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Title: Oh Say Can You Say? "Oh my brothers! Oh my sisters! These are Terrible Tongue Twisters!"
Author/Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Published: November 1, 2005, from London
Page Count: 36
Age: 6+
Genre: Fiction/ Poetry/ Humor/ Classic
Theme: Tonuge twisters can be fun

Synopsis: In this collection of 24 silly verse tongue-twisters, Dr. Seuss will delight readers of all ages with a simple story filled with hilarious nonsense! "Bed Spreaders spread spreads on beds.
Bread Spreaders spread butter on breads.
And that Bed Spreader better watch out how he's spreading...
or that Bread Spreader's sure going to butter his bedding."

Curricular Connections: English
Personal Connections: This such a fun and humourism book where lots of mistakes can happen but you laugh at it in the end. You feel super smart in the end because you are able to get through the book.

Teacher Link: TeachingBooks | Oh, Say Can You Say?

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Title: Kindness makes us Strong
Author/Illustrator: Sophie Beer
Published: April 1, 2019, from Hardie Grant Egmont
Page Count: 24
Age: 3+
Genre: Emotion/ Family/ Storytime
Theme: Be kind to all

Synopsis: Whether we share a toy or include someone in a game, all acts of kindness – no matter how big or small – make the world a better place. Kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: Another book I love to read to the children I work with because it shows you how having kindness will make you strong, help you make friends and so much more. It has so much colorful drawings and diversity throughout the whole book.

Teacher Link: Kindness Makes Us Strong Book Read Aloud / Story Book Read Along for Kids - Bing video

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Title: Little Blue Truck
Author/Illustrator: Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry (artist)
Published: May 1, 2008, from Clarion Books
Page Count: 32
Age: 3-6
Genre: Animals/ Fiction/ Storytime
Theme:  The power of friendship & The rewards of helping others.

Synopsis: Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This book is one of my favorites to read to the kids at my work because it shows them how helping others and being kind will reflect better on them. Its a beautiful book with illustrations that engage the children.

Teacher Link: FUN SOUNDS! The Little Blue Truck - Read Aloud By Kids - Bing video

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Title: The Name Jar
Author/Illustrator: Yangsook Choi
Published: October 14, 2003, from Dragonfly Books
Page Count: 40
Age: 3-7
Genre: Cultural/ Realistic Fiction/ School
Theme: Your name is your identity

Synopsis: Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This shows students how they can help students that are not from their culture and how they can help them feel welcomed in the classroom. I love the storyline in this book and how it shows students to embrace everyone.

Teacher Link: The Name Jar Activities: Literature Unit Companion (kirstenskaboodle.com)

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Title: I am Enough
Author/Illustrator: Grace Byers & Keturah A. Bobo (artist)
Published: March 6, 2018, from HarperCollins Publishers
Page Count: 32
Age: 4-8
Genre: Realistic Fiction/ Poetry/ Cultural
Theme: Female Empowerment & Respect for Diversity

Synopsis: We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This book has a powerful message that is telling people that every child how they can have self-love and positivity where they can learn from a young age.

Teacher Link: I Am Enough by Grace Byers Activities and Discussion Questions (childrenslibrarylady.com)

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Title: Burying the Moon
Author/Illustrator: Andree Poulin & Sonali Zohra (artist)
Published: October 5, 2021, from Groundwood Books
Page Count: 112
Age: 9 to 12
Genre: Realistic Fiction/ Poetry
Theme: Injustice for women and exploring our bodies

Synopsis: In Latika’s village in rural India, there are no toilets. No toilets mean that the women have to wait until night to do their business in a field. There are scorpions and snakes in the field, and germs that make people sick. For the girls in the village, no toilets mean leaving school when they reach puberty. No one in the village wants to talk about this shameful problem. But Latika has had enough. When a government representative visits their village, she sees her chance to make one of her dreams come true: the construction of public toilets, which would be safer for everybody in her village.

Curricular Connections: History and empathy
Personal Connections: This is a great book for young girls and the inspiration they may be looking for that may have been experiencing poverty. The book shows a very emotional step through what these women are going through.

Teacher Link: Burying The Moon - By Andrée Poulin (hardcover) : Target

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Title: The One and Only Ivan
Author/Illustrator: Katherine Applegate
Published: January 17, 2012, from HarperCollins
Page Count: 320
Grade Level: 5-8
Genre: Fiction/ Animals/ Fantasy
Theme: Animal rights

Synopsis: Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This is an emotional book that takes you through the story of these animals and the life they are living. This story shows people who read it a wonderful lesson.

