Author: Audrey Penn

Illustrator: Ruth E. Harper & Nancy M. Leak

Publisher: Tanglewood Press

Date: 1993

# of Pages: 32

Grade level: Kindergarten/First Grade

Theme: Facing Fears/Familial love

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary elements

Main Characters: Chester Raccoon and Mrs. Raccoon (Chester's mom)

Setting: Edge of the forest

Plot: Chester the Raccoon does not want to go to school because he is scared and wants to stay home. Mrs. Raccoon, his mom, helps him face these fears by sharing a family secret: The Kissing Hand. Mrs. Raccoon kisses Chester's hand and tells him that whenever he feels lonely he can push his kissing hand to his face and say "mommy loves you". At the end of the book, Chester is standing with his mom before going to his school. He turns to his mom and kisses her hand so that she now has a kissing hand too. Then Chester goes into his school.

Personal Response

This book made me miss my mom. I really like that this story teaches young children that sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do but also teaches that you have a support system around you that will be there to help you through it.

Curricular Connections

I would use this book as a reminder that sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do but with the support of a loved one we can do hard things. I would emphasize the fact that it doesn't have to be your mom who helps you because it is important to be aware that not all of your students will have a mom who is active in their life or in their life at all.

Author: Grace Byers

Illustrator: Keturah A. Bobo

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Date: March 6, 2018

# of Pages: 32

Grade level: K-2

Theme: We are unique/Sense of belonging

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary elements

Main Characters: Variety of girls (Names not given)

Setting: Variety

Plot: This book talks about the different reasons we are on the Earth and what we can do. EX: Here to win like a winner but if you don't win you are there to get back up and try again.

Personal Response

I liked this book and I though it carried a good message. I like that the girls in the book all looked different because it ties in the message that we are all unique and we are enough.

Curricular Connections

I would use this book at the beginning of the school year (or at any time throughout the school year) to set the mood for the year. I want to make sure that my students feel loved and that they belong while they are in my classroom and I think this is a perfect book to help teach students that they are enough just the way they are.

Author: Sharon M. Draper  

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

Publication Date: March 9, 2010

# of pages: 320

Grade Level: 5-6

Genre: Fiction 

Theme: A disability doesn't define you // The power of language  

Artistic Media: Realism

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: Melody, Mrs. V, Penny, Melody's parents

Plot: Melody is 11 years old and has cerebral palsy.  She goes through school with teachers and peers assuming that she can't understand them and that her cognitive ability is low. However, once she receives a computer that she can use to communicate, she blows everyone away with her capabilities and knowledge. 

Personal Responses:

I love this book. The first time I read it I was in third grade with my mom at the Meridian Library kids book club. I saw this was a winner of the Idaho Kids Vote Book Award in 2018 and knew I needed to re-read it. I think this book has an amazing message that is great to read with your classroom of students (when grade-level appropriate). The message this book portrays is that you shouldn't have preconceived notions about your peers before you get to know them. This is something that resonates with me because one of my good friends since elementary school is a victim of shaken baby syndrome and has a physical and cognitive disability. Many of my peers in high school were confused why I would spend time with her because "she doesn't talk much and must not understand what I'm saying" but they were so wrong. We would eat lunch together and laugh the entire time because of what we would talk about. It is really important to not make assumptions about your peers before you get to know them and this is the perfect book to teach that lesson. 

Curricular Connections:

I would like to implement this into my class regardless of grade level because I want my students to be inclusive and caring towards others. It shares a great perspective and message with the reader.

Author: Aida Salazar

Illustrator: Molly Mendoza

Publisher: Scholastic Trade Publisher

Date: March 7, 2023

# of Pages: 52

Grade Level: 1-4

Theme: Perseverance and Strength

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Jovita and her family

Setting: Mexico

Plot: A war breaks out between the church and the government and Jovita wishes to go and help. Her dad agrees to let her come but only to observe. She is caught by soldiers at only 15 years old and she didn't provide any information even when interrogated. She goes through many tribulations with her family. Jovita becomes "Juan" after cutting her hair and wearing pants. She reignites the revolution which leads to a truce after 6 years.

Personal Reflections

This story reminds me of Mulan but it is even cooler because this book was written after a true story. I think this would be awesome to include in my library because it shares the story of a woman who forged her own path and stood for her cause.

