers practice reading. I would chorally read this with my students to have them practice reading.

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Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera 

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Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera 

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Author: Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Date: February 4, 2020
# of Pages: 40 pages
Visual Elements: Drawn Illustrations
Grade Level: 1 - 4
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Journey of Life as a Honeybee
Summary: This book details the incredible journey the honeybee takes throughout its life. It follows the journey of the bee, Apis, from becoming strong enough to fly to searching for nectar for the hive.
Personal Response: This book is not only very informative, but visually stunning! I loved the illustrations that make nature and the life of a honeybee truly come to life. I loved getting to learn more about the important bees and getting to see the beautiful process.
Activity: I would use this book to create a flow map about the life cycle of a honeybee. I would have students name their own bee and give them a chance to create their own story for their bee. Using the book as a model, students would have the ability to practice sequencing events.

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Author: Andrea Wang
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Date: March 30, 202
# of Pages: 32 pages
Visual Elements: Chinese Painting Techniques
Grade Level: Pre-school -3
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Theme: Family History, Exploring our Heritage
Summary: This book is about a young girl who is learning to explore her immigrant parents heritage and traditions. At first she is often embarrassed at some of the things they do, but throughout the book she learns to embrace the beauty of her heritage.
Personal Response: This book was a sweet and inspiring read. The visual elements in this book make it a beautiful story to read. I loved getting to explore this story and getting to explore the author's unique heritage.
Activity: I would use this book in a social studies unit about family history and honoring our heritage. I could have students explore their own family history and make connections to this story.

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Author: Alan Gratz
Publisher: Starscape
Date: May 1, 2018
# of Pages: 256 pages
Visual Elements: Illustrated Cover
Grade Level: 4-6
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Bravery, Standing up for what you believe in
Summary: This book is about Amy Anne and her journey of sharing the banned books of her school. Amy Anne helps overcome the bans and share the books regardless of their bans. This book explores the process of banning books and questions if it is fair to ban books.
Personal Response: This book was a very fun and unique book to read. It discussed the important topic of banning books in a fun and inviting way. It offers unique perspectives and a fun insight into the controversial topic.
Activity: I would use this book to have a discussion with my students on banning books. We would talk about why books are banned and if books should be banned.

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All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team

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All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team

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Author: Christina Soontornvat
Publisher: Candlewick
Date: October 13, 2020
# of Pages: 288 pages
Visual Elements: Pictures
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Genre: Non-fiction
Theme: Surviving, Finding Hope
Summary: This book is about the true story of a soccer team who got stranded in a cave. This story was a world story that involved a strategic rescue plan and a inspiring group of people. This book details how the team was rescued from the cave.
Personal Response: This book was a very powerful and exciting read. This story is not only incredible, but is a great example of overcoming adversity and hardships. I remember hearing about this story years ago and I wanted to read this book to get more context of the story. This book gave great insight into the bond of friendship between the Wild Boars and leadership of their Coach Ek.
Activity: I would use this book in a social studies unit about real world events. It would be fun to explore more photos of the event with students while reading the book.

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Planet Ocean: Why We All Need A Healthy Ocean

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Planet Ocean: Why We All Need A Healthy Ocean

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Author: Patricia Newman
Photographer: Annie Crawley
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
# of Pages: 64
Grade Level: 4-8
Genre: Nonfiction, Informative
Themes: Ocean life, Climate Change,
Summary: This book is all about the ocean and why it is necessary to our survival. It dives into the topic of climate change and the damage we have done to our ocean. It explores pollution and the negative effects it has had on ocean life. This book also introduces the steps we can take in protecting our oceans.
Personal Response: I really loved the pictures used in this book. It is very informative and fun for students to read!
Activity: This book could be a great way to teach students about ecosystems. This book dives deep into the ocean and the negative role we as humans have played in polluting our ocean. We could use this book to learn more about the ocean ecosystem and the effect humans have had on it.

