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Olive has osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and has been homeschooled for her entire life. When she turns 12, she convinces her parents that she is ready to go to public school. She inspires those around her with her infectious thrill for life and ambition despite setbacks along the way. I adored the language of the book as well as Olive's incredible capacious heart.

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It was an honor to go on a journey through story together on Monday! Happy, happy reading! —John Schu

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Theoretically this is a re-telling of and old Tyrolean folk tale, , but it's really a story about consent. How does a girl, running for her life in a dark forest connect with a disembodied skull in its own mansion? How do they connect and help each other? Well.....it's hard to explain but Jon Klassen does it brilliantly. Another perfectly fabulous weird book and total crowd pleaser!

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The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers

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The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers

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The Barnabus Project is a book about how perfectly fine it is to be imperfect and how focusing on perfection has some really not okay outcomes. Heady stuff for grades 2-5, right? The Fan Brothers bring this concept home for this age group and sparks some great discussion.

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The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers

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Banshees, Celtic mythology's harbinger of impending death-your impending death by the way. How does an author, even a seasoned author like Eoin Colfer turn a banshee story into a lesson in compassion? Really, how's he going to pull THAT off? My question exactly, and poof! I have a new read aloud for grades 3-5. It's a great. Anything I say will be a spoiler, so just go to Barnes and Noble and buy it-today. You will have a luminous story of compassion, connection, and love. It was my most requested re-read aloud this year and I couldn't keep my other copies on the shelves.

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Banshees, Celtic mythology's harbinger of impending death-your impending death by the way. How does an author, even a seasoned author like Eoin Colfer turn a banshee story into a lesson in compassion? Really, how's he going to pull THAT off? My question exactly, and poof! I have a new read aloud for grades 3-5. It's a great. Anything I say will be a spoiler, so just go to Barnes and Noble and buy it-today. You will have a luminous story of compassion , connection and love. It was my most requested re-read aloud this year and I couldn't keep my other copies on the shelves.

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I don't have any idea how to describe this book, except that it was amazing. You just have to read it! PS. NOT a children's book.

“you are worthy, important, and necessary. And smart. You may ask how I know and I’ll tell you how. It’s because right now? YOU’RE READING. That’s what the sexy people do. Other, less awesome people might currently be in their front yards chasing down and punching squirrels, but not you. You’re quietly curled up with a book designed to make you a better, happier, more introspective person.”

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This book is about a kid no one notices and no one remembers. I related with this book so much and my daughter has expressed the same sentiment about herself. Shusterman brought humor to a painful situation an shows how one person can make you feel seen.

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This book is about a 5th grade student who is learning to deal with anxiety. This GN explores mental health, fear and overcoming struggles. This book has helped so many readers recognize and name their own feelings helping them realize they are not alone.

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Grief is a hard enough topic for adults to broach. Providing that support to a child is exponentially so. The Rabbit Listened tells the story of animal friends telling their human how/what to do when something sad happens, but none of it is helpful to the human until Rabbit comes along. This is a great book for everyone struggling to help someone grieving.

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Raising Ourselves is an autobiography of Velma Wallis growing up in Fort Yukon. I wish this had been published before I taught in the Bush. Velma unflinchingly looks at her childhood and her family's history. It provides the kind of insight that outsiders who work in the Bush need to better understand what families in remote village are impacted by.

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"One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games." This book tells of his journey from being kidnapped and trained as a child soldier during the Sudanese civil war, enduring the brutal conditions of a refugee camp, and how he fought for a better life. The reason I like this story is it shows the skill he developed out of adversity and how it became a skill that lead to triumph.

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This book is a holocaust memoir. A Dutch family was imprisoned because they get caught helping Jews. When I read it as a student I thought the Ten Boom family was Jewish. As an adult I realized they were not. This story could lead to great discussion about why her family chose to support the resistance and how they never regretted it even though they were persecuted because of their affiliation with the Jewish people.