Curricular Connections

This would be a great book to read when talking about different wars or battles in older grades. It would also be a good conversation starter into rights and what students think about Jovita not getting to help until she appeared as a "Juan".

Author: James Marshall

Illustrator: James Marshall

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Date: 1984

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Pre-k +

Theme: Hard work pays off

Artistic Media: Cartoon

Literary Elements

Main Characters: The three pigs, the big bad wolf

Setting: A village

Plot: Three pigs who are brothers move out of their mom's house and build their own houses. One pig makes theirs out of straw, another out of sticks, and the last out of brick. The wolf comes and blows down the first two houses and eats the pigs but he can't blow down the house made out of brick. The surviving pig tricks the wolf into coming down it's chimney and falling into a boiling pot.

Personal Reflections

I like this book and I feel like its a classic story.

Curricular Connections

This is a good book to use to teach resilience and why hard work pays off.

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Publisher: Viking Children's Books

Date: 1989

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: K-3

Theme: Twisting the truth

Artistic Media: Cartoon

Literary Elements

Main Characters: The three pigs and the wolf

Setting: A village

Plot: This is a twist on the classic story and it is written from the perspective of the big bad wolf who is sharing what actually happened between him and the pigs.

Personal Reflections

I like this book and I think it is a really funny twist on the story of the Three Little Pigs.

Curricular Connections

I think this is a great one to read when you are teaching your students about bias and multiple perspectives in a situation.

Author: Matthew Cordell

Illustrator: Matthew Cordell

Publisher: Holiday House

Date: May 5, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: K-4

Theme: Kindness

Artistic Media: Hand-drawn

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Mister Rogers

Setting: This is a biography about Fred Rogers and the legacy he left behind through his television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Plot: This book teaches the reader about the legacy of Mister Rogers and the kindness he shared with the world through his television show. It takes the reader through the many topics that were covered in the show and shared images that helped with the representation of Mister Rogers and his impact.

Personal Reflections

I love this book. I like that it shares with the reader the legacy that Mister Rogers is leaving behind and what his impact was.

Curricular Connections

This would be a great book to share with your class when teaching accuracy and believability. Not only is it teaching wonderful lessons but it is also a biography so it is accurate. Students could use the internet to cross check information.

Author: Cece Bell

Illustrator: David Lasky

Publisher: Amulet Books

Date: September 2, 2014

# of Pages: 248

Grade Level: 3-7

Theme: Self-Confidence, Life is what you make it

Artistic Media: Cartoon/Comic drawing

Literary Elements

Main Characters:

Setting: School, the doctors office, the neighborhood

Plot: Cece is a young girl who had meningitis when she was 4 years old which caused her to lose her hearing. This book follows her journey through elementary school learning to not be ashamed of her hearing aids and her realizations that her hearing aids make her have superpowers.

Personal Reflections

I really liked this book. I think it offers the perspective of how a child who is hard of hearing would feel at school and when around their peers. One thing that I noticed was that the speech bubbles would be completely blank when she was having trouble hearing. It was kind of like a simulation to show how she felt because as the reader, you weren't able to read what was being said either. 

Curricular Connections

You could have your students read the book and then create a poster that shows how Cece acted and carried herself when she was ashamed of her hearing aids vs. when she realized she shouldn't care what people think about her. The major turning point for her was when she didn't have her Phonic Ear for weeks because her PE teacher accidentally broke it. 

Author: Gary Robinson ft. Jayla Rose

Illustrator: Gary Robinson

Publisher: 7th Generation

Date: April 5, 2021

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 4

Theme: Self-Confidence

Artistic Media: Realistic Drawing

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Jayla

Setting: Multiple

Plot: This story goes through what you should do when you experience things in your life. It mentions self talk, the power of walking away, and many other important facts about mental health in young people.

Personal Reflections

While listening to this book I thought it taught some important lessons that individuals of all ages could benefit from hearing. I liked that negative and positive self talk were mentioned and examples were given for those who may not know what that means just from the term. I also liked that the book said that if there are people who treat you in an unkind way that you don't have to stick around, you have the power of walking away, blocking someone, etc. These are powerful messages that anyone could benefit from.

Curricular Connections

This would be a great book to read to students when going through a mental health unit.