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Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaiis Kamehameha Butterflies

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Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaiis Kamehameha Butterflies

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Author: Cindy Trumbore and Susan L. Roth
Collages created by: Susan L. Roth
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Date: February 8, 2021
# of Pages: 48
Visual Elements: Paper Collages
Grade Level: 2-3
Genre: Non-fiction
Theme: Conservation of Butterflies
Summary: This book is about the true story of two amazing species of butterflies native to Hawaii. It dives deep into the history of these butterflies and why their population is declining. The book includes the story of amazing individuals working to keep these species of butterflies flourishing in Hawaii.
Personal Response: The visuals used in this book are very beautiful and unique. The collages made from paper to create different textures and colors is an astonishing work of art. The beautiful artwork fits in perfectly with the amazing story of these butterflies. I loved getting to learn more about these species of butterflies and hearing the amazing efforts being taken to conserve them.
Activity: This book teaches about the declining population of these butterflies native to only Hawaii. I would use this book to talk about conservation and the importance of restoring native species to their habitats. This book could serve as a great example of how can we make a huge impact in a species life.

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Authors: Kelly Barnhill
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Date: August 9, 2016
# of Pages: 400
Visual Elements: Illustrated book cover
Grade Level: 5-9
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Kindness, Overcoming challenges
Summary: Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch, Xan, who lives in the forest. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. But as Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge — with dangerous consequences.
Personal Response: This book was an interesting read that kept me hooked all throughout. The characters are fun and interesting making the story a compelling read. The journey it takes you on is a good one. I was able to connect to the motherly love shared in this book!
Activity: This book could be used to help students get excited about reading! It could be recommended to students struggling to find books that keep them entertained.

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Authors: Margaret Read MacDonald and Nadia Jameel Taibah
Illustrator: Carol Liddiment
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Date: March 1, 2012
# of Pages: 32
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool -  3rd
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Counting, Problem-solving
Summary: This book is about Jouha who has to count his donkeys when he gets to the market. Jouha gets confused while counting and has to practice counting to get the correct number of donkeys.
Personal Response: This book was an interesting way to learn how to count to ten in Arabic. It is a fun way and interactive way to practice counting. The feel of this story matches the culture of where it's from and it contains a rich literary style. Students have the opportunity to practice counting to ten in Arabic and to repeat the counting throughout the book. I was able to learn about Arabic numbers through this book.
Activity: This book could be used to help students practice counting numbers, not only in Arabic but in English as well.

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Author: Erin Entrada Kelly
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Date: March 14, 2017
# of Pages: 320
Visual Elements: drawn book cover
Grade Level: 3-7
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Bravery, Being Different
Summary: This book is about four kids who are busy living their own lives. They are not friends, but are forced to work together when one of them pranks another getting them stuck in a well with their pet guinea pig. Together they face the bully and find the friend who is stuck!
Personal Response: I really enjoyed getting to read this book. The different perspectives of hearing each character's thoughts is very interesting. It adds another layer to the story that I really enjoyed. I was able to connect to the friends working together to overcome their challenges.
Activity: This book involves the thoughts of four different characters. This book could be a great model of what using voice can look like. It can help students understand what adds to our voice as writers.

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Author:  Sarah Stewart
Illustrator:  David Small
Publisher: Square Fish
Date: May 1, 2007
# of Pages: 40
Visual Elements: drawn illustrations
Grade Level: 1-3
Genre: Historical Fictions
Theme: Perseverance, Spreading joy, Tough times
Summary: This book is about Lydia’s story as she works in her Uncle’s bakery. It follows her journey of leaving her family to get a job that will support them financially. At the bakery Lydia spreads joy and kindness in hopes of getting her Uncle to smile. Through her gardening skills and uplifting attitude she eventually is able to make him smile.
Personal Response: I really enjoyed getting to listen to this story. It is a very inspiring story about staying positive during a tough time. In the story their family is facing tough times when Lydia's dad is laid off. She then goes to work for her Aunt and Uncle. This would be a very scary time, but instead of being negative Lydia turns the experience positive. She looks for ways to brighten others through her flowers and her kindness.
Activity: This book teaches about the Great Depression and how everyone in the family had a part to play. In order to survive many families had to split up in order to find work to support their family. It also teaches students about the changes that happened for many families such as being laid off or struggling to have customers.

