2024 Read Across America Book Recomendations by

“The Rough Face Girl” by Rafe Martin (3-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:11:27 UTC

The Rough Face Girl is a twisted version of Cinderella. It follows the storyline of an Algonquin girl that has a different outer appearance because of her evil sisters. She is the only one in town that wins the heart of the all powerful "invisible being", while the rest of the girls are fighting for his attention.

"The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:12:19 UTC

A little girl leaves Korea to move to the United States and is very nervous about all of the changes. Her name is hard to pronounce, and she isn't looking forward to starting school because she knows her classmates will have trouble saying it. She creates a "name jar" with American names to choose from but still cant find a good one. Then Unhei meets a friend at school who teaches her that she doesn't need an American name after all.

“Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de La Pena (K-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:13:37 UTC

This story follows a boy named CJ and his grandmother on a bus ride through the city after church on a Sunday. CJ wonders why other people have cars, electronics and more, and why they have to ride the bus and get off in the not-so-nice part of town. The book touches on topics such as culture, inequity, and how to do good in a community.

“Separate is Never Equal” by Duncan Tonatiuh (3-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:14:23 UTC

This book highlights the themes of never giving up, equal rights, and desegregation. This informational picture book tells the story of one family's fight against segregation in California schools in the mid-1940's.

“Eyes that Kiss in the Corners” by Joanna Ho (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:15:48 UTC

This is a story about a young Asian girl who notices that she looks different from her peers. During the book, she slowly learns to accept and love her Asian shaped eyes and celebrates her diversity.

“The Water Princess” by Susan Verde (K-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:16:23 UTC

A young girl, Georgie, from Burkina Faso, wakes up every morning dreaming of bringing clean drinking water to her small village. She and other women walk multiple miles every day to collect water for everyone. The book brings readers on a journey to finding a solution for clean water while teaching us that not all people in the world have this luxury.

“Our Class is a Family” by Shannon Olsen (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:22:42 UTC

This is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it's safe to be themselves, it's okay to make mistakes, and it's important to be a friend to others.

“The Year We Learned to Fly” by Jacqueline Woodson (K-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:23:21 UTC

This story is about a brother and sister on a boring day. Their grandmother tells them to use their imaginations to make their day more creative and fun. They are both African Americans with dark curly hair, and they live in the top of a tall apartment building. They eventually "fly over the city" using their big imaginations". There are underlying themes such as finding courage, resilience, strength, and empowerment.

“Fry Bread” by Kevin Noble Maillard (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:24:09 UTC

This book portrays a group of Native American family members that make fry bread together. Fry bread is a type of flatbread that is fried in oil, common to many Native American homes. The book encompasses the culture, family, and traditions of many of these homes.

“Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon (1-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:25:04 UTC

Stellaluna is the tender story of a lost young bat who finally finds her way safely home to her mother and friends.

“Strictly no Elephants” by Lisa Mantchev (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:25:46 UTC

Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.

“Too Many Tamales” by Gary Soto (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:37:02 UTC

When Maria and her family are making tamales for Christmas, she tries on her mothers wedding ring and loses it. She thinks she has lost it within the tamale dough! Her and her cousins all come up with a plan to eat the tamales to find the ring. But the problem? Now there are no tamales left, and the ring is on her mothers finger. This is a heartfelt story about 3 generations of Latinos coming together during the holidays.

“The Proudest Blue” by Ibtithaj Muhammad (K-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:37:48 UTC

A young girl, Faizah, is looking forward to starting school. She looks up to her older sister Asiya, who is starting middle school and is wearing a hijab for the very first time. Hers is blue, just like the ocean. Her sister sees Asiya as a princess in her hijab, but she gets bullied in school for wearing it. After new advice from friends, mentors, and parents, the two girls' bond is stronger than ever.

"CHANGE SINGS" BY AMANDA GORMAN

ashtonjohnston21 — 2022-11-19 19:39:32 UTC

Anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves.

"WHEN THE COUSINS CAME" BY KATIE YAMASAKI (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 17:10:54 UTC

Lila is excited for her cousins Takeo and Rosie to visit. They're going to ride bikes, paint, and camp together! But when the cousins arrive, everything's wrong: Rosie and Takeo are better painters than Lila, have skateboards instead of bikes, and don't want to camp outside.

"A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY" BY SARA OLEARY (UPK-2)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 17:52:32 UTC

"THE INVISIBLE BOY" BY TRUDY LUDWIG

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:07:55 UTC

Sometimes it’s a small action—a kind word or encouragement—that can make a big difference. Brian is so quiet that he is almost invisible to everyone else. But when other students make fun of a child’s lunch, Brian steps in with a kind word in a note, and in turn, makes a new friend.

" Mama’s Nightingale" By Edwidge Danticat

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:09:02 UTC

A mother is in jail because she doesn’t have the proper immigration papers, so she is separated from her family. The child writes the story of her family down, and her father sends it off to the local paper. Her touching story reaches the public and the story causes a judge to take action and allow the family to be reunited.

"One Plastic Bag" by Isatou Ceesay

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:10:14 UTC

In this book, Isatou Cessay takes action in her small village in the Gambia by taking plastic bags that have littered her villages and weaves them into purses. She and a few other women change the landscape in their village and make a difference.

"STICK AND STONE" BY TOM LITCHENHELD

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:11:12 UTC

This not only shows two friends having fun, it also has a friend sticking up for another—one small action that cements their friendship and changes a bully’s ways.

"THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES" BY BJ NOVAK (UPK-2)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:20:21 UTC

It contains no pictures, as the title suggests, but it is full of imagery and creativity.