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This series is so great at helping children find ways to overcome big emotions and frustrating situations. My son loves seeing Grumpy Monkey, and he loves the different animals trying to help Jim overcome his frustrations and situations.

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The book follows a young boy (Pat) who is trying to find his brother (who doesn't use TV, email, etc.) who ran away from home to New York. Pat ends up finding his brother in the underground community in New York. The book helps Pat learn about his brother and what makes his brother unique and different. The book helps reveal the misunderstanding that Pat has of his brother and his journey of discovery about himself while trying to find his brother.

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

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Aven is a 13-year-old girl born without arms. At the end of her seventh grade year, Aven and her parents move from Kansas to Phoenix, Arizona, where they run a Wild West theme park. Aven is uprooted from her comfort zone in Kansas where the kids at school are used to her appearance and the way she uses her feet for everything she does. Now, she is self-conscious about being stared at as she attends school and finds herself hiding in the restroom to eat her lunch until she discovers others who don't want to be seen because of their differences. Aven gathers them under her wings and encourages them to live their lives: go to movies, attend their classes, and eat proudly in the cafeteria - be seen.

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The story follows three juvenile offenders that are given a second chance. In their second chance, something bad happens, but they have to work through numerous trials and tribulations to find solutions to their problems and find themselves. They grow in empathy and trust in the world following horrible circumstances.

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This is an impactful story about chances and intentionally thinking about kindness. This story touches on being new, acceptance, and poverty. I have found it to be especially powerful with 3-5 grade students, causing them to reflect on how we don't always get second chances, which is a profound concept for these maturing, young students.

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This is a great book to read aloud to students. I have always found that you can have great conversations around teaching compassion. My students and I have always wondering if this is a true story based on the dedication.

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Finn is in trouble. Caught vandalizing a tombstone that happened to belong to a local hiking hero, he is given an unusual offer of restoration by her daughter, clime all forty-six Adirondack before the end of summer. You follow his journey through mud and mountain peaks. With unexpected mentors he deals with unimaginable obstacles both physical and emotional and finds healing, closure and a little bit of hope along the way.

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Picture book about a kid going through lots of emotions. He goes from happy to worried to angry to guilty to loved. It is amazing for kids understanding their emotions.

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This is a frank and vulnerable memoir of a brilliant woman and her troubled relationship with her body. I wish all PE teachers would read this. I found it important and relatable no matter how much it differed from my own story. It healed me by speaking truths I needed to hear. I will read this book many times.

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The Last Christmas Tree by Stephen Krensky

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The Last Christmas Tree by Stephen Krensky

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A small fir tree loses hope he will be picked to be someone's Christmas tree until he is picked by a special someone.

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A squirrel and mouse constantly disagree with eachother, until they realize they agree to disagree, therefore connecting with one another and becoming friends.

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Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli

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Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli

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Mr. Hatch is a lonely man, who is given a Valentine stating "Somebody loves you", boosting Mr. Hatch's confidence. After finding out it was a mistake, Mr. Hatch's new friends reassure him he is loved.

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The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams 

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The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams 

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A stuffed rabbit is gifted to a young boy. When the boy becomes sick, the rabbit is thrown away as the boys room needs to be disinfected. The rabbit is sad, but is turned into a real rabbit and later reunites with the boy.

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Erik the Red Sees Green-A Story ABout Color Blindness by Julie Anderson

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Erik the Red Sees Green-A Story ABout Color Blindness by Julie Anderson

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A boy named Erik has been struggling with school and sports, and one day in art class, when painting a self portrait, he paints his red hair green. His parents take him to the eye doctor and realize he is color blind. His community makes changes for Erik to better help him see in school and for sports.

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Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

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Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

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Valentine Michael Smith, the "Man from Mars", was raised by Martians and brought back to Earth. There is a cultural divide between Earthlings and Martians, but Smith "groks" or "grokking" as a Martian term for understanding and having empathy for others. The book has very strong views on monotheism and monogamy, as well as seeing Valetine Michael Smith as a Christ-like figure.