Author: Thanhha Lai

Illustrator: N/A

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: February 22, 2011

# of Pages: 260

Grade Level: 3-7

Theme: Bravery, Friendship

Artistic Media: N/A

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Kim Ha, Mother, Brother Quang, Father, etc

Setting: Vietnam, Alabama

Plot: A girl named Kim is found in the middle of the Vietnam War and he father goes missing in action. She flees to the United States with her mom and three brothers. This follows her story as she begins a new life in a different country after being subjected to war and turmoil.

Personal Reflections

This book was really interesting to me and I think it brought a lot of perspective to the knowledge I had about the Vietnam War.

Curricular Connections

This would be a great book to buddy read with your class when you are learning about war. It doesn't necessarily even need to be a unit on the Vietnam War. I think this book brings in a new perspective of what it's like to experience war first hand.

Author: Kristen Hall

Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: May 8, 2018 

# of pages:

Grade level: Kindergarten to 3rd

Theme: Nature, Bees

Artistic Media: Hand-drawn

Literary Elements

Summary: This is about a bee and it's daily life pollinating flowers and using their resources to make honey back in the hive.

Personal Response

I think this is a great book to read to students when you are teaching them about nature.

Curricular Connections

This is an AWESOME book that shares the daily life of a honeybee. This would be great to read with students when talking about bees and/or nature.

Author: Devin Scillian

Illustrator: Tim Bowers

Publisher: Sleeping Bears Press

Date: 2013

# of Pages: 32

Grade level: 2-3

Theme: Appreciate what you have

Artistic Media: Drawing/Computerized Design

Literary elements

Main Characters: Seymour (Hamster), Little Girl, Cat (Pearl), Buck (dog), Hoover (vacuum cleaner)

Setting: Hamster's cage & Little girl's room

Plot: A hamster named Seymour lives in his cage and is fully content until the cat comes by and makes him realize that he is "missing out". This ended up being a ploy to get the hamster out of his cage so that she could catch him. Seymour is stuck under the sofa hiding from the cat for many nights and then he finally was able to escape once pearl, the cat, fell asleep. As he starts to sneak away, "Hoover", the vacuum cleaner, is being used and everything turns to chaos. Pearl is about to catch Seymour but then the little girl found him and scooped him up. The story ends with Seymour back in his cage and he says that he is the luckiest hamster.

Personal Response

I think this story is very cute. It teaches a very important lesson that many of us need to hear as adults.

Curricular Connections

This would be a great story to read to students if you are having trouble with behavior or teaching about a topic with similarity.

Author: Kate and Jol Temple

Illustrator: Terri Rose Bayntou

Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers

Date: 2018

# of Pages: 32

Grade level: Pre-K - Kindergarten

Theme: There are two sides to a story

Artistic Media: Drawing/Watercolor

Literary elements

Main Characters: A group of seals

Setting: The ocean and a rock that is considered home to the seals

Plot: This book is about the importance of listening to two sides of the story. The beginning of the book is read and it sounds like the seals won't share their rock. Then the second half of the book is read and it is the same wording, but in a different way of grouping.

Personal Response

I liked this book and the way it showed the importance of listening to the two sides of each story. By regrouping the words in the phrases, one could assume that the seals are mean and won't share their rock but then you reread it in a different grouping and it sounds like the seals are very kind and want to share their rock.

Curricular Connections

I would use this book when I share the importance of punctuation and sentence structure with my students. It reminded me of the funny phrase used to share this where one says "Let's eat grandma!" and the one with punctuation says "Let's eat, grandma!". Punctuation and sentence structure are highly important when trying to communicate and this is shown through this book.

Author: Sarah Stewart

Illustrator: David Small

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date: August 30, 1997

# of Pages: 40

Grade level: Pre-K - First grade

Theme: Finding the light in a dark time, self-discovery

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary elements

Main Characters: Lydia, Uncle Jim, + more

Setting: The Great Depression time

Plot: Lydia's family loses their jobs which leads to her moving in with her uncle. She creates a great environment while living with her uncle and helps those around her feel joy during times of stress and financial burden.

Personal Response

I liked this book, I thought that it was eye opening to the power that children hold during dark and more depressing times. Through just Lydia's presence, she helped those working at her uncle's bakery and her uncle while she lived with him. It showcases the theme of change through forced journeys because Lydia didn't have a say in whether she would go to her uncle's house but she stayed positive throughout and kept in touch with her family that she temporarily left behind.  