Teacher Link: AUDIOBOOK 3hr the One and Only Ivan Audio Book full book. - Bing video

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Title: Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Noble Maillard & Juana Martinez-Neal (artist)
Published: October 22, 2019, from Roaring Brook Press
Page Count: 48
Age: 3-7
Genre: Food/ Family/ History/ Culture/ Nonfiction
Theme: Native American Culture

Synopsis: Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.
Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.
Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.
Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: This is a beautiful story. You learn more about this culture by reading the authors notes and pictures. This is good for students to read and learn about the Native American Culture.

Teacher Link: Fry Bread Literature Guide | Learning to Give

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Title: The Breadwinner
Author/Illustrator: Deborah Ellis
Published: October 25, 2001, from Groundwood Books
Page Count: 171
Age: 11+
Genre: Historical/ Fiction/ War/ Young Adult
Theme: Family Struggles and coming of age

Synopsis: Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, 11-year-old Parvana has rarely been outdoors. Barred from attending school, shopping at the market, or even playing in the streets of Kabul. Is trapped inside her family's one-room home. That is, until the Taliban hauls away her father and Parvana realizes that it's up to her to become the "breadwinner" and disguise herself as a boy to support her mother, two sisters, and baby brother.

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: This book has wonderful ideas that have logical supporting evidence. The appearance and activities that the characters do you feel connected to them. This is a great exposure for students to read and learn about this culture and what they went through.

Teacher Link: The Breadwinner Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Indie - Bing video

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Title: Once Upon an Elephant
Author/Illustrator: Linda Stanek & Shennen Bersani (artist)
Published: February 10, 2016, from Arbordale Publishing
Page Count: 32
Grade level: K-3
Genre: Nonfiction/ Science/ Animals/ Nature
Theme: Mighty Heros

Synopsis: From stopping wildfires to planting seeds, one animal is the true superhero that keeps the African savanna in balance. Elephants dig to find salt for animals to lick, their deep footprints collect water for everyone to drink, and they eat young trees to keep the forest from overtaking the grasslands. In every season, the elephants are there to protect the savanna and its residents but what would happen if the elephants were only "once upon a time"?

Curricular Connections: Earth Science
Personal Connections: This is a great book for students to be able to get an understanding of the animals and nature. Its very interesting and gives you great information about elephants.

Teacher Link: Once Upon an Elephant Book by Linda Stanek | Epic (getepic.com)

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Title: A Different Pond
Author/Illustrator: Bao Phi & Thi Bui (artist)
Published: August 1, 2017, from Picture Window Books
Page Count: 32
Grade level: K- 3
Genre: Family/ Cultural/ Historical Fiction
Theme: Honoring your heritage

Synopsis: As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: This story is a simple story of boy and his father. It shows a beautiful representation between American and Vietnamese cultures. The illustrations are lush and filled with lots of space and quiet. Its a wonderful story.

Teacher Link: A Different Pond - Bing video

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Title: The Sandwich Swap
Author/Illustrator: Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abudullah & Kelly DiPucchio, Tricia Tusa (artist)
Published: April 27, 2010, from Hyperion Books
Page Count: 32
Age: 3+
Genre: Culture/ Realistic Fiction/ Food/ School
Theme: Friendship and making good choices

Synopsis: Lily and Salma are best friends. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus--but what's that between friends? It turns out, a lot. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out. Can Lily and Salma put aside their differences? Or will a sandwich come between them?

Curricular Connections: English Language Arts
Personal Connections: I felt that this book is perfect to bring diversity into the classroom and show awareness to celebrate where you come from don't to be afraid.

Teacher Link: The Sandwich Swap : Bedtime Stories Read Aloud by GoodHeart Kids Books Read Aloud for Children - Bing video

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Title: No Buddy Like a Book
Author/Illustrator: Allan Wolf & Brianne Farley (artist)
Published: February 9, 2020, from Candlewick Press
Page Count: 32
Age: 6-8
Genre: Animals/ Books about Books
Theme: The essence of the power of stories and imagination

Synopsis: Calling readers and daydreamers, word mavens and lovers of adventure! This celebration of the power of books is a rallying cry for letting imaginations soar.

Curricular Connections: English & Art
Personal Connections: This book is great to show students how they can expand their imagination and knowledge. I think that this will help encourage students to read more.

Teacher Link: Can have students create a page where they find something they would want to add to this book using a picture book and sentences explaining their drawing.

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Title: Seven Little Mice Go to School
Author/Illustrator: Haruo Yamashita & Kazuo Iwamura (artist)
Published: July 1, 2011, from NorthSouth Books
Page Count: 32
Age: 4-8
Genre: Animals/ School
Theme: Afarid to go to school

Synopsis: It's time for seven little mice to start school!   And it's up to Mother Mouse to get them there. When the little mice prove reluctant, Mother Mouse invents "the mouse train" -- all aboard!

Curricular Connections: Back to School
Personal Connections: I love this book and the experience it takes you through as you see what it is like for this mother mouse to take her little mice to school. Keeping up with littles this book shows ways that you can help keep your students in a line when they are being wild.