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Two old women, who don't contribute much to the tribe, are ordered to be left behind by their chief. They lean on skills they have learned to survive in the wilderness while reflecting on the mistakes they have made in their youth. After the harsh winter they have come to understand the chief's decision and forgive him before being accepted back into the tribe.

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Amal dreams of becoming a teacher are brought to a devastating end when she is forcibly taken as a servant in payment for her father's debts. This story set in Pakistan exposes the huge challenges in educational opportunities for women and girls, as well as economic disparities that exist. Very eye-opening for students, who often think this is a historical fiction book.

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The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

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The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

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This is a book about learning to stand up for yourself while also learning what to value in yourself. Maudie loves spending time with her father, but a wild fire forces them to evacuate to a beach community. Once there, Maudie discovers she is stronger enough to reveal a terrible secret. I believe readers will be inspired by her inner strength and willingness to take chances.

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Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection by John Green

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Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection by John Green

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A nonfiction book full of fascinating facts about about TB’s lasting effects on all aspects of society — on everything from language and literature and fashion to the outcome of wars that shaped our global politics — and also about the frustrating and infuriating inequalities that allow this disease to continue to kill millions of people in impoverished countries every year, despite the fact that it is a curable disease.

I am inspired by Green’s activism and his ability to communicate about such a heavy topic in such an interesting and accessible way, and also by the lives of so many of the TB patients he writes about.

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Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection by John Green

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Red is a wise old red oak and has seen their share of smiles and tears through decades of May Day wishes tied to Red's branches. Red has decided that one of their final acts will be to grant a heartfelt wish by a little girl living nearby. The reader gets to see why the girl has made the wish she has made, and we also get to see the beauty of the community that rises around her.

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Our main character, Helen, has recently returned to her hometown in England after living her entire adult life in Australia. In her 80s now, she is widowed and also grieving the death of her son. She has no remaining friends or family in England, and her life consists of a ritual of errands, lonely meals, and radio and television programs. In short, she’s over it. Then one day, she finds a mouse in a box of discarded items she has brought into her house and decides to keep it. Her newfound status as a pet owner brings her joy, and her efforts to build a habitat for Sipsworth bring her into contact with neighbors who become friends. Toward the end, there is a reveal that drove home just how wrong our assumptions can be.

Sipsworth is a book about the power of pets, the kindness of strangers, the beauty of community. It’s a book about people being nice to each other – and to a mouse – just because… why wouldn’t they?

I was very reluctant to read this book - the premise just sounded cheesy to me. But a friend insisted I would like it and I loved it! And now I recommend it to everyone who is looking for a sweet, wholesome, well-written story.

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Meg misses her father something fierce, and struggles with handling his absence while also protecting her youngest brother from bullies. Meg also struggles with self-confidence and finding value in her strength and resilience. Her journey to free her father and the lessons she learns about herself along the way have always resonated with me.

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A retelling of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, this book follows a boy as he grows up in Appalachia during the opioid crisis. It connects me to several of my friends who have also recently read and loved this book, connects many in our country through the shared trauma of a cultural crisis, and connects two masterful writers across time in an intertextual conversation.

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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This is an absolutely lovely story of finding love and family in unexpected places, and then holding on and fighting for both. Linus is sent to investigate the magical children in Arthur's care, and over time becomes their protector. This is one of my favorite books, highlighting the importance of connection and opening our hearts to each other.

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"After spending an afternoon listening to her aunties tell her stories from their pasts, a young girl ruminates on all of the tales that she can create using her imagination and begins to feel as if the possibilities for her future are endless. Filled with Nidhi Chanani's signature vibrant illustrations, What Will My Story Be? is for anyone who finds inspiration in the quiet moments and cherishes the wisdom of the generations that came before them."

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When Marguerite is forced to leave her estate in France to accompany her guardian on a voyage to the New World, she finds herself exiled to an uninhabited island off the coast of Canada. Her previously pampered life has done little to prepare her for what she will face when winter descends.

Part love story and part survival story, this book touches on the devastation of loneliness, the beauty of the natural world, the strength of the human spirit, and the infuriating plight of women in 16th-century society, even women of privilege. And it’s based on a true story!

