Illustrator : David Lasky

Publication Date : Sept. 4. 2014

Publisher : Amulet Books

# of Pages : 248

Grade Level : 3 - 7

Theme : Self Confidence, Disability Friendship

Artistic Media : Cartoon / Comic Drawing

Summary :

El Deafo is the story of Cece a girl who loses her hearing at the age of 4 because of Meningitis. Cece is faced with many challenges in being the only deaf child at school. She begins with being shy and timid because of her struggles and other peoples thoughts on her being deaf. Her peers would ask why does she have things in her ears and it caused her to feel insecure. Until she sees the powers in her disability and feels like a superhero because she can hear everything the teacher is saying from her hearing aids. Her confidence booms and she doesn't look at her disability as a bad thing anymore. This book is great at going through the struggles of being deaf or having any disability and how we can change anything into becoming a positive based on your outlook.

Illustrator - James Marshall

Publishing Date- 1984

Publisher - Grosset and Dunlap

# of Pages - 32

Grade Level - Pre - K

Theme - Family, Hard work

Setting - Village

Artistic Media - Cartoon

Summary -

Three little pigs are brothers who went on to build their own houses each separately. One made one of straw, one made one of sticks and the last made his or bricks. The big bad wolf came along to each house to eat each pig, with the first two being made of straw and sticks he was able to blow the houses down and eat the two pigs. Until he got to the house of bricks where he was unable to blow it down and the last pig tricked the wolf into coming into his house and falling into a pot of boiling water.

Such a classic story that we all know and teaches kids about resilience and hard work.

Illustrator - Lane Smith

Publishing Date- 1989

Publisher - Viking Children's Book

# of Pages - 32

Grade Level - K - 3

Theme - Different Perspective, Opinion

Setting - Village

Artistic Media - Cartoon

Summary -

This story is from the Wolf Perspective on a story we all know The Three Little Pigs. He starts by saying it is not his fault that his favorite food is cute and something everyone likes and he wasn't going to the pigs houses with the intentions of eating them. He wanted a cup of Sugar but the pigs were so rude and thought he had bad intentions that he got so made he did blow their house down.

This was a really funny take on the classic story and does show how you can look at a story from different perspectives and it does change your thoughts. I thought you could do a really fun lesson plan with this and propaganda at the older ages.

Illustrator - Gary Robinson

Publishing Date- April 5th, 2021

Publisher - 7th Generation

# of Pages - 40

Grade Level - 4

Theme - Self Confidence and Self Love

Artistic Media - Realistic Drawing

Summary -

This book is a great way to start the conversation of self love and what you should do when times get hard in life. We all are bound to experience distress and challenges so this book gives you strategies on being your own best friend to help you through these times. It talks about positive self talk, walking away from hard situations and how important mental health really is.

I loved this book and think it introduced hard topics in a child friendly way while also giving real true tools to help students. I think this is probably some of the first times students would here about positive self talk and how beneficial it is.

Illustrator - none

Publisher - Harper Collins

Date - Feb. 20. 2011

# of Pages - 260

Grade level - 3 - 7

Theme - Bravery, Family, Friendship

Summary :

Kim Ha is 10 year old girl who is living in Vietnam with her family when her father is called to war and then goes missing in action. She is forced to become a refugee and leave her loved home and come to an unknown place of Alabama. She deals with not knowing the language of her new home, bullies at school and losing her father all at once. This book talks about the realities of war and taught me a lot about the number of people who had to experience something similar to Kim Ha. It is incredibly sad but also shows bravery and resilience. I think you could do a great lesson on culture and what it would be like to experience moving to a different country and leaving your home.

Author - Lou Peacock

Illustrator - Matt Hunt

Date - 2023

Publisher - Nosy Crow

Themes - Playful, culture, animals

Artistic Medium - Cartoon

Summary

This is a playful Poetry book going through different ways people do certain things. It has really nice flow and is designed to make people laugh. It shows why certain people do things like eat peas with honey and an alligator going to the dentist.