Curricular Connections

This would be a book you can use to help teach students about the Great Depression and how it affected those who lived through it.

I liked this book, I thought that it was eye opening to the power that children hold during dark and more depressing times. Through just Lydia's presence, she helped those working at her uncle's bakery and her uncle while she lived with him. It showcases the theme of change through forced journeys because Lydia didn't have a say in whether she would go to her uncle's house but she stayed positive throughout and kept in touch with her family that she temporarily left behind.  

For my drawing, I tried to show the main problem and theme that came from the story. The reason that Lydia had to move to her uncle's home was because the Great Depression led to her family losing their jobs and not being able to support her. Something significant in the story is that Lydia's uncle did not smile when she was there, near the end it shows in the story that he starts to soften up. Lydia helped at her uncle's bakery and was very interested in gardening. Her gardening influenced those around her by sharing joy in the dark times and when Lydia was supposed to go home her uncle gave her a hug and it was clear that she had helped him through the times that they were living in. 

I think this activity is beneficial to students because it helps them see the storyline and reasons that the story was written. As I created my drawing, I noticed that there was more to the story than I had initially taken away after just reading it. By having students draw the plot and storyline of the book they read, they will have a better understanding of the story and the themes within it. 

Author: Roald Dahl

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Date: January 14, 1982

# of pages: 224

Grade level: Third to Fifth

Genre: Children's fantasy

Theme: Don't judge based on appearance

Artistic Media: Drawn

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: BFG, Sophie, Queen of England, the other giants, Mrs. Clonkers

Plot: Sophie befriends a giant who she thinks eats humans but in reality he's very kind. They go on an adventure together to stop the other giants from eating children.

Personal Responses:

I love this book. I remember starting it in elementary school but I didn't finish it. Reading it now, I have a different perspective on it and the giant has a sweet place in my heart because he reminds me of some people in my life.

Curricular Connections:

This would be a great book to read to students to help them learn about the importance of not judging a book by its cover and not making assumptions about somebody based on the way they look.

Author: Alan Gratz

Publisher: Starscape

Publication Date: August 29, 2017

# of pages: 256

Grade level: Third to Seventh

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Stand up for your beliefs

Artistic Media: None

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: Amy, Angelina, Alexis, her peers, Ms. Spencer, etc

Plot: Amy's favorite book is banned and finds that more and more are being banned. She rises against this and keeps the banned books in her locker at school and gives them to her peers. She was nervous at first to stand up for her belief that the books shouldn't be banned but by the end of the book she spoke up at the PTA meeting and had her peers back her up.

Personal Responses:

I think this is a great book. I don't think books should be banned because books are knowledge.

Curricular Connections:

This book would be great to read with your class to help students see that they can speak up and make change.

Author: Katherine Applegate

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 2012

# of pages: 336

Grade level: 2nd to 4th grade

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Friendship

Artistic Media: None

Literary Elements:

Characters: Ivan, Stella, Ruby, Julia, etc

Plot: Ivan is a silverback gorilla who was taken captive from his home in Africa to live in a mall. He meets some friends along his journey but doesn't really feel the need to leave his captive life until a little elephant comes along. He then uses his skills as a painter to share that he doesn't feel like his cage is home and that they need to be free. In the end they make it to the zoo and he sees that the little elephant is doing well and he begins to feel like a silverback again.

Personal Response:

I really like this book. I love the story and I love how the main characters are animals.

Curricular Connections:

This book would be great to read with your class because it showcases friendships and also can go along with a lesson on why animals belong in the wild - not in captivity.

Author: Patricia Polacco

Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publishing Date: 1998

# of Pages: 40

Grade level: Kindergarten to third

Genre: Picture book, Fiction

Theme: self-efficacy

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: Mr. Falker, Tricia

Plot: Tricia moves to a new school and her teacher Mr. Falker is really helpful in boosting her self-esteem and helping her enjoy learning.

Personal Response:

I love this book. I first read it last year and I enjoyed reading it again. I aspire to be a teacher like Mr. Falker.

Curricular Connections:

This is a great book to teach about anti-bullying and believing in yourself.