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Author:  Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second
Date: February 13, 2018
# of Pages: 288
Visual Elements: Illustrated cover
Grade Level: 7-9
Genre: Fantasy
Theme: Being true to yourself, Unconditional love
Summary: This book is about a prince who has a secret, that he loves to wear dresses. At night he wears extravagant dresses under a disguise. He becomes very close with his seamstress who eventually uncovers his secret. Once the kingdom discovers his secret his life is changed forever!
Personal Response: I really loved reading this book. This book was interesting and exciting and had a very powerful message. It challenges gender rules and pushes the reader to understand a new perspective. The Prince is brave and true to himself. I love the message behind this book and think that it is a wonderful read.
Activity: This book teaches the importance of staying true to yourself no matter what society is telling you. It teaches that everyone is worthy of love and acceptance. This book has a lot of good opportunities to teach students to empathize with others and to embrace their differences.

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Author:  Deborah Ellis and  Nora Twomey (Adapter)
Illustrator:  Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Aircraft Pictures
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Date: January 1, 2018
# of Pages: 80
Visual Elements: Cartoon graphics
Grade Level: 5-9
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Overcoming challenges, fighting stereotypes, war
Summary: This book is about a young girl who is living in Afghanistan during the rule of the Taliban. After her father is arrested she must disguise herself as a boy to make money for her family. She must step up and become the breadwinner for her family!
Personal Response: This book has a very powerful message for students. It teaches students the importance of perseverance and not giving up. I was able to connect to the sisters in this story because they fight even though they love each other!
Activity: I would use this book to teach my students about life in Afghanistan during the rule of the Taliban. The rules that existed in society for women and the hardships families faced. This book would give students context of what life was like at this time.

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Author:  J. K. Rowling
Illustrator: Mary GrandPré
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Date: November 1, 2003
# of Pages: 309
Visual Elements: Colorful cover illustration
Grade Level: 4-7th
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Self Discovery, Exploring, Friendship
Summary: This book is about a young wizard who's parents died when he was a baby. He discovers as a teenager that he is a wizard and he attends the school for wizards known as "Hogwarts". At Hogwarts Harry finds two friends that join him in adventures as magical students.
Personal Response: This book is the first in a great series. It was one of the books that hooked me into reading. I love the story and the series!
Activity: I would use this book to teach my students about the elements of a story. I would use the book to model the build up of the plot and the characters from each chapter. This would help students to see the development of the story and the characters as the story unfolds.

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Author:  Kate Temple and Jol Temple
Illustrator: Terri Rose Baynton
Publisher: Kane Miller Books / EDC Publishing
Date: January 1, 2019
# of Pages: 32
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: K - 2nd
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Two sides to every story, Community
Summary: This book is about a seal that is trying to find a place on the rocks. This book is first read front to back, then is read back to front. In the first read the seal can't find room on the rock and is lost. In the second read the seal is lost and is invited to join them on the rock.
Personal Response: This book was such a joy to read. The first time through is a tough read, but the second time is very heartwarming. It is a great way to share two sides of a story!
Activity: I would use this book to teach my students about different perspectives. I would read the book from front to back the first time and discuss what my students noticed. I would then read the book again from back to front and discuss the differences.