I have always been fascinated by disaster stories - shipwrecks, mountaineering disasters, etc. - fiction or nonfiction. I am fascinated by how much people can endure - and always profoundly grateful that I am not enduring any of it as I sit in my cozy chair and read my book!

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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The way this author teaches you about and brings you to love the giant Pacific Octopus named Marcellus is remarkable. The relationship between Marcellus and the night janitor Tova at an aquarium is quizzical and also solves a mystery.

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This is the picture book version of Wonder. It inspires readers to choose kindness in all that they do.

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The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan

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The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan

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Tempesta never understands why she is always treated differently in her family. She finds her way and her true self in a way that just makes my heart sing...Love, love, love this book and story!!

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

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I think that we call can relate in one way or the other of the places that "life" takes Edward and then back again. Love keeps him going and he doesn't even know what that truly is.

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This book is so stark, powerful and beautiful.

It talks about how war impacts a community, even long after it ends. It uses the poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance for those who died. The authors, from Ukraine, wrote it as a "tribute to peace, resistance, and hope."

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Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

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Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

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I just re-read this (after 45 years or so), and my daughter (15) read it also. We then watched the new movie together (Judy Bloom said the movie passed the test as representative of her book).....great shared experience with my daughter.

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Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

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Robin Wall Kimmerer does an amazing example of describing mosses, all while connecting them to family structure, because like family, mosses are also interconnected and dependent on each other for procreating, for survival, and for growth.

If you think a book about moss would be boring, you should get it on audiobook and listen to it as you are taking a long hike. You will look at the ground and trees so much differently if you are observing them while listening to this book.

Plus, this is a really niche book, I doubt there are that many books of this size and depth about moss, so just by reading this one book, you are really covering a lot of ground on the subject of moss.

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James Herriot is the world's best know vet. Written by him to relay his work in rural Yorkshire in the 1940s, his care and compassion for the welfare of animals and their owners shines through this funny gem of a book.

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All creatures great and small book cover

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We all know the story, but the way it puts love into 5th and 6th grade students is powerful

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This was the weirdest book that I read in 2024. Everything about it seems so utterly ridiculous, but I cried like you would not believe.

Husband has a disease which slowly turns him into a shark. Wife navigates these changes.

The premise of this book is absolutely absurd, but it is not presented in that way. It reads clinically and compassionately, and you are not thinking, "this is bananas, no one can turn into a shark, like WTH", you are thinking, "this is a story of navigating life changes with a chronic disease and what happens when you test the in sickness and in health wedding vows".

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My 2nd graders surprised me with their response when we finished reading this book. Their interest on learning more about living in the jungle, what is was like to work with wild animals and becoming a vet when they grow up surprised me! They were so intrigued and wanted to learn more. The WHOHQ series is a great resource I have been sharing more and more with my students, showing them where they can expand their knowledge on People and Places around the world.

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Economic principles are sometimes complicated and hard to understand. Levitt takes complex economic principles but applies them to unlikely, familiar, non-economic settings. What do sumo wrestlers and teachers giving standardized tests have in common? Is someone named <NAME REDACTED> more likely to be upper class or lower class?

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In this autobiography, Ruby Bridges recounts her experiences as the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960.

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I am actually still reading this...but all the different species of animals on our planet are my "jam". The book explores how animals perceive their surroundings through their senses.....yes, your dog smells everything because that is the primary sense that he/she uses to perceive the world. It is heavy on science....but there is a young adult version that I just saw is out (have not had it in my hands yet). And yes, scallops DO have eyes (photo above).

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I think the prompt is for the book to be inspirational, as in, the characters or story inspires something in you. This book inspired me to have a call to action, to slow down and de-deviceify.

The book gives reasons to slow down and be present, to limit device use, to pause multitasking. I felt called out in every sentence that I read. HUGE DISCLAIMER: the reason Comer wants you to slow down and digitally declutter is to bring you closer to God. I wish he would have just written it as "slow down and digitally declutter so you can be a more present person and family member" because I think that people who need to hear this message might be turned off by the religious content.

