Harper, 1952

This book is about the barnyard life of a young pig who is going to be butchered in the fall. All the animals of the yard, especially the gray spider named Charlotte hatch a plot with the company of the farmer's daughter in order to save the pig's life. The story talks about friendship and the cycle of life.

Scholastic, 2000

This book is about the power of resilience. Esperanza is a young girl who had to moved from Mexico to California and live in a labor camp. Esperanza is not prepared for her new life because in Mexico she had all the comfort and easy existence. She had servants, fancy dresses and she never had to work. When she arrived to California, her mother becomes ill and Esperanza had to work in order to survive, but she had to find courage and strength to overcome the obstacles.

Harcourt Brace, 1944

A girl name Wanda Petronski receives bad jokes and bullying from her classmates. One day the children understand and realize their cruelty towards her, but when this happened it is too late. This book is about peer pressure and bullying.

This novel was printed more that seventy years ago. It has a three volume series. The book is about a person who narrates the story of his father when he was a boy. This is a good book to introduce children to longer stories with more print and fewer pictures. This story begins with Elmer Elevator, an imaginative boy, who overhears a conversation between his parents about a baby dragon that is being mistreated on Wild Island. Intrigued by the idea of a dragon in need, Elmer decides to rescue him.

Elmer starts a journey to Wild Islan with a backpack filled with useful items. Along the way, he encounters various challenges, such as talking animals and a bridge guarded by scary tigers. Using his wits and the items in his backpack, Elmer manages to overcome each obstacle.

Eventually, Elmer reaches the island and discovers the baby dragon, who is indeed in a sorry state. The dragon is tied to a tree and is being forced to ferry animals across a river. Elmer uses his remaining supplies to free the dragon and finds a plan to escape the island.

The second part of the story involves Elmer and the dragon's journey back home. They face new challenges, make new friends, and demonstrate the power of kindness. Elmer's adventures teach important lessons about courage, compassion, and the ability to solve problems through creativity and clever thinking.

Orchard, 1995

The story is about a young mouse named Poppy, who lives in Dimwood Forest. Poppy is a brave and curious mouse, but she is concerned about the safety of her family and friends due to the presence of a large and scary owl named Mr. Ocax.

Mr. Ocax is the self-proclaimed ruler of Dimwood Forest, and he demands that all mice seek his permission to move about freely. He uses fear and intimidation to maintain control over the smaller animals, and the mice live in constant fear of him.

When Poppy's boyfriend Ragweed is killed by Mr. Ocax, Poppy decides that she's had enough. She sets out on a dangerous journey to find a new home where mice can live without the threat of the owl. Along the way, she faces various challenges, encounters different creatures, and learns important lessons about courage and independence.

The novel is about bravery, friendship, and the desire for freedom. Poppy's journey is an empowering one, and the story is filled with adventure. "Poppy" is well-loved for its ability to captivate young readers with its charming tale of a small mouse taking on big challenges in the name of freedom and justice.

This book is the story of Stella a Mexican girl who comes to the United States when she was a baby. The story takes place in Chicago. Stella has a difficult time pronouncing words in English and her classmates make fun of her. She signs for a spelling bee contest, and for an oral presentation in class. A classmate was bullying her. Stella finds out that she has something to say and she starts to talk in English and in Spanish at the same time with confidence. The relationship with her mom gives her courage to confront difficult situations at home and at school. The events in this story are personally related to my own because when I came to the USA I did not speak English and it was hard to overcome the bullying and the discomfort to speak with a different accent. I love how Stella overcome this obstacles.

Grades 4 and up

Viking, 2017

This book is about Malú, a twelve-year-old Mexican-American girl with a passion for punk music and a unique sense of style. When her mom gets a new job, Malú is forced to move to Chicago and start a new school. At her new school, Malú faces the pressure to fit in with the popular crowd, but she's determined to stay true to herself.

The novel is structured around the "Rules of Punk" that Malú creates as a guide for her life. These rules reflect her love for punk music and her desire to express her individuality. However, Malú faces challenges from both her classmates and the school administration, particularly when she forms a punk rock band for the school's talent show.

Throughout the story, Malú learns about the importance of accepting her cultural identity and discovers the true meaning of friendship.

"The First Rule of Punk" is praised for its relatable protagonist, diverse characters, and the way it addresses issues of cultural identity and the struggles of being a pre-teen. It's a heartwarming and empowering story about being true to oneself and celebrating what makes each person unique.

Grades 2-5

Yearling, 1996

This book is about Milo Crinkley an insecure boy who feels that he is far from being perfect. One day, he finds a self-help book titled "Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days" by Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish. Intrigued by the promise of perfection, Milo decides to follow the book's instructions to transform himself into the perfect person.

The self-help book showed him a series of tasks and challenges for Milo to complete over the course of three days. These challenges are sometimes humorous and sometimes absurd, involving activities such as standing on his head, talking to flowers, and imitating a rooster. Throughout the process, Milo learns valuable lessons about self-acceptance, the importance of being genuine, and the folly of trying to conform to unrealistic ideals of perfection.

As Milo goes through the three-day program, he interacts with colorful characters, including his talking dog, and faces comical situations. Ultimately, he discovers that true perfection comes from embracing one's imperfections and being comfortable with who you are.

Grades 5 and up

Penguin Random House, 2014

Brown Girl Dreaming, is a memoir in verse written by Jacqueline Woodson, an award-winning author. The book provides a poetic and powerful research of Woodson's childhood and coming-of-age experiences.

The memoir is written in a series of free-verse poems, each offering a brief look into Woodson's life from her birth in Ohio in 1963 to her adolescence. The narrative is structured chronologically and is divided into three parts, reflecting the places that where important and significant to her upbringing: Ohio, South Carolina, and New York.

Grades K-6

Knopf, 1961

This book is about a boy called James and as he is on his way to his aunts' house, he accidentally spills the crystals near an old peach tree. The magic causes a peach to grow on the tree, and it becomes enormous. James discovers a hidden entrance inside the peach and enters to find a group of magically transformed, giant-sized insects: Centipede, Earthworm, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Ladybug, Spider, and Glow-worm.

The insects befriend James, and together, they decide to roll the giant peach away from Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, embarking on an adventure. The peach rolls across the countryside, floating on the sea, and encountering various challenges and dangers. The group faces mechanical sharks, cloud men, and more, but they work together to overcome these obstacles.

As the journey continues, the characters in the peach learn about James's sad past and support him. James, in turn, gains confidence and leadership skills. The story culminates in a dramatic climax in New York City, where the group faces their ultimate challenge.

Grades 3-7

Random House, 2017

This book is about Alec Spencer, a sixth-grader who loves to read. However, Alec finds himself in trouble at school because he often reads during class instead of paying attention to the teacher. As a result, he is sent to the principal's office and is given the choice of joining a summer program or facing summer school.

Alec chooses the summer program, expecting it to be boring. However, he discovers that the program, led by a librarian named Ms. Sue, is all about reading and discussing books. To Alec's surprise, he is introduced to a diverse group of kids who share his love for reading, and they decide to form a "book club" of their own, calling themselves "The Losers Club."

As the club members read and discuss books together, they form a strong friendship. Alec likes the group and he realized that being part of The Losers Club doesn't mean being a loser. The novel talks about friendship, self-discovery, and the power of books.

Throughout the story, Alec faces challenges, including a difficult family situation, but he learns to navigate them with the support of his new friends. "The Losers Club" celebrates the joy of reading and the sense of belonging that can be found in shared interests and connections. The novel invites young readers to embrace their passions and appreciate the value of literature and friendship.