Author: Katrina Goldsaito

Illustrator: Julia Kuo

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Publishing Date: August 2, 2016

# of pages: 40

Grade level: Pre-K to 3rd

Genre: Non-Fiction

Theme: Finding the calm

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: Yoshio

Plot: Yoshio is trying to find calm in the city of Tokyo and learns to love the sounds that come with living in the city.

Personal Response:

I liked this book, I like that we learned about Ma.

Curricular Connections:

This would be a fun book to read with students to help them find some ways to find the calm and learn from Yoshio.

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: Rafael Lopez

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Publishing Date: August 28, 2018

# of pages: 32

Grade level: Kindergarten to 3rd

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Self love

Artistic Media: Drawing

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: Angelina, her classmates, etc

Plot: Angelina is scared to start school and meet her new peers. She feels different from her peers and learns to love the way she is and appreciate her culture.

Personal Response/Curricular Connections:

I liked this book. I think it would be great to read to students at the beginning of the year to make sure they understand and know that our differences make us special and unique! It would be a boring world if we were all the same.

Author: Deborah Ellis

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Publishing Date: 2000

# of pages: 176

Grade level: 5th to 9th

Genre: Graphic Novel

Theme: Resilience

Artistic Media: Graphics

Literary Elements:

Main Characters: Parvana, her family

Plot: Parvana is found in Taliban ruled Afghanistan when women and girl's rights are taken away. Her father is unjustly arrested and she has to dress as a boy in order to provide for her family.

Personal Reflection:

I liked this book. I think it was well written and showed the oppression that women and girls face when the Taliban rule the country of Afghanistan.

Curricular Connection:

A great story to use to teach students about war and oppression.

Author: Michelle Markel

Illustrator: Melissa Sweet

Publisher: Harper Collins

Date: 2014

# of pages: 32

Grade level: 3rd-7th

Artistic media: Drawing

Theme: Activism

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Clara, other workers, her family

Setting: New York

Plot: Clara works in a seamstress factory and is a Ukrainian immigrant. She fights for the rights of workers by starting a strike since the conditions in her factory were unjust.

Personal Response

I think this is a great book to use when teaching students about activism and speaking up for what you believe. I also love that it is a true story because it helps with teaching students that they can stand up for what they believe no matter what the circumstance.

Author: E. B. White

Illustrator: Garth Williams

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: April 10, 2012

# of pages: 192

Grade Level: 3rd - 7th

Theme: friendship/courage

Artistic Media: N/A

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Wilbur, Fern, Charlotte

Setting: A farm

Plot: A little pig named Wilbur is going to be killed because he's the runt of the litter. The story follows Wilbur, a spider named Charlotte, and Fern a girl who helps him.

Personal Reflections

I love this book. The way the story is written leaves an impression on the reader and includes a great theme.

Curricular Connections

I think this would be a great book to read when you want to include writing assignments or reading journals because there is a lot of room for prompting.

Author: George M. Johnson

Illustrator: N/A

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date: April 28, 2020

# of pages: 320

Grade level: 10th - 12th

Theme: gender identity

Artistic Media: N/A

Literary Elements

Main Characters: George

Setting: N/A - variety

Plot: Follows the true story of a male who experienced struggles throughout his life.

Personal Reflections

I like this book and I think the message is moving especially since its a true story.

Author: Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Publisher: Viking

Publication Date: October 1, 1988

Grade Level: 3rd - 7th

Theme: Knowledge is powerful

Pages: 240

Artistic Media: Hand-drawn

Literary Elements

Main Character: Matilda, Ms. Trunchbull, Miss Honey

Setting: Multiple places

Plot: A little girl named Matilda is very smart. She realizes something about her teacher and sets on a mission to help Miss Honey.

Personal Responses

I love this book. I think the story is really great and would be a fun one to read with my class in the future.

Author: Carol McCloud

Illustrator: David Messing

Publisher: Bucket Fillers

Publication Date: October 1, 2015

Grade Level: Pre-k - 4th

Theme: Positivity

# of Pages: 32

Literary Elements

Summary: This is about having a bucket to fill that is imaginary. When you show kindness you fill the bucket.

Personal Response

I like this book because it gives examples of how you could fill someone's bucket or your own bucket.