Illustrator : none

Publisher : Scholastic

Date : April 4th, 2023

Themes : Advocating for yourself, Good to be Different

Grade : 3 - 7

Pages : 288

Summary :

It is the story of an Autistic girl named Selah who is struggling with following her rules to be 'Normal' she feels really misunderstood and struggles in school with getting bullied. Selah finds her voice in poetry is and able to communicate how she really feels. It becomes clear Selah is full of brilliance and emotion through out the story. With the author herself being Autistic it shows a really true example of what it looks like to be neurodiverse in this world.

I think this would be a great book for students to relate to and to make them feel like they are not alone. There aren't enough books being made on Neurodiverse children and I think this book is a great example of one.

Illustrator - Gabrielle Grimad

Publisher - Second Story Press

Publishing Date -Sept 2017

# of Pages - 24

Ages - 6 -9 years old

Theme : Family, Hope, Healing, Culture

Artistic Style : Painting

Literacy Elements :

Characters : Grandfather and Granddaughter

Setting : Canada

Plot ; The granddaughter asks her grandpa how to sat grandfather in Cree their home language. This brings the grandpa great sadness into his past as his words were stolen when he was stolen from his home and parents. The people who stole hime - who we would later find out as white men in the government of Canada forced him to never use him home language of cree but to instead only use their language and their culture. These people were incredibly prejudice and caused a lot of pain to the grandpa. The granddaughter with her help of her teacher found a book on cree and together her and her grandpa read and relearned the language.

Personal Reflection -

This book was so beautiful in art and in culture. The granddaughter was so bright and sweet you could see the love between the two and it reminded me of my grandfather. It was so heartbreaking to hear how this grandfather was treated and what had happened to his language. I really enjoyed this story as it is such a sad tale but hopeful and redeeming as they are able to read in cree together in the end.

Curriculum Connections -

This would be a great story to tell about the devastation that happened to the native american people and how much deep culture is lost because of white invaders. I also think this would be super fun to work into a literacy lesson and you could make projects of discovering other lost languages.

My story map shows the mall to begin with then Stella asking Ivan to take care of Ruby and then the ending of Ivan and Ruby getting out and living in the zoo where Julia can visit them.

I think the story map was a great tool and could be super helpful in keep in mind the sequence of the plot. Also incorporating art and story telling to create a lasting image for the book you are reading.

Author - Ronne Randall

Publisher - Parragon Inc.

Date - June 1, 2012

Illustrator - Erica Jane Waters

Genre - Fairy Tale

Pages - 32 pages

Grade Level - K - 2nd

Themes - Family, greed, outsmarting

Summary -

Hansel and Gretels family is running out of food so their step mother decides they should leave them in the forest so the parents have enough food. When being left in the forest Hansel tries to leave a trail of breadcrumbs but it does not work and they are left to look around the forest to find home. They run into a house that is built our of gingerbread and cookies, this old woman who turns out to be a witch invites them in to eat as much as they would like. They eat until they see the witches plan of when they are fat enough she is going to eat them. She puts Hansel into a cage and says when he is fat enough she is going to eat them and put him in the oven. When the witch is checking the oven if it is big enough Gretel pushes her in and frees her brother. They run away and find their dad who told them he is leaving their step mom.

Author : Deborah Ellis

Illustrator : Deborah Ellis

Publisher : Groundwoods books

Date : 2000

# of pages : 176

Age : 5th to 9th

Themes : friendship, family, gender roles, determination

Summary -

Parvana is 11 year old girl living in taliban ruled Afghanistan. After their family loses their house they are forced to move and their dad is unrightfully put in jail. This puts Parvanas mom into a depression as their culture only gives real rights to men and woman can not go anywhere without men. They come up with idea to cut parvanas hair and dress her in her passed brothers clothes so she can pass as a boy to the taliban and then make money for the family. Parvana builds friendship at this time and deals with what life looks like in Afghanistan as a girl trying to pass as a boy. Her family goes to move to hopefully get her sister married off and Parvana is left behind. In the end Parvanas father is surprisingly let out of jail and it is clear he has been beaten and abused in jail.