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Author: Amanda Noll
Illustrator: Howard McWilliam
Publisher: Flashlight Press
Date: September 1, 2016
# of Pages: 32
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: K - 2nd
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Monsters, Being Scared, Problem-Solving
Summary: This book is about Ethan's search for the perfect monster to keep his little sister in bed at night. He tries with multiple monsters to keep his sister in bed in order to sleep but has problems with her not being scared by them. Eventually he finds a monster that scares her, but it is his monster! Luckily his monster has a little sister that is scary to his little sister.
Personal Response: This book is really fun and interactive to read. I felt like I was trying to help find the right monster for his sister and I was reading. Listening to a read aloud is also a really great way to experience a book. This book is fun and tells a funny story!
Activity: I would use this book to teach my students about problem-solving. I would go over the problems in this book with the different monsters and what the solution was for Ethan's problem. This book is a great example of solving a difficult problem with creative solutions.

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Author:  Megan McDonald
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Publisher: Candlewick
Date: April 10, 2018
# of Pages: 144
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: 1st - 4th
Genre: Non-fiction
Theme: Growing up, Exploring
Summary: This book is about Judy Moody's adventure to becoming famous. This all starts because she is jealous of one of her classmates who is featured in their newspaper. This sparks Judy on a path to create her own fame, in the hopes of outshining her rival classmate Jessica Finch.
Personal Response: I loved the Judy Moody books growing up and getting to read this was so fun! The books are funny and very interactive as you read them. I felt like I was in Judy Moody's mind and participating with her. These books are great at getting kids excited about reading, and adults too!
Activity: I would use this book as a model for students to delve into plot and themes within novels. The conflict of this book is that Judy is jealous of Jessica, and the solution is her getting famous. This would be a fun story to help teach the different things that make a good story.

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Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Publisher: Dial Books
Date: August 10, 2021
# of Pages: 272
Visual Elements: Graphic illustration on the front cover
Grade Level: 5th - 6th
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Sexual Abuse, Courage, Sisterhood
Summary: This book is about two sisters that have to navigate tough life circumstances. When their mother is thrown into jail they have to live with her boyfriend who starts sexually abusing them. Suki is the oldest sister and rock for Della, but because of their hardships Suki attempts to kill herself. This is very shocking for Della and it forces her to make some tough decisions about speaking up and having courage.
Personal Response: This book contains a lot of very heavy information about abuse, suicide, and family. I think it is a great way to break down the stigma about these tough subjects. It is necessary to be able to openly discuss these difficult situations in order to speak up for others, and I think this book is a great way to invite conversation. It is a good read that teaches important lessons about speaking up for yourself and others.
Activity: I would use this activity to teach students the importance of speaking up when someone is being treated unfairly. I would want to help break the stigma around abuse for my students and teach them that it is never okay. I could teach students that speaking up takes courage, but it may be necessary to save someones life.

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Author: Jason Chin
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Date: April 29, 2014
# of Pages: 32
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: 1st - 2nd
Genre: Non-Fiction
Theme: Gravity, Earth
Summary: This book is all about gravity and the effects it has on our planet. It uses images and simple sentences to explain how gravity works.
Personal Response: This book makes it easy to understand what gravity is and how it works. It explains a difficult concept in a fun and easy to understand way. The pictures give good context to the story and helps readers to visualize gravity. This book is simple and effective!
Activity: I would use this activity when teaching students about gravity and planets. It gives context to why gravity is important on earth and in outer space. I would build background knowledge on gravity using this book because it is very simple to follow along.

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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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Author:  Margarita Engle
Illustrator: Rafael López
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Date: March 31, 2015
# of Pages: 44
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 3rd
Genre: Non-fiction
Theme: Courage, Perseverance, Overcoming challenges
Summary: This book is based on a true story of a girl who became a drummer in Cuba. Drumming was something that only males were allowed to do, and this girl wanted to learn to drum so she did despite the social rules that only boys should be drummers. Her courage allowed for both boys and girls to create beautiful music through drumming.
Personal Response: This book has a wonderful message and is very empowering. It promotes inclusivity and fighting for what is right. I love the message and the beautiful imagery and illustrations used in the book.
Activity: I would use this book in an activity for social studies. I would start by teaching my students background knowledge of the music culture in Cuba and the importance that drums play. Then I would read this book with my students to tie the musical element into the idea of overcoming challenges. This book would be great to give context to the music in Cuba and the idea of social change.