Teacher Link: Seven Little Mice Go To School - By Kazuo Iwamura (hardcover) : Target

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Title: Baby Dragon, Baby Dragon!
Author/Illustrator: Melissa Marr & Lena Podesta (artist)
Published: March 26, 2019, from Nacy Paulsen Books
Page Count: 32
Age: 3-7
Genre: Fantasy/ Children/ Animals
Theme: Having a fun plan or enthusiastic idea

Synopsis: Baby Dragon loves to swoop and soar through the kingdom, which can cause quite a stir. But one little girl is up for the challenge of spending the day with Baby Dragon, and the two embark upon an exciting journey through the kingdom, where they run and race and climb and explore--and eventually even take the time to relish a quiet moment.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: I felt that this book was set for children that are much younger. I do think that it is a good book for kids to experience fantasy and what a wild dragon and the journey it would be like. In a class it could be fun to plan out their own adventures if it was to be read.

Teacher Link: Baby Dragon, Baby Dragon! (Hardcover) - Walmart.com

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Title: New Red Bike
Author/Illustrator: James E. Ransome
Published: March 1, 2011, from Holiday House
Page Count: 32
Age: 4-8
Genre: Entertainment/ Sport/ Storytime
Theme: Clever take on sharing

Synopsis: Up and down! Round and round! Tom is having a blast zooming all over the neighborhood on his new red bike. But when Tom stops by Sam's house to show off his wheels, he's in for an unhappy surprise. The new bike is suddenly...gone. Could his best friend, Sam, be the culprit?

Curricular Connections: Physical Education & Social Skills
Personal Connections: This book shows students the understanding of sharing and remembering what ours is. This shows students communication skills and is good for the classroom how they should behave.

Teacher Link: New Red Bike! (I Like to Read): Ransome, James E.: 9780823438525: Amazon.com: Books

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Title: You Matter
Author/Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Published: June 2, 2020, from Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 40
Age: 4-8
Genre: Fiction/ Cultural/ Poetry/ Inspirational
Theme: You will always matter

Synopsis: You matter, regardless of your size, color, age, etc.

Curricular Connections: Art & Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This book is a great story for students to understand a message that they matter. The illustrations in this book are wonderful. The book moves in a complete circle, beginning, and ending with the same phrases.

Teacher Link: You Matter | Read Along with Christian Robinson! | PBS KIDS - YouTube

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Title: All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything

Author/Illustrator:  Annette Bay Pimentel & Nabigal-Nayagam Haider Ali (artist)
Published: March 10, 2020, from Sourcebooks Explore
Page Count: 32
Grade Level: K-5
Genre: Autobiography/ Disability/ Children
Theme: You deserve a voice.

Synopsis: The true story of how an eight-year-old girl became a disability rights activist and captured Congress’s attention with her demonstration in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: This book is very uplifting for students to read and realize they can do anything they set their mind to.

Teacher Link: Read it Out Loud! A cube where there is questions that could've been questioned in the book that we will ask while rolling the dice and collaborate as a class.

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Title: Bedtime Math: This Time its Personal
Author/Illustrator: Laura Overdeck & Jim Paillot (artist)

Published: March 11, 2014, from Feiwel & Friends
Page Count: 96
Age: 8-10
Genre: Informational/ Counting/ Children
Theme: Making math fun everyday

Synopsis: Who doesn’t love a good bedtime story…or wait, a good bedtime puzzle?! Three puzzles each night, with different levels of complexity: sweet dreams!

Curricular Connections: Mathematics
Personal Connections: I think this book is perfect for students to do before bedtime and to get their brains thinking, I also think its a great read just for the classroom to help students achieve more in math

Teacher Link: Have students write out their own math puzzle they want to solve before bed.

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Title: Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White
Author/Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Published: October 4, 2016, from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Page Count: 176
Grade Level: 6+
Genre: Biography/ Nonfiction
Theme: Work hard and it will work out.

Synopsis: White’s personal letters, photos, and family ephemera with her own exquisite artwork to tell his story, from his birth in 1899 to his death in 1985. White’s personal letters, photos, and family ephemera with her own exquisite artwork to tell his story, from his birth in 1899 to his death in 1985.

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: Some Writer, what I thought about this book was a wonderful biography of E.B. White. It discusses so much of his life and his thoughts on his books like Charolett's Web.

Teacher Link: An activity for this story is a mini biography organizer where the students will discuss facts and information, they received from the book.

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Title: After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back up Again
Author/Illustrator: Dan Santat
Published: October 3, 2017, from Roaring Brook Press
Page Count: 40
Age: 4+
Genre: Children/ Fantasy/ Fiction/ Humor
Theme: Don't be afraid to overcome your fears.