This is a self help book with an absolutely critical message for adults and teens and it inspired me to take action. It teases out all the little actions you know you shouldn't be doing or that you should limit and gives reason to why. It's that little mirror I needed. BUT: it doesn't have to be for God. It can be for your pet, your child, or your partner. These lessons, though packaged religiously, don't need to be applied as such to be impactful.

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Anyone who has had braces can connect with this story! Wether you had braces because of an accident, or because your adult teeth just had a mind of their own when they come in. I really enjoyed the reality of this story and have a lot of students that have connected with this author's graphic novels.

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This book is a classic Newbery Honor book. I like to share it with students to teach them about understanding others and how to be compassionate. It is also important to show kindness and stand up for others.

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I have been into memoirs lately! I listened to this one, read by the author. I was so inspired by Ariel's honesty and strength - through the incredible challenges of living with Crouzon Syndrome. It was particularly interesting to me how she wove in her impression of Picasso (not good) and her thoughts on what our culture thinks as "beauty". Worth a listen/read.

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

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I really loved the way this non-fiction memoir follows a therapist who has a therapist. She explores the stories of 5 patients and I laughed and cried. It was very human and reminded me that everything we do really comes down to what you can actually control.....and how you perceive, and handle events, in your world.

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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We have all had those types of days were nothing seems to go our way. Students are able to easily connect with Alexander in this classic story.

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alexander and the terrible horrible no good very bad day

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by Rob Buyea

This is a great inspirational story, sharing how important it is to connect to students and teaching them how to connect themselves.

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Jory John's books are great with teaching emotions, and ways to handle their healing process.

The Sour Grape is great for teaching students how it feels to experience their own behaviors.

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Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk

““Dream a little, Kulu, this world now sings a most beautiful song of you.”

This beautiful bedtime poem, written by acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic.

Lyrically and tenderly told by a mother speaking to her own little “Kulu,” an Inuktitut term of endearment often bestowed upon babies and young children, this visually stunning book is infused with the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants.”

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The Moomin family is separated when Papa decides to go adventuring. Mama and Moonintroll search for him and eventually are reunited. Mama and Moonintroll’s journey is punctuated by scary and really uncertain moments and you really feel the dark nature of their predicaments. I feel like I get a warm hug every time I read this book. This is a fantastical, imaginative story along the lines of Charlie and the Chocolate factory.

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Anyone who reads a Judy Blume book is automatically in the club of taboo subjects. How many of you passed around Forever? Or were deeply moved by Blubber or Deenie? Reading these books provides a huge connection with the characters, friends who also read the books, and oneself, as who doesn't see a glimpse of themselves in some Blume book?

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The Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

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The Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

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The Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

“The hummingbird parable, with origins in the Quechuan people of South America, has become a talisman for environmentalists and activists who are committed to making meaningful change in the world. In this inspiring story, the determined hummingbird does everything she can to put out a raging fire that threatens her forest home. The hummingbird—symbol of wisdom and courage—demonstrates that doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

The parable is embraced by two of the worldís most influential leaders: Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Kenya who launched the Green Belt Movement (which you can read about here), and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has spoken widely about his commitment to preserving the environment. This courageous little book features artwork by internationally renowned artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas. His distinct and lively Haida Manga style engages perfectly with this inspirational story that encourages every individual to act on behalf of the worldís limited and precious resources.”

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The Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

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The Hidden: A Compendium of Arctic Giants, Dwarves, Gnomes, Trolls, Faeries and Other Strange Beings From Inuit Oral History by Neil Christopher

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The Hidden: A Compendium of Arctic Giants, Dwarves, Gnomes, Trolls, Faeries and Other Strange Beings From Inuit Oral History by Neil Christopher

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The Hidden: A Compendium of Arctic Giants, Dwarves, Gnomes, Trolls, Faeries and Other Strange Beings from Inuit Oral History by Neil Christopher

“Forget fairies and forget vampires! Let yourself be drawn into the dark world of the shape-shifters, ogresses, trolls, and demons of the Canadian Arctic. This collection of field notes meticulously documents the dark side of Inuit legends, complete with hideous monsters and unspeakable deeds. Each creature is brought to life by the stunning illustrations of Mike Austin, a world-renowned tattoo artist. The Hidden exposes the dark beings that lurk in Arctic shadows. This gothic illustrated book is destined to become a collector’s item for any reader interested in dark folklore.”