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Author: Cece Bell
Illustrators: Cece Bell, David Lasky
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Date: September 2, 2014
# of Pages: 248
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful Comic illustrations
Grade Level: 3rd-Seventh
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Being Different, Loving Yourself, Growing Up
Summary: This book is all about Cece's experience of becoming deaf at a very young age. It explores the different challenges she faced and overcame, and her personal journey of loving what made her different.
Response: I really loved getting to read El Deafo. It is a very beautiful story that empowers students to love themselves and their differences. The images are visually interesting and the story has a wonderful message. It also gives a great perspective into the challenges that the author faced growing up deaf. It was fun and uplifting to read this story.
Activity: A literacy activity that I would pair with this activity would be having students identify one unique trait about themselves and having them create a short comic about it. Students would create their own ‘superpower’ that is related to their unique trait that makes them different like Cece did. I would brainstorm with students some ideas about their unique traits and how they are a superpower. Then using El Deafo as a model, I would have students create their own comic strip about their ‘superhero’ and their ‘superpower’. This would be a much shorter comic strip, but it would give students the opportunity to practice writing and telling a story about themselves. It would also be a great opportunity for students to feel empowered in their differences.

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Author: Mona Damluji
Illustrator: Innosanto Nagara
Publisher: Triangle Square
Date: October 5, 2021
# of Pages: 44
Visual Elements: Drawn colorful illustrations
Grade Level: Preschool - 2nd
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Change, Community, Possibility
Summary: This book is about a series of different objects and animals that are shown individually then with others. It shows the amazing possibilities that come from forming communities. From bees that form colonies to drummers that form symphonies, we can achieve amazing things when we join together.
Personal Response: This book has a wonderful message and is visually interesting! The illustrations really help create the message of joining together. This book has a simple but powerful message for students in creating a classroom community!
Activity: I would use this activity when focusing on creating a classroom environment that is friendly and inviting. I would use examples from the book to highlight the impact we can have when we work together.

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Title: Good Luck Gold and More
Author: Janet Wong

Publication Date: October 10, 2021

Publisher: Pomelo Books

Genre: Auto-Biography

Themes: Traditions, Family, Racism

# of Pages: 99

Plot Summary: This book is a collection of poems that were originally published in 1994.  They were republished with reflections and revisions to add to the original poems. This book is about Janet Wong and her families' experiences as Asian Americans. It highlights the judgements and racism felt by Asian Americans, and the traditions that make her culture beautiful and unique.

Personal Response: I really enjoyed reading this poetry book, and I was surprised to hear that these poems had been originally published in 1994 and were revised with reflections to be re-published. The reflections and descriptions that were added to the end of each poem helped give context to the bigger picture and the hidden messages within the poem. I really loved this feature because it gave me a better insight and understanding into these experiences. The poems themselves are very powerful, but the description added another layer of understanding that expanded my perspective.

Activity: I would read this book during a lesson poetry to explore different types of poetry. It would be a great way to explore different perspectives in poetry using these poems as a model for students.

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Good Luck Gold & MORE book. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. Good Luck Gold & MORE contains all 42 poems from the classic Good Lu...

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Title: The Only Woman in the Photo
Author: Kathleen Krull

Illustrator: Alexandra Bye

Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Grade Level: Preschool-3rd

Genre: Biography

Themes: Overcoming Challenges, Facing Injustice, Empowerment

# of Pages: 48

Plot Summary: This book is about the Frances Perkins who created the New Deal. She was the first female secretary of Labor in the United States and she helped carry out country forward during the Great Depression. This book is about the challenges and injustices that she faced and fought to overcome.