Synopsis: The familiar nursery rhyme character paralyzed by anxiety and afraid to climb the ladder to the top of the wall he famously fell off of. He lost his courage and his spirit of adventure after he cracked up. His bummed-out mood improves when he successfully makes a paper airplane, but when it gets stuck on the top of the wall, he must face his fear or lose it forever.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: After the Fall, I thought that this book was a wonderful one about how humpty gets stuck in the shadows of the wall but decides he misses the top of the wall. The artwork was amazing and is a great after story of Humpty Dumpty.

Teacher Link: An activity for this book is maybe doing a Cause and Effect throughout the story.

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Title: Ban this Book
Author/Illustrator: Alan Gratz
Published: August 29, 2017, from Starscrape Books
Page Count: 256
Age: 8-12
Genre: Realistic Fiction/ Contemporary/ Children
Theme: Control and Power over others

Synopsis: An inspiring tale of a fourth grader who fights back when her favorite book is banned from the school library--by starting her own illegal locker library!

Curricular Connections: English & Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: I thought this book was a perfect representation of a student stepping up for what they believe and showing how it can be uncomfortable sometimes and nerve-racking. You walk through someone else's shoes at the end of the story, and it is so fun to experience. This book is a great read for the classroom because it shows students how to stand up for what they believe in and step out of their comfort zones.

Teacher Link: Character Portrait Activity

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Title: The Thing about Jellyfish
Author/Illustrator: Ali Benjamin
Published: September 22, 2015, from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 352
Age: 10-13
Genre: Fiction/ Young Adults/ Death/ Contemporary
Theme: Accepting reality even when bad things happen

Synopsis: After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting--things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning and science
Personal Connections: A good book for students who feel they may be struggling with a death in the family and want to see how this story went for this young girl. This is a good book for an older group of people because of the discussion of death and etc. But I would recommend for students.

Teacher Link: Amazon.com: The Thing About Jellyfish: 9780316380843: Benjamin, Ali: Books

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Title: Class Picture
Author/Illustrator: Noe Carlain & Herve Le Goff (pictures)
Published: January 1, 2020, from Kane Miller Books
Page Count: 32
Age: 4-8
Genre: Children/ Fiction/ Animals
Theme: Be kind and patient

Synopsis: This book is about in this humorous picture book, originally published in France, a frazzled photographer tries to organize groups of anthropomorphized animals as they pose for class pictures.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: I felt this book is hilarious for when you are about to have class picture day to read and show your students the fun and craziness that this book offers. I cant wait to put it in my future classroom library.

Teacher Link: Class Picture by Noé Carlain | Goodreads

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Title: Separate is Never Equal
Author/Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Published: May 6, 2014, from Harry N. Abrams
Page Count: 40
Age: 6-9
Genre: Nonfiction/ History/ Cultural/ Children
Theme: Fight for desegregation, civil rights movements

Synopsis: Family strength & unity support the Mendez family’s fight to desegregate California schools after Sylvia and her brothers are denied access to a school that her cousins are permitted to attend

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: This book I feel is so perfect for a history lesson for students to get a better understanding of Civil rights movements through a child's perspectives. I loved the storyline and the way that this book presented itself.

Teacher Link: Separate is Never Equal Reading - Bing video

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Title: Charolette's Web
Author/Illustrator: E. B. White & Garth Williams (pictures)
Published: October 1, 2001, from Harper Collins Publishers (first published in 1952)
Page Count: 184
Age: 8-12
Genre: Children/ Fiction/ Fantasy/ Animals
Theme: The Power of Friendship
Synopsis: Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: I loved this story and activity because it helped me come back to my childhood. This was one on the stories that I read all the time as a kid. This activity/book is perfect for students to do off a book they love or want to learn more about.
Teacher Link: Doing a journey map based off a character. Charlotte’s Web Chapter 1 Read Aloud - Bing video

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Title: Children of Exile
Author/Illustrator: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Published: September 13, 2016, from Simon & Schuster
Page Count: 304
Age: 12-14
Genre: Science Fiction/ Mystery/ Young Adult
Theme: Speak up and do what is right
Synopsis: For the past twelve years, adults called “Freds” have raised Rosi, her younger brother Bobo, and the other children of their town, saying it is too dangerous for them to stay with their parents, but now they are all being sent back. Since Rosi is the oldest, all the younger kids are looking to her with questions she doesn’t have the answers to. She’d always trusted the Freds completely, but now she’s not so sure.
Curricular Connections: Science
Personal Connections: In this book it really shows you how children will have to do things they may don't want to do. This is a good book for older children such as middle school students. It helps show them how they can speak up and do what they believe is right.
Teacher Link: Children of Exile (Children of Exile, #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix | Goodreads