"THE BIG CHEESE" BY JORY JOHN (UPK-2)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:21:52 UTC

The Big Cheese is the best at everything, and brags about it, too. When the annual Cheese-cathlon comes around, the Big Cheese is prepared to win, as always. But what happens when the quiet new kid, Wedge Wedgeman, comes out on top?

"WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ALL DAY?" BY RICHARD SCARRY (1-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:29:48 UTC

The illustrations of a community of animals at work — building houses, running a water treatment plant, putting out fires — are filled with strange details, like a wolf wearing a bucket with a chick hatching on his head.

"THE NIGHT I FOLLOWED THE DOG" BY NINA LADEN (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:30:31 UTC

The story’s told by a little boy who thinks his dog is just an ordinary dog until one morning when he happens to see his tuxedo-clad pet climbing out of a limo. And that’s not all his dog is up to.

"THE PAPERBAG PRINCESS" BY ROBERT MUNSCH (MISS JOHNSTONS FAV!) (ALL AGES)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:32:01 UTC

Princess Elizabeth is set to marry Prince Ronald. But when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps Ronald, Elizabeth must do what she can to save her prince. The delightful story proves you can be a princess and a hero — and shows you don't need a prince to be either

"PRESIDNET TAFT IS STUCK IN THE BATH" BY MAC BARNETT (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:33:28 UTC

William H. Taft is every child’s favorite U.S. President. Or, at least, he becomes their favorite president once they hear the urban legend that, because he was so hefty, Taft actually once got stuck in a White House bathtub.

"Little People, BIG DREAMS: Wilma Rudolph" by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (1-4)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:38:41 UTC

Born into a family with 22 brothers and sisters in the segregated South, Wilma suffered from polio as a child and was told she would never walk again. But she eventually recovered and excelled at sports like basketball, earning the nickname “Skeeter” (mosquito) for her amazing speed.

"I am Amelia Earhart" By Brad Meltzer (3-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:41:52 UTC

Amelia Earhart refused to accept no for an answer; she dared to do what no one had ever done before, and became the first woman to fly a plane all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. This biography follows her from childhood to her first flying lessons and onward to her multi-record-breaking career as a pilot.

"I AM NEIL ARMSTRONG" BY BRAD MELTZER (ALL AGES)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:44:55 UTC

Neil Armstrong's journey to the moon is the focus of the fifteenth picture book in the New York Times bestselling series of biographies about heroes.

"THE BUS RIDE THAT CHANGED HISTORY" BY PAMELA DUNCAN EDWARDS (1-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:46:36 UTC

Refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger took courage and determination, and led to changes in civil rights laws that have brought all Americans closer to a more just and equal society.

"I AM HELLEN KELLER" BY BRAD METZGER (K-4)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:51:48 UTC

When Helen Keller was very young, she got a rare disease that made her deaf and blind. Suddenly, she couldn't see or hear at all, and it was hard for her to communicate with anyone. But when she was six years old, she met someone who changed her life forever: her teacher, Annie Sullivan. With Miss Sullivan's help, Helen learned how to speak sign language and read Braille. Armed with the ability to express herself, Helen grew up to become a social activist, leading the fight for people with disabilities and so many other causes.

"GEORGE WASHINGTON" BY DAVID ADLER (1-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:53:23 UTC

Follow along with this introductory reading of our first President of the United States, George Washington.

"FOX IN SOCKS" BY DR SEUSS (UPK-1)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:54:58 UTC

The story focuses on two characters, a Fox and a yellow creature called Knox while using a variety of wacky words. The former brings out all sorts of tongue twisters throughout the poem and tries to challenge Knox into saying them. He isn’t up to the task and continually complains about how hard they are. By the end of the poem, Knox sticks Fox in a bottle and comes up with a rhyme of his own.

"OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!" BY DR SEUSS

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:57:08 UTC

From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and whimsical illustrations. The inspiring and timeless message encourages readers to find the success that lies within, no matter what challenges they face.

"HORTON HEARS A WHO" BY DR SEUSS

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 18:58:47 UTC

Horton finds that a speck of dust that is actually a small planet called Whoville. He believes that everyone should be treated equally. The other animals of the jungle ridicule Horton for believing in something he can’t see or hear and even try to hurt poor Horton. This book will teach your children about equality and that standing up for something you believe in can be difficult.

"GREEN EGGS AND HAM" BY DR SEUSS (ALL AGES)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 19:01:13 UTC

Sam-I-Am wants a boy to like green eggs and ham, and keeps suggesting different places that the main character might enjoy them. Finally, the boy tries them and discovers that he actually does like green eggs and ham, so he thanks Sam.

"THERES A WOCKET IN MY POCKET" BY DR SEUSS (ALL AGES)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 19:41:27 UTC

There’s a Wocket in my Pocket is narrated by a young boy that goes through his house and points out all of the strange creatures in it. It is very simple and consist entirely of made up creatures rhyming with the location that they are found.

"CIRCLES ALL AROUND US" BY BRAD MONTAGUE (UPK-3)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 19:43:24 UTC

This is the story of a circle. When we're first born, our circle is very small, but as we grow and build relationships, our circle keeps getting bigger and bigger to include family, friends, neighbors, community, and beyond.

"RUBY'S WISH" BY SHIRIN YIM BRIDGES (3-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 19:49:47 UTC

Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family.

Based upon the inspirational story of the author's grandmother and accompanied by richly detailed illustrations, Ruby's Wish is an engaging portrait of a young girl who strives for more and a family who rewards her hard work and courage.

"MARTINS BIG WORDS: THE LIFE OF MLK" (3-5)

ashtonjohnston21 — 2024-02-15 20:04:30 UTC

This beautifully illustrated book weaves together the story of King’s life with “big words” from his speeches.