Curricular Connections

This would be amazing to read with students at the beginning of the year to set the stage, in the middle of the year when you're experiencing bullying in the classroom, or at the end of the year when you send them off to the next grade. I love it's versatility.

Author: Bruce Hale

Illustrator: Guy Francis

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: June 25, 2013

# of pages: 32

Grade level: Pre-k - 3rd

Theme: Boundaries

Artistic Media: Cartoon

Literary Elements

Main characters: Clark, classmates, etc

Setting: School

Plot: Clark is a little crazy and sometimes doesn't realize his strength or size. He makes his friends frustrated when he oversteps boundaries and he learns how to be more considerate.

Personal Reflections

I like this book and I think it is great to use in your classroom and have readily available.

Curricular Connections

This is a great book to have when you have students who might not respect boundaries or who need a little reminder.

Author: Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault

Illustrator: Loid Ehlert

Publisher: Little Simon

Publication Date: 1989

# of Pages: 36

Grade Level: Pre-k +

Theme: Alphabet

Artistic Media: Cartoon with simplicity

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Alphabet Letters

Setting: A palm tree

Plot: This is a book about the alphabet letters climbing to a coconut tree.

Personal Reflections

I remember reading this book when I was learning the alphabet and I would love to have it in my classroom.

Curricular Connections

This is a great book to have when students are learning the alphabet.

Author: Miranda Paul

Illustrator: Ebony Glenn

Publisher: Clarion Books

Publication Date: July 7, 2020

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-k - 3rd

Theme: Community, Culture

Artistic Media:

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Multiple students

Setting: Variety

Plot: Students using their voice and celebrating their differences

Personal Reflection

I really like this book because of the positive message. It gives power and boosts confidence.

Curricular Connections

This would be a great book to encourage students to speak up and use their voice. It teaches them that they can use their voice to make change and show their opinion.

Author: Amy Hest

Illustrator: P.J. Lynch

Publisher: Candlewick

Publication Date: 1997

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 1st - 5th

Theme: Family, courage

Artistic Media: Realistic Drawing

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Jessie, her family, her grandma

Setting: A boat, Europe, America

Plot: A girl moves from Europe to America to have a better life with more opportunities.

Personal Reflection

I think this book was great and it was really evident that it taught the theme of courage.

Curricular Connection

I would love to read this to my students and pull out that theme and have them write a narrative of their own about courage and what it means to them.

Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Pete Oswald

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: August 29, 2017

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-k - 3rd

Theme: Feelings

Artistic Media: Cartoon drawing

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Sunflower seed

Plot: The sunflower seed doesn't use manners and everyone thinks of him as a bad seed. He decides to change the way he treats other and acts when he almost gets eaten.

Personal Reflection

I like that this book introduces the concept of positive self-talk.

Curricular Connection

This would be a great book to read if you notice your students start to talk negatively about themselves.

Author: Tanya Valentine

Illustrator: Jorge Martin

Publisher: Random House Studio

Publication Date: April 2, 2019

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 2nd

Theme: Sharing

Artistic Media: Cartoon with animal realism

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Little Taco Truck

Setting: Union Street

Plot: This is a taco truck that parks at the same place every day. Then someone takes his spot and then more and more continue to come. He becomes angry because they didn't give him space to park where he always had but they worked together to make space for him.

Personal Reflection

I love this book. The drawings are adorable and the message is really well delivered.

Curricular Connection

I think this book is really great at teaching the message of sharing and validating emotions.

Author: Maurice Sendak

Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Publisher: Harper and Row

Publication Date: 1963

# of Pages: 48

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3rd

Theme: Imagination

Artistic Media: Animal Realism

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Max

Setting: Bedroom

Plot: Max got sent to his room because he wasn't behaving. He imagines many different wild things while he is there.

Personal Reflection

I think this is a great book and it really plays into the imagination that children have around this age. I wish I still had this imagination.

Curricular Connection

A fun book to read with students and talk about afterwards.

Author: R.J. Palacio

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 14, 2012

# of Pages: 330

Grade Level: 3rd - 7th

Theme: Kindness

Artistic Media: N/A

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Auggie

Setting: School/home

Plot: Auggie was born with Treacher Collins syndrome which led to him having some facial differences. In his first year going to public school he gets bullied but later finds a good group of friends.