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Title: The Seventh Wish
Author/Illustrator: Kate Messner
Published: June 7, 2016, from Bloomsbury USA Children
Page Count: 228
Age: 12-14
Genre: Fantasy/ Family/ Novel
Theme: Letting wild animals stay free
Synopsis: Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish.
Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This book is perfect for students to get a better understanding of how animals have their own life in their own environment. I felt like it was a really interesting book to read and wished I was wanting to teach older students so that I could do an activity with this book.
Teacher Link: The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner | Goodreads

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Author/Illustrator: Jon Scieszka and Mary Blair

Published: September 2, 2008, by Disney Press

Age: 3 and up
Page Count: 64

Genre: Children/ Adventure / Fantasy / Classics

Theme: Growth into adulthood

Synopsis: the classic story of day-dreaming Alice who follows a talking white rabbit down the rabbit hole to a brand-new world, Wonderland. This story brings in crazy characters like The Chesire Cat, The Queen of Hearts, and The Mad Hatter.

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning

Personal Connections: This is a classic childhood story for me and to see the artwork and retelling that was put into this was beautiful. This story brings back lots of childhood memories and shows me that its okay to live in my own little world of beautiful weird things.

Teacher Link: Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland: Scieszka, Jon, Blair, Mary: 9781484730416: Amazon.com: Books

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Author/Illustrator: Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs

Published: August 19, 2014, by Harry N. Abrams

Age: 8-12
Page count: 192

Genre: Children/ Robots / Science Fiction

Theme: Relationships can be built

Synopsis: Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and unusual. After an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm and flash of electricity bring Frank’s inventions—the robots Klink and Klank—to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his Antimatter Motor . . . until Frank’s archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan!

Curricular Connections: Science and engineering

Personal Connections:  This book is perfect for the older kid crowd; you feel connected to the book feeling that you can put anything you set your mind to. In this story I felt a connection with my nephew because he reminds me of Frank, he is a builder and will one day probably make a robot that will come to life.

Teacher Link: Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor - Bing video

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Title: The Gardener
Author/Illustrator: Sarah Stewart & David Small (Pictures)
Published: August 30, 1997, from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Age: 4-7
Page Count: 34
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Gardening/ Family
Theme: Light in Darkness, Embrace the things you love, Try new things, Time and effort can go a long way

Synopsis: Lydia Grace Finch brings a suitcase full of seeds, plenty of stationery, and a passion for gardening to the big gray city, where she goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. There she initiates a gradual transformation, brightening the bakery and bringing smiles to customers' faces with the flowers she grows. But it is in a secret place that Lydia Grace works on her masterpiece, which she hopes will be powerful enough to make even Uncle Jim smile.

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: This book seems authentic this young girl wrote her family letters back and forth telling them what was going on and how she felt or how her uncle was feeling, and, in the illustrations, you see the struggle that he and his shop had or how everyone was feeling during this time. This book showed so much amazing stuff and I felt was perfect for the classroom for students to read and see how that time was in our history from a child's perspective.

Teacher Link: The Gardener - YouTube

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Title: Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story
Author/Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Published: August 1, 2004, from Turtleback Books
Page Count: 40
Genre: Fairytales/ Cultural/ Children
Theme: Be Kind, Be who you are, Good v. Evil

Synopsis: Poor Adelita! Night and day she slaves in the kitchen, and still her step-mother forbids her to attend Javier's party. But with the help of the old servant Esperanza, she disguises herself in a beautiful rebozo, or shawl, and wins Javier's heart. The next day Javier spies the rebozo in Adelita's window, and soon they live muy felices por siempre -- happily ever after!

Curricular Connections: Worldwide
Personal Connections: Cinderella is a classic book from my childhood, and it was so interesting to see how a different culture brought this general storyline into their culture. I loved seeing what this culture looked like more and the beauty behind the pictures.

Teacher Link: Adelita A Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie de Paola - YouTube

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Title: The Korean Cinderella
Author/Illustrator: Shirley Climo & Ruth Heller (Pictures)
Published: January 18, 1996, from Harper Collins
Page Count: 48
Genre: Fairytales/ Folklore/ Fiction/ Children
Theme: Good v. Evil, Be Kind, Love conquers all

Synopsis: Like the tree planted to honor her birth, Pear Blossom is beautiful, and the pride of her elderly mother and father. But then her mother dies, and her father remarries. Pear Blossom’s stepmother resents her new daughter’s beauty. Out of jealousy, she makes Pear Blossom perform impossible chores while her own daughter, Peony, watches idly. But fortunately, Pear Blossom is not alone. With the help of magical creatures—togkabis—she can accomplish each task, and triumph over her stepmother’s cruelty.

Curricular Connections: Worldwide
Personal Connections: Cinderella is a classic book from my childhood, and it was so interesting to see how a different culture brought this general storyline into their culture. I loved seeing what this culture looked like more and the beauty behind the pictures.