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the hidden a compendium of arctic giants

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A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Kitchen by Erin Frankel

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A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Kitchen by Erin Frankel

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A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel

“A moving picture book biography about chef José Andrés, who, along with his World Central Kitchen organization, is sure to inspire kids to help out in their own communities.”

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A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Kitchen by Erin Frankel

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Holding On by Sophia Lee

“A young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect with her grandmother as her memory fades in this warm and moving picture book perfect for fans of Pixar’s Coco.

There is always singing in Lola’s house. Sammy Davis Jr. in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and all throughout the evening, old Tagalog love songs from Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more. Lola always says: “If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.”

Her granddaughter tucks these sounds and Lola’s wisdom deep within her heart. And when Lola starts slipping into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her.”

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This classic is set in the 1920s in both England and ‘British-India’ when the ideas of Indian independence were starting to take root. Despite the subject, neither country is shown purely good or purely bad and there are heart wrenching relationships, complicated characters and events and an eventual conclusion that mirrors the complex nature of foreign policy at the time.

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As a book that has survived the test of time, I cannot pass up including The Bible as a book full of inspirational stories for those seeking vitalization, comfort, or even direction.

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This is a super engaging nonfiction book about the importance of breathing through your nose regularly and how this can be life changing for your health. This is overloaded with experiments, studies, history, interviews, and even more studies that all contribute to the explanation of why we all should be breathing through our noses.

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Brave the wild river: the untold story of two women who mapped the botany of the Grand Canyon

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Brave the wild river: the untold story of two women who mapped the botany of the Grand Canyon

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In 1938 two female botanists set out on an expedition to survey the plant life of the Grand Canyon by floating the Colorado river. This is something that at the time male explorers has tried to do and many had failed, and no one had cataloged the plant life there. A good story that shows the strength and resilience of these women scientists, especially in a field that no one expected to be pushed to the edge.

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This is by far the most difficult, most important book I've ever read. The story follows the lives of five children who were subjected to living in a religious residential school and how it affected their (and their family's) lives as they grew into adulthood.

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Luna and me : the true story of a girl who lived in a tree to save a forest

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Luna and me : the true story of a girl who lived in a tree to save a forest

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I love to read this book around Earth Day. It is a true story about a young woman who, to convince a forestry company to protect forests, lives in a tree for two years. The illustrations are beautiful as well. I pair the book with pictures and an update on the real tree.

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Luna and me : the true story of a girl who lived in a tree to save a forest

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A young girl and her family struggle to connect due to the distractions of life. She helps her family reconnect and they are brought closer together.

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The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm's way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era. (Goodreads)

My father was in the Vietnam War and when I was a teenager we visited Washington DC and saw the memorial there. His reaction to that experience will always stay with me.

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This book is a great resource to teach younger students about Greta Thunberg and her fight to protect the planet.

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This book gives some insight into what families can look like (along with Parr's book titled The Family Book). It is a simple yet powerful book to share with foster families and adoptive families.

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A woman goes to kill herself at a hotel but instead, becomes part of a wedding party. She works through a lot of issues and comes out the other side a changed person. I love this book.

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The End of Something Wonderful: a practical guide to a backyard funeral

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The End of Something Wonderful: a practical guide to a backyard funeral

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A humorous (and touching) look at how to deal with the death of a beloved pet.

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Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. (Goodreads)

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Sophia discovers that her friend, Maddi, has no food in her fridge. She promises not to tell, but wants to help. This book makes my students clap every time.