Personal Response: This book was so empowering to read not only as a woman, but as an American! It is a wonderful and empowering story about a woman who I had never heard of before. This book was very insightful and has wonderful insight on facing injustice.

Activity: I would read this book during a social studies unit on the New Deal. I think this would offer a great insight into that time and help shed light on Frances Perkins contributions to our country.

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Title: All Are Welcome
Author: Alexandra Penfold
Illustrator: Suzanne K. Kaufman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Originally published: July 10, 2018
# of Pages: 44
Grade Level: Kindergarten-2nd
Genre: Fiction
Themes: Inclusiveness, Diversity
Artistic Media: Drawings
Literary Elements: This book shows different experiences we all have had in school. Such as raising our hands in class, eating with friends at lunch, and etc. In these experiences it describes and visually shows how everyone is welcome and safe at school.  No matter who you are school is a place to explore and a place to invite others to join in!
Personal Response: I really enjoy the message of this book and how it shows students that school is an inviting place. The different scenarios allow students to make their own unique connections to this book. I was able to connect to the part about the different lunches that were being eaten and shared. I have fond memories of swapping and sharing lunches with my friends in grade school.
Curricular Connections: I think that this book would be an awesome way to introduce a few classroom behaviors. Such as raising your hand to answer or being respectful of someone while they are sharing with the class. It could help students to see why it is important to follow these behaviors.

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Saving Fiona: The Story of The World's Most Famous Baby Hippo

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Saving Fiona: The Story of The World's Most Famous Baby Hippo

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Saving Fiona: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Baby Hippo

Author: Thane Maynard

Pictures: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Publication Date: 06/19/2018

Publisher: HarperCollins

Grade Level: 1st-2nd

Genre: Non-fiction book

Themes: Beauty of Life, Struggle, Overcoming Challenge

# of Pages: 48

Plot Summary: This book is about the true story of Fiona the first hippo to be born prematurely in a zoo. This book documents her journey of growing up being raised by humans in the Cincinnati Zoo. She was born severely underweight and was to weak to nurse from her mother. The zoo staff found and created new ways to help bring Fiona back up to a healthy weight. This book includes pictures and facts about Fiona's amazing journey!

Personal Response: This book was so fun to get to read. I loved how it included lots of pictures and descriptions of Fiona's amazing story. It is very heartwarming and it reminded me of the amazing things that we can accomplish when people come together. The overwhelming support from the community and social media made the story more interesting to read about as well. I really enjoyed this story and how it teaches the beauty of life through a real baby hippo!

Activity: I would read a book that has recently made the Teacher's Choices Reading List to start the activity. Then I would ask the students to share their feedback of the book such as what they enjoyed, the use of illustrations, and etc. Then I would introduce the award and explain why the book we read received the award. Then I would explore the different winners from previous years and if students recognize any of the books have a discussion about the connections between the books.

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Title: "I am Enough"
Author: Grace Byers
Illustrator: Keturah A. Bobo
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date: 2018
Number of Pages: 32
Grade Level: Preschool - 2nd Grade
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Themes: Self-acceptance, Bullying, Self-esteem
Artistic Media: Paperback book that contains drawings
Literary Elements: The main character of the book is a young girl who is going through different life experiences such as running a race and helping someone who has fallen. Through these experiences she learns how to respect others and herself. She also learns how to be kind towards others and to herself.
Personal Response: This book has a wonderful message about loving yourself and being kind towards others. I was able to connect with a few of the scenarios depicted in the books illustrations such as soaring on the swings or doing cartwheels with my friends. This book is a wonderful reminder to be kind to yourself regardless of your differences from others.
Curricular Connections: I could see this book being used in a Science lesson comparing different animals or organisms. You could explain the differences of animals in an ecosystem and then discuss the effect they have within it. It could help students to connect that all animals are different in some ways but that they all play an important role.