Teacher Link: 💛The Korean Cinderella /Kids Books Read Aloud/💖Read by Dixy's Storytime World - YouTube

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Title: Goldilocks and the 3 bears
Author/Illustrator: James Marshall
Published: September 30, 1988
Traditional Type/Genre: Folktales, fairy tales
Grade Level: K -2
Short Summary: Goldilocks a girl who wants to fit in. She disobeys her mother by taking the wrong path and runs into a home that belongs to three bears. She then proceeds to destroy the bears home by sitting in their chairs, eating their food and sleeping in their beds. Until the bears come home and see what has happened.
Page Count: 32
Theme: Obey parents and don't go where you are not allowed (trespassing)
Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: A lot can be learned from this story, somethings I got from this is to listen to your parents, don't break into stranger's houses, don't touch things without permission from those people, etc. As a child these are critical learning lesson to be taught and understand. This is a great book for young children to read.

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Title: Wayward Creatures
Author/Illustrator: Dayna Lorentz
Published: January 18, 2022, from Clarion Books
Page Count: 304
Age: 8-12
Genre: Animals/ Fiction/ Children
Theme: Friendships grow in the unexpected ways

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Gabe doesn’t know where he belongs anymore. His family is caught up in their own lives and his friends barely have time for him now. In a plea for attention to impress his friends after school, Gabe sets off fireworks in the woods near his house and causes a small forest fire that destroys several acres of land. A coyote named Rill—finds herself far from home. Already on animal control’s watch for wandering into a backyard and snapping at a child, Rill crawls into a cave, where she nurses her wounds alone. Gabe and Rill’s paths irrevocably cross when Gabe is tasked with cleaning up the forest through the court's restorative justice program. But together, they discover that sometimes it only takes one friend to find the place where you belong.

Curricular Connections: Science and Social Emotional
Personal Connections: The book shows how friendship can be in may shapes or forms. I love that this story develops the growth of a friendship where one has been struggling and the other is going through things in their own way. I think that this story is perfect for the classroom to help show how important friendship is.

Teacher Link: Wayward Creatures - By Dayna Lorentz (hardcover) : Target

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Title: My Brother is Away
Author/Illustrator: Sara Greenwood, Illustrated Luisa Uribe
Published: October 11, 2022, from Random House Studio
Page Count: 40
Age: 5-8
Genre: Children/ Emotional/ Family/ Contemporary
Theme: For every person who is incarcerated, there is also a family whose lives have also been changed.

Synopsis: With her older brother in prison, a young girl copes with the confusing feelings his absence creates. At times she remembers the way her brother would carry her on his shoulders or how he would make up stories to tell her at bedtime. Other times she feels angry and wants to fly so far away that she can forget what happened. Her brother is not home, but his love hasn't changed.

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections: This story was a wonderful book to read, I felt that it was so reassuring, gentle and spare words. I feel this book helps children know that they are not alone in certain situations. The book shows the struggles of the family, and this is a good exposure for student to be able to read and see that there are struggles within every family.

Teacher Link: My Brother Is Away - By Sara Greenwood (hardcover) : Target

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Title: The 1619 Project: Born on the Water
Author/Illustrator: Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson, Nikkolas Smith (Illustrator).
Published: November 16, 2021
Page Count: 48
Genre: Historical/ Nonfiction/ Poetry
Theme: Our ancestors worked hard for us.
Synopsis: A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders. But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.

Curricular Connections: History with poetry
Personal Connections: Within this book it showed me that understanding my family background is so important and makes me want to look more in-depth on it. It does remind me on a project I did in Middle School where we had to bring in artifacts from our families that were from our ancestors and had to find out information about our families. This is such a wonderful book for students to read and a lesson to go with it. I can't wait to add it to my library.

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Title: A Seed in the Sun
Author/Illustrator: Aida Salazar
Published: October 25, 2022
Page Count: 272
Genre: Historical Fiction, Family, Poetry
Theme: Finding your voice
Synopsis: A farm-working girl Lula Viramontes with big dreams meets activist Dolores Huerta and joins the 1965 protest for workers' rights. Her dreams of one day becoming someone whom no one can ignore: a daring ringleader in a Mexican traveling carpa, despite her father's traditional views of what girls should be. When her family arrives for the grape harvest in Delano, California, Lula meets activist Dolores Huerta and el Teatro Campesino (the official theater company of the United Farm Workers). She discovers an even more pressing reason to raise her voice: the upcoming farm workers' strike, an event that will determine her family's future--for better or worse.

Curricular Connections: History with poetry
Personal Connections: This book showed me that I need to stand up for myself and to make sure that I am using my voice. I want to incorporate this in my classroom as well because letting students know that their voices will be heard is so important.