Author - Rick Riordin

Publisher -Miramax books

Date - June 28, 2005

# of pages - 377

Age - 9 and up

Genre - fiction, young adult literature, novel

Themes - friendship, identity, history, greek mythology

Summary -

This is a story of a young boy in new york who is often finding trouble and is best freinds with Grover. After getting introuble Grover forces Percy to go to half blood camp where he finds out about a completely different world where his father is Poseidon and almost everyone their has parents who are greek gods with powers. During this time there is war with the gods and Zeus's light bolt has gone missing. Percy is accused of stealing the lightening bolt so he and his friends take on the task of going to the underworld to fix the war with the gods. They run into many obstacles but ultimately do return the lightening bolt to Zeus and create friendships that last many adventures going forward.

Author - Dr. Seuss

Illustrator - Dr. Seuss

Date - June 23, 1973

Publisher - Random House Children's Book

Age - 4 to 8

# of Pages - 72

Themes - environment, success and ambition, friendship.

Summary -

The lorax is a story of a young boy who lives in a town with no trees, flowers, or liveliness. The boy is curious why the town is like this so he goes to the once-ler who tells him the story of what the town used to look like. When the once-ler discovered the town is was beautiful and lush so he decided to settle down their and cut down a tree to build his house. Cutting down the tree had consequences that the lorax comes out to tell the once-ler about but the once-ler ignores the lorax and invites his family to live there. The town becomes more popular and the air becomes polluted and the lorax keeps warning the once-ler. It reaches a point where the lorax has to leave and gives the once-ler one last message of a stone that says unless and the once-ler has never been able to understand the message. The boy interprets it as unless people care no change will happen.

Author : Eileen Christelow

Illustrator : Eileen Christelow

Publication Date : 1989

Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Grade Level : Preschool - 3

Genre : Children's literature, Picture Book

Themes : Counting, rhyme, bedtime

Artistic Media : Watercolor

Pages : 32

Summary : This book is great for practicing counting and rhyme in storytelling. The story follows five mischievous monkeys who, despite warnings, jump on the bed and encounter some accidents. As each monkey falls off the bed and gets injured, the doctor is called and the pattern repeats.

Author : Eric Carle

Illustrator : Eric Carle

Publication Date : June 3, 1969

Publisher : World Publisher co.

Grade Level : Preschool -1st

Genre : Picture Book

Themes : Metamorphosis, Days of the week, Counting

Artistic Media : Collage

Pages : 26

Summary ; Is a story about a caterpillar who hatches from an egg and goes on a journey eating different things and growing. Eventually the caterpillar creates a cocoon and becomes a butterfly.

Author : Molly Aloian

Publication date : 1982

Publisher : Crabtree Publishing company

Grade Level : ages 5 -7

Genre : Science, non fiction

Themes : plants, seeds, growing

Artistic Media : pictures

Pages : 24

Summary : This book is about how plants spread their seeds, and all of the different aspects of seeds and their life cycle.

Author : Dr. Suess

Illustrator : Dr. Suess

Publication Date: 1957

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: Adventure

Artistic media: Drawing

Pages : 61

Summary :

When Sally and her brother are left home alone on a rainy day, the Cat and the Hat comes for a visit. He brings his friends thing 1 and thing 2 and they cause chaos around the house.

Author :Jeff Kinney

Illustrator : Jeff Kinney

Publication Date: 2007

Publisher: Amulet Books

Grade Level: 3 - 8

Genre: Comedy Cartoons

Themes: Adventure, middle school, friends

Artistic media: cartoons

Pages : 224

Summary : The story of Greg Heffley and following him around while he navigates middle school life as well as family life.

Author : Natalie Babbitt

Illustrator : none

Publication Date : 1975

Publisher : HarperCollins

Grade Level : 4-8

Genre : Children's literature, fantasy

Themes : Immortality vs mortality, family and friends, responsibility

Artistic Media : NA

Pages; 139

Summary : the book tells the story of a girl named Winnie who finds a family who is immortal. They have found a well that when you drink the water you turn immortal. This book explores immortality, as well as the bond of this family forever. Winnie needs to decide what she wants to do with this information.

Author : Jory John

Illustrator : Pete Oswald

Publication Date: 2019

Publisher: HarperCollins

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: Friendship, self acceptance , kindness

Artistic media: Digital Illustrations

Pages : 40

Summary : This is a story about a bean who wants to be cool and fit in with his friends. Exploring the themes of self discovery, self acceptance and the true meaning of being "cool".

