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Rachel Tabor
Kindergarten loves this book because it easy for them to connect with. It is a very simple text with great pictures that captures the students attention. In this book, Lily and Salma are best friends and do everything together; however, they don't understand why on Earth the other eats such "yucky" food. They learn to appreciate their differences and even figure out that they may enjoy something different that they aren't use to. It's easy to bring in cultural differences as well as many other aspects of other cultures into this easy to read book.

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Liz Teeple
I love this book, and I know it's all the rage. 4th graders just adore this book! They realize not everyone is the same, yet they can learn the value of true friendship, honestly valuing others, true friendship, compassion, and empathy.
While students may not exhibit the extremes shown in this book, I think it is extremely valuable for students to lean that we are all different and that we should cherish our differences.  This book lends so many lessons in the classroom and for individual students.  It gives strength to those who feel they are so different from everyone else.  It also provides a stage for students to see inside the thoughts of others and how compassion and friendship can really make everyone feel important and loved.  Students should feel loved and included by everyone and this book opens the conversation side for students to express how they feel treated in the classroom, at recess, or at home.  I love the family aspect of this book as well, and some students have never experienced that but have found the value of their school family and their support.

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Sherrie Brookie
The Dot is a wonderful book about a young lady named Vashti that has a lot of trouble making her mark. This book could be used for children as well as adults in the building but students could use this story as a mirror if they are having trouble expressing themselves or fitting in. Students from other cultural backgrounds (other countries, low poverty, athletes, artsy students, etc.) can see how taking the risk and making their mark/seeing where it takes them can help their journey become less stressful. I especially like this book for students at my school because we have a very high achieving student population that focuses on perfectionism. The teacher in this book helps Vashti overcome her perfectionism and insecurity which in turn enables her to inspire others.

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Vanessa Marshall
Fast Break is great read for middle school basketball fans.  It takes place in North Carolina and throughout the book there are references to today’s teams and players (Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, LeBron James, John Wall, etc.).

After his mother dies, 12 year old Jayson Barnes is trying to live on his own without Child Protective Services finding out.  Living in the projects, basketball and his team are the only things that he has.  But one day something happens that takes him away from his home and his team, the team he was hoping
would make it to the final of the middle-grade basketball  championship that would be played at Cameron Indoor Stadium - the home of the Duke Blue Devils.

This book mirrors the lives of so many of our students.  Many students are put into situations of homelessness and they don’t want an adult to know.  This affects them educationally and socially.

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Mandy McCurry
This book tells a story of a boy named Ralph who doesn't want to write because he doesn't think he has any stories to tell.  A classmate tells him she writes stories about him all the time, so he starts to rethink his doubt.  As he tells his class a story about his encounter with an inchworm and they start to ask him questions about it, he realizes stories really are everywhere, if you look for them.  This story can be a mirror to our reluctant writers in the classroom, and help them realize they do have stories to tell.

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Aaron Linder
I like this book because it depicts issues that some of our students endure. Students can mirror the issues faced by Ally. She has learned to hide her disability by being a disruption in class. Her new teacher is able to see through her ruse and is able to develop a rapport with her and help her academically.