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Title: Inside Out and Back Again
Author/Illustrator: Thanhha Lai
Published: February 22, 2011
Page Count: 262
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Poetry
Theme: That you can do anything even if you feel you can't
Synopsis: For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family.

Curricular Connections: History, poetry
Personal Connections:  This poetry book was wonderful and showed me a difference in how a book can be formatted. I could understand what this young girl was going through by just reading these simple poems that she was writing. I felt that I grew a connection with her through her words.

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Title: El Deafo
Author/Illustrator: CeCe Bell and Colorist David Lasky
Published: January 1, 2014
Page Count: 233
Genre: Nonfiction/ Graphic Novel/ Memoir
Theme: Overcoming your disability
Synopsis: Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece's class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in school — in the hallway... in the teacher's lounge... in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it's just another way of feeling different... and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections:  This book was a wonderful representation of a student may feel when they are going through when they feel they are different from others. Cece had to deal with so much for someone so young. I found that this book is great for students who may have a disability want to be treated like everyone else. That they just want a friends.

Teacher Link: El Deafo — A Note from the Author

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Title: Vamos Let's Cross the Bridge
Author/Illustrator: Raul the Third, colorist Elaine Bay
Published: September 21, 2021
Page Count: 48
Genre: Fiction/ Spanish Literature/ Adventure
Theme: That there are similarities in different areas
Synopsis: People are always crossing the bridge for work, to visit family, or for play. Some going this way; others going that way. Back and forth they go. With friends on foot and in bicycles, in cars and trucks, the bridge is an incredibly busy place with many different types of vehicles. Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé have a new truck and they are using it to carry party supplies over the bridge with their pals El Toro and La Oink Oink. The line is long and everyone on the bridge is stuck. How will they pass the time?

Curricular Connections: Social Emotional Learning
Personal Connections:  This book showed lots of culture and how no matter where you are if the area is busy or you are stuck, look around you and see the world even when you are in a new place. Culture is a great topic to discuss, and this book shows the Spanish Culture.

Teacher Link: ¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge (Read Along) (2021) Movie | hoopla (hoopladigital.com)

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Title: Hot Dog
Author/Illustrator: Doug Salati
Published: March 24, 2022
Page Count: 40
Genre: Fiction/ Adventure/ Animals
Theme: Living comfortably and the change of scenery
Synopsis: It's summer in the city, and this hot dog has had enough! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Here, a pup can run!

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning, Health
Personal Connections: The way this story shows you how house pets feel and want more than what they are receiving. As a pet owner (of a cat) I tend to make sure I am listening to what she wants. Though I don't want to let her outside or get up to turn on my sink water. I do it because she is unable to do it herself and because I know she will tell me when she needs something.

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Title: Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II
Author/Illustrator: Lia Levi, Jess Mason (Illustrator)
Published: January 1, 1994
Page Count: 144
Genre: Memoir/ Biography/ Nonfiction/ History
Theme:
Synopsis: 1938, Italy. Six-year-old Lia loves to build sandcastles at the beach and her biggest problem is her shyness and quiet, birdlike voice—until prime minister Mussolini joins forces with Hitler in World War II, and everything changes. Now there are laws saying Jewish children can’t go to school, Jews can’t work, or go on vacation. It’s difficult for Lia to understand why this is happening to her family. When her father loses his job, they must give up their home and move from city to city. As war comes closer, it becomes too dangerous to stay together, and Lia and her sisters are sent to hide at a convent. Will she ever be “just a girl” again?

Curricular Connections: History
Personal Connections: I found that this book was amazing, and I wanted to buy a hard copy of it. The way that it was in the child's point of view made the story more compelling and heart-rending. This makes it good for reading to student and being able to teach a good lesson that can follow it.

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Title: The Big Bad Wolf in My House
Author/Illustrator: Valerie Fontaine & Nathalie Dion
Published: March 1, 2021 by Groundwood Books
Page Count: 32
Genre: Children/ Abuse / Family / Realistic Fiction
Theme: Don't always trust a Wolf, Stand up for yourself.
Synopsis: A young girl describes what it’s like when her mom’s new friend comes to stay — a moving story about domestic violence that ends on a hopeful note.

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning
Personal Connections:  This story made me realize that there is more to someone's life than they may led on. As a teacher you want to be aware of what is going on in your student's life so that you can see if anything bad is going on and how you can help.

Teacher Link: THE BIG BAD WOLF IN MY HOUSE - USBBY

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Title: Ducks Overboard: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans
Author/Illustrator: Markus Motum
Published: January 19, 2021
Page Count: 32
Genre: Children/ Environment / Nonfiction/ Earth
Theme: How to keep our Earth beautiful
Synopsis: Delicately balances the magnitude of the global plastic waste issue (in back matter) with a hopeful, simple message. The vibrant, uncomplicated mixed-media illustrations chronicle one plastic duck’s journey from the factory to a child's bathtub, aided by thousands of miles of trash-laden ocean currents.