Author : Margaret Wise Brown

Illustrator : Clement Hurd

Publication Date: 1947

Publisher: HarperCollins

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Children's Fiction

Themes: Calmness, Bedtime Routine

Artistic media: Drawing

Pages : 32

Summary :

This is a classic bedtime story with rhythmic and repetition. Saying "goodnight" to different objects in the room before falling asleep.

Author : James Dean

Illustrator : James Dean

Publication Date: 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: teamwork, perseverance, friendship

Artistic media: Digital Illustrations

Pages : 32

Summary : Follow Pete the cat on his baseball journey. Pete meets up with his friends and they discover that there are not enough players. Pete and his friends then problem solve so everyone can be included.

Author : James Dean

Illustrator : James Dean

Publication Date: 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: Friendship, sharing and problem solving

Artistic media: Digital Illustrations

Pages : 32

Summary : Follow Pete the cat while he makes the biggest sandwich that he has ever made! Pete keeps adding ingredients one after and another until his sandwich becomes too big to eat. Pete meets lots of new friends along the way and they decide to share the sandwich together.

Author : Laura Numeroff

Illustrator : Felicia Bond

Publication Date: 1985

Publisher: HarperCollins

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: Cause and Effect

Artistic media: Colored Drawings

Pages : 40

Summary: See what happens when a boy gives a mouse a cookie and the crazy events that unfold.

Author : Shel Silverstein

Illustrator : Shel Silverstein

Publication Date: 1964

Publisher: HarperCollins

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: Generosity, friendship

Artistic media: Drawing

Pages : 64

Summary: Throughout a child's life a tree provides him with apples. The tree gives to the child without asking for anything back.

Author : Seymour Simon

Illustrator : Seymour Simon

Publication Date: 2010

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

Grade Level: ages 2-6

Genre: Picture Book, Non Fiction

Themes: Pets, Animals

Artistic media: Drawing

Pages : 43

Summary : This book has fun and interesting facts about pets. This book goes into details about taking care of pets and different traits about different pets.

Author : Lois Ehlert

Illustrator : Lois Ehlert

Publication Date: 2001

Publisher: Harcourt INC

Grade Level: ages 3-8

Genre: Picture Book, Science, Nature

Themes: Life Cycles of Butterflys

Artistic media: Collage

Pages : 40

Summary : This book explores the Life Cycles of Butterflies and take the reader through the stages of metamorphosis.

Author : Karen Beaumont

Illustrator : David Catrow

Publication Date: 2005

Publisher: Scholastic INC

Grade Level: ages 3-8

Genre: Picture Book

Themes: Self Acceptance , self love

Artistic media: watercolor

Pages : 32

Summary : This book explores the self love and confidence that a young girl has. She talks about the different things that she loves and how much she loves them.

Author : Sandra Nickel

Illustrator : Sunga Na

Publication Date: 2022

Publisher: Lerner Publisher Group

Grade Level: ages 5-8

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Themes: Friendship, self awareness

Artistic media: Drawing

Pages : 32

Summary : Bear goes to a carnival and hopes to win a big teddy bear, but instead ends up with a little pet goldfish. Bear things that he has nothing in common with his pet fish and tells fish he is going to bring him back. The bear and fish then talk and ask questions about each other to find out that they aren't so different after all. This leads to a great friendship and adventure between the two.

Author : Sandra Markle

Illustrator : Howard McWilliam

Publication Date : 2014

Publisher : Scholastic inc.

Grade Level : ages 4-8

Genre: Non Fiction, science, children’s literature

Themes : animals, science

Artistic Media : They use real pictures and animation

Pages : 32

Summary : This book is about animals and their fur, takes us through what it would be like if we had their fur as hair. It gives fun facts and explores the different traits of animals.

Author : R.J. Palacio

Illustrator : n/a

Publication date : 2012

Publisher : Alfred A. Knopf

Grade level : 4-8

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Themes : Empathy,Kindness, friendship, acceptance

Artistic Media: n/a

Pages : 315

Summary : This story is about August Pullman, a fifth grade boy with a facial deformity and his journey going to elementary school for the first time. This novel contains multiple perspectives and we can see different characters feelings and emotions through the story. It really tells the story of the difference kindness can make.