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The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith

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The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith

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While the Wright Brothers were gliding over Kitty Hawk, the charming Brazilian Alberto Santos-Dumont was making his own mark on the history of flight.
Alberto loved floating over Paris in his personal flying machine called a dirigible. He would tie it to a post, climb down, and spend the day shopping or meeting friends for coffee. But he wanted to make his invention even better. By 1906, Alberto had transformed his balloon into a box with wings! But now there was competition. Another inventor challenged Alberto to see who would be the first in flight. Alberto’s hard work paid off, and his airplane successfully soared into the air, making him the first pilot to lift off and land a completely self-propelled plane. (Goodreads)

Our lunch lady is from Brazil and I always tell the students to talk to her about Santos-Dumont after we read this book.

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The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith

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Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O'Neill

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Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O'Neill

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Molly and her mom don't always have enough food, so one Saturday they visit their local food pantry. Molly's happy to get food to eat until she sees her classmate Caitlin, who's embarrassed to be at the food pantry. (Goodreads)

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Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O'Neill

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The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

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The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

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In this third book of They Both Die at the End series, two strangers—each with their own complicated relationship to Death-Cast—help each other learn to live.
Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.
Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.
Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end. (Goodreads)

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In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.

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Antonio Marez is six years old when the woman who helped usher him into the world comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. Venerated by some as a miracle-worker—and disparaged by others as a bruja—Ultima, a curandera, or healer, opens Tony’s eyes to the spiritual roots of his culture, and introduces him to a magical, if sometimes frightening, new world: a realm in which she operates as a shaman.

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Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, about time, relativity and physics. As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over. In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar.

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In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett's future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction—to the City of New York.

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In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery

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A crew of outcasts form a bond and learn to depend on one another when they come together to carry off a dangerous heist.

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Alternate cover of ISBN 9781627792127 Ketterdam: a bus…

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This adventure of a family surviving a shipwreck is a favorite - and a classic to boot. The way the family pulls together to survive and thrive in adversity is inspirational. Since the setting is the East Indies it's also a book I turn to in the middle of winter. It was written and published in 1812 in German by Johann David Wyss.

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This book, a follow up to Fire Keeper's Daughter, fosters compassion and understanding for indigenous communities.

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Perry Firekeeper-Birch was ready for her Summer of Slac…

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This novel-in-verse stars pre-teen Ellie, who grapples with being overweight. Ellie begins to overcome her friends/not friends bullying her and learns to like herself. Her father and therapist facilitate her healing. Her safe space is in her swimming pool, floating like a starfish.

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Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion by Anthony Robles

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Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion by Anthony Robles

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The story of Anthony Robles, who was born without his right leg, turned his disability into an advantage and became a NCAA All-American wrestler and champion.

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Hear me out: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers as a healing book. "A Man Called Ove" meets "White Lotus", it is ultimately a story about love, family, community connections, and belonging.

Vera Wong is the old lonely proprietor of an unpopular Chinatown teahouse. When a man is found murdered at her shop, people show up out of the woodwork. Could they be the murderers? Vera Wong decides to play detective, but along the way, plays matchmaker, forges connections, and ultimately brings about healing.

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vera wong's unsolicited advice for murderers

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This is about a young Afro-Latina's journey of self-discovery. It clarifies the process of claiming one's identify and truth.

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Read 22.4k reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this aston...

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This impactful book deals with rioting and protesting through the lens of the main character who lives in a black neighborhood, but attends an all white school. Her perspective of both worlds is unique. After she witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend by police, she must decide how to find her voice. It's a great movie, too.

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Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds:…

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My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete

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My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete

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In this book Callie and Charlie are twins. Callie narrates the story from a child's perspective showing both the challenges and joys of having a sibling with autism. The book emphasizes the importance of accepting neurodivergent individuals.

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This is Battle of the Book choice for high school this year. It's about a character dealing with OCD and anxiety. It offers insight into coping with mental illness. It was made into a movie in 2024.

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Read 48.4k reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. JOHN GREEN, the acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, retur…