Personal Reflection

I love this book and I think the message is so important for students to hear. Not all of us will look the same or act the same and this may be out of our control. Kindness is free!

Curricular Connection

This would be a great book to read with students at any point of the year.

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 2008

# of Pages: 374

Grade Level: 7th +

Theme: Courage and Fighting for what is right

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Katniss, Peeta

Setting: District 12, Panem

Plot: In the world of the Hunger Games, there are 12 districts. Each year there is a reaping where two people are chosen from each district to battle to the death. Katniss' little sister is called and instead of letting her go, Katniss volunteers as tribute, essentially giving her life for her sister's because the chances of her winning are slim. This book follows her through the journey to the capital and how she and Peeta win the games.

Personal Reflection

I remember reading these books for the first time in middle school and absolutely loving them so when I reread them it was even more fun because I didn't remember them that well.

Curricular Connection

This would be a great book option for students to do independent reading and fill out reading journals about. You could also talk about dystopian society with this book.

Author: Peggy Parish

Illustrator: Lynn Sweat

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 2007

# of Pages: 64

Grade Level: 1st - 3rd

Theme: Being helpful

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Amelia

Plot: Amelia is chaotic but helpful.

Personal Reflection

This is a fun book for younger readers.

Curricular Connection

I think this would be great to have on the bookshelf for independent reading.

Author: Marcus Pfister

Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: 1992

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 2nd

Theme: Happiness/Sharing

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Rainbow Fish

Setting: Ocean "Blue Sea"

Plot: The rainbow fish thinks he is better than others because of his scales but he realizes he is lonely and wants to make friends.

Personal Reflection

This book is really good because it teaches that although you may think you are better and you act like that then you may feel consequences.

Curricular Connections

This would be great to read with students at any point when you notice this kind of behavior.

Author: David Shannon

Publisher: Blue Sky Press

Publication Date: 1998

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3rd

Theme: Identity

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Camilla Cream

Setting: School

Plot: Camilla decided she wanted to change because of her friends. She finds her true self in the process.

Personal Reflection

I like this book. I think it is nice to have in your library and read with students because it teaches a really important message about being yourself.

Curricular Connection

This book includes themes of bullying and I think this is present in all schools no matter how hard we try to keep it from happening. Having this book on hand would be a great idea.

Author: Nancy E. Shaw

Illustrator: Margot Apple

Publisher: Clarion Books

Publication Date: 1986

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Pre-k +

Theme: Adventure

Artistic Media: Animal Realism

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Sheeps

Setting: a jeep

Plot: There are sheeps who are trying to get around in their jeep. They experience a bunch of different problems with it.

Personal Reflection

I think this book is a fun one to read with students without them knowing they are learning along with it.

Curricular Connection

You could use this book to help students listen for the letter sound of a long e.

Author: Norton Juster

Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Publisher: Michael Di Capua Books

Publication Date: 2005

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Pre-k - 1st

Theme: Extended families

Artistic Media: Simple drawing

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Girl

Setting: Grandparents house

Plot: A girl visits her grandparents and does a lot of activities with them. She ends up having to leave and cherishes the time she got to spend with them.

Personal Reflection

I like this book and it is so sweet. It helps students realize the opportunity they have with extended family.

Curricular Connection

This book would be great to read with students and then have them do an activity including their own window with a memory they have with an extended family member. You could tie this book into a health lesson on family life.

Author: Matt De La Pena

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Date: 2015

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3rd

Theme: Community

Artistic Media: Collage

Literary Elements

Main Characters: CJ, nan

Setting: City bus and soup kitchen

Plot: CJ and nana are going to volunteer at the soup kitchen. She teaches Cj about outside and he sees the great community that you can find through public transportation and from just being outside and engaging with other people.

Personal Reflection

I love the message this book tells and how our lives are so different from one another.

Curricular Connection

This is a great book to read when the school is having a fundraiser like bringing in soup cans and things like that.

Author: Toni Collier

Illustrator: Natalie Vasilica

Publisher: Tommy Nelson

Publication Date: 2023

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 4th - 8th

Theme: Struggles and positivity

Artistic Media: Digital art

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Avery

Setting: desk

Plot: Avery is drawing and breaks her crayon. She learns that her crayons have feeling and she realizes that they are able to color even if they are broken.

Personal Reflection

I like this book and I think it is really adorable.