Curricular Connections: Science
Personal Connections:  This story showed me that I need to watch what I am throwing away and where I should be throwing it away at. The story of this rubber duck made me sad to see how long it has lasted in the ocean and that I want to make sure that I am doing what should be properly done for my trash and to find ways to help our ocean because we only have that one ocean (though we have more we just can't exchange it for a new one).

Teacher Link: DUCKS OVERBOARD! A TRUE STORY OF PLASTIC IN OUR OCEANS - USBBY

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Title: The Three Little Pigs
Author/Illustrator: James Marshall
Published: September 29 1989 by Dial
Page Count: 32
Genre: Children/ Animals / Fiction / Fairy Tales
Theme: Think smarter not harder
Synopsis: 3 pigs decide to leave home and adventure out on their own the first pig makes a house of straw, the second with sticks, and the third with bricks. A wolf comes around and disrupts the pigs living. The first two pigs are outsmarted by the wolf, and the third pig outsmarts the wolf.

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning
Personal Connections:  A true classic, I grew up listening to this story, though it was not this exact one, but I have heard this one a couple of times. This story to me shows that being quicker isn't always the smartest and to not trust everything someone says. Like how the Third Pig would get to the apple patch an hour before the wolf so he would not run into him because he didn't trust him.

Teacher Link: 🐷 THE THREE LITTLE PIGS 🐺

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Title: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Author/Illustrator: Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Published: March 1, 1996 by Puffin Books
Page Count: 32
Genre: Children/ Animals / Fiction / Humor
Theme: There is always two sides to every story
Synopsis: In this hysterical and clever fracture fairy tale picture book that twists point of view and perspective, young readers will finally hear the other side of the story of “The Three Little Pigs.”

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning
Personal Connections:  This was always one of my favorite books when I was in elementary school because it showed the other side of this classic story. I think that it was amazing how the author was able to represent the other side of the story because that is true in life there is always two sides to everything. You want to hear both sides though you can't always be certain who is telling the truth at least both sides are being told.

Teacher Link: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs - YouTube

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Title: We're All Wonders
Author/Illustrator: R.J. Palacio
Published: March 28, 2017, by Alfred A. Knopf books for Young Readers
Page Count: 32
Genre: Children/ (realistic) Fiction/ Disability/ Inspirational
Theme: Kindness, empathy, adventure
Synopsis: The story is told from Auggie's perspective, and he talks about how he understands that he isn't ordinary. He does ordinary things but doesn't look like an ordinary boy. He wants others to look at him for who he is, a wonder.

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning
Personal Connections: "Look with kindness and you will always find wonder." This book is perfect for children that feel different or out of places, it shows them that it is okay to be different because we all are. The story behind this book shows that though we may feel out of place, we should look at ourselves and find our wonder.

Teacher Link: WE'RE ALL WONDERS Book Read Aloud | Uplifting Book for Kids | Kids Books Read Aloud - Bing video

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Title: Grandad's Camper
Author/Illustrator: Harry Woodgate
Published: April 6, 2021 by Little Bee Books
Page Count: 32
Genre: Childrens Literature/ Fiction
Theme: Love, representation, adventure

Synopsis: Gramps and Grandad were adventurers. They would surf, climb mountains, and tour the country in their amazing camper. Gramps just made everything extra special. But after Gramps died, granddad hasn't felt like traveling anymore. So, their amazing granddaughter comes up with a clever plan to fix up the old camper and get Grandad excited to explore again.

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning and arts.
Personal Connections: I thought that this book was very eye opening and lovely. It goes through the adventures that a young African- American girls grandads did. It's very nice to see that there are books that will represent so much. In my family we take lots of adventures together and keep those memories close. I loved that the granddaughter wanted her grandad to have another adventure so that her grandad could remember his loved one, Gramps. This book is really engaging and keeps the reader interested. You go through an adventure of rediscovery.

Teacher Link: Grandad's Camper - Harry Woodgate

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Title: Be Your Own Best Friend Forever
Author & Illustrator: Gary Robinson
Featuring: Jayla Rose
Published: March 28th, 2021
Page Count: 40
Genre: Childrens Literature/ Non-Fiction
Theme: Self Love

Synopsis: Jayla knows to ignore voices that tell her she isn't good enough. She doesn't listen to the voice of self-doubt and instead listens to her voice of self-love, teaching herself to be her own best friend.

Curricular Connections: Social emotional learning
Personal Connections: In this story it sends a message about how to love yourself and others that love themselves. This shows children that it is okay to be different and to not care what others think, only you should. You should be your friend first. Mentioned throughout the story there are tips and tricks on how you can be your own best friend.

Teacher Link: Be Your Own Best Friend Forever - YouTube