Curricular Connection

This book is great for teaching self-worth and mentions negative talk. I think this is great to read with students to start conversations that they may need to have and didn't know how to start or what they were experiencing.

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: Mark Teague

Publisher: Weston Woods

Publication Date: 2002

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-k +

Theme: Good vs. Bad Behavior

Artistic Media: Animal Realism

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Mom and dinosaur

Setting: Home, bedroom

Plot: The dino is being put to bed and there are many behaviors that the dino explores.

Personal Reflection

I think this book is cute but it would definitely be a book that I would read with younger grades if not younger than school age children.

Curricular Connection

This is great to help students differentiate between good and bad behavior based on context.

Author: Eric Litwin

Illustrator: James Dean

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 2014

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: 3rd - 6th

Theme: Materialism

Artistic Media: Animal realism

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Pete

Setting: Skate board

Plot: Pete is singing about his buttons and learns to be happy when they fall off his shirt.

Personal Reflection

I like the positive mindset that is shown through Pete.

Curricular Connection

I think this is a great book to teach about materialism and could also be tied into reduce, reuse, recycle to ask students what he could do with the shirt if he doesn't want to wear it anymore.

Author/Illustrator: Molly Idle

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication Date: 2013

# of Pages: 44

Grade Level: 3rd - 7th

Theme: Friendship

Artistic Media: Animation

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Flora, flamingo

Plot: Flora is a ballerina and wants to learn how the flamingo moves. She becomes friends with the flamingo in the end after a reluctant start.

Personal Reflection

I like this book and how it shows that you can set aside differences and be friends with someone.

Curricular Connection

This is a fun book to read with students that you could bring up different relationships and friendships that have paved the way to where we are now.

Author: Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Joseph and Schindelman

Publisher: George Allen and Unwin

Publication Date: 1964

# of Pages: 176

Grade Level: 2nd +

Theme: Greed

Artistic Media: Watercolor

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Charlie, Willy Wonka

Setting: Chocolate Factory

Plot: This follows Charlie and his journey from winning the golden ticket and visiting Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

Personal Reflection

I love this book and I think it is such a fun book to read with a class.

Curricular Connection

The theme of greed and Charlie's experience with it would be great to pull out and have conversations about with your class.

Author: Marianne Richmond

Publisher: Source Books Jabberwocky

Publication Date: 2017

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-k - 2nd

Theme: Bravery

Artistic Media: Cartoon

Literary Elements

Main Characters: young child

Setting: school

Plot: This follows a young child who has support from loved ones like their family as they go on a journey like starting school and making friends.

Personal Reflection

I think this book is so sweet and has a lot of great messages within it.

Curricular Connection

I think this would be such a great book to start and end a year with students. You could do an activity about themselves at the beginning of the year and then pull it out at the end to have them reflect.

Author: Drew Daywalt

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publication Date: 2013

# of Pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-k - 3rd

Theme: Self-expression, Activism

Artistic Media: Cartoon

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Duncan, other crayons

Plot: There are crayons who go on strike because they are overworked but don't feel appreciated. Duncan persuades the crayons to come home.

Personal Reflection

This book is super cute and teaches important themes that students at this grade level could understand because of the book.

Curricular Connection

This would be great if you were learning about history and strikes we have had before to read this book and connect what the crayons did with what has happened in our history.

Author: Shel Silverstein

Publisher: Harper and Ro

Publication Date: 1974

# of Pages: 309

Grade Level: 3rd - 4th

Theme: Youth, exploration

Literary Elements

Plot: This has a variety of poems that are funny but also include big themes like humans and their connection to nature, growing up, etc.

Personal Reflection

I love to read this and come back to this book because there are so many elements to it that make it so fun to read.

Curricular Connection

This would be a great book to pull out when studying poems and literature of that genre.

Author: Jane O'Connor

Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 2005

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 4th

Theme: familial love

Artistic Media: cartoon

Literary Elements

Main Characters: Nancy, her family

Plot: Fancy Nancy is different from her family because she likes to be so fancy. She goes on a journey to make her family fancy and see if they like it.

Personal Reflection

I remember reading this when I was little and I love it.

Curricular Connection

This is a great book to have on the bookshelf in your classroom. It is great to show that even though you and your family may be different you can still love each other.