La Frontera, written by Deborah Mills and Alfredo Alva, tells the journey Alfredo took with his father from Mexico to the United States. The words and illustrations of this book help children understand some of the turmoil and hardships immigrants face as they travel to the United States. In the beginning of the story Alfredo… Continue reading La Frontera by Deborah Mills and Alfredo Alva
Month: October 2019
Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
"Miss Masse, in Somali, we say 'Kim-ar'." Anzal directs as I begin talking about today's read aloud, Mommy's Khimar. Books like this are a part of our culture in my small kindergarten class in semi-rural Maine. What's amazing about my class is that 11/14 kids speak English as a second language. There are 7 languages… Continue reading Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
You Hold Me Up
At the beginning of the school year, every teacher focuses on establishing a classroom community and developing relationships among the members of the classroom. Cultivating and maintaining a positive classroom community takes dedication, time and care. You Hold Me Up , by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Danielle Daniel is a book that will… Continue reading You Hold Me Up
Leila in Saffron, written by Rukhsanna Guidroz and illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
Tonight I am on the lookout for parts of me that I like... Leila’s weekly family dinner at her grandmother’s house leads to self-discovery and identity. Through gorgeous and vibrant illustrations and text, Leila in Saffron, written by Rukhsanna Guidroz and illustrated by Dinara Mirtralipova, invites readers to: Note and notice the use of senses… Continue reading Leila in Saffron, written by Rukhsanna Guidroz and illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
How to Read A Book
"What are the different ways you read a book?" I asked this group of first grade as we gathered around the meeting area. "I read with my mom" "I like to read in that corner..." (as he points at one of the cozy spots in the classroom) "I like to read on that pillow" "I… Continue reading How to Read A Book
Carmela Full of Wishes
She stared down at the dandelion in her hand.It seemed so much more importantnow that she knew it was a place to put her wishes. What if she made the wrong choice? Carmela is excited to accompany her older brother into town for the first time. Although her big brother isn't happy to have her,… Continue reading Carmela Full of Wishes
Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color
Finding your color is a beautiful thing! "Can we read this book first?... She looks just like me!" This request from a first grader lead to one of the most meaningful conversations I've ever had with a student. While the beautiful, biracial girl on the cover caught her attention, the excitement only grew when she… Continue reading Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
“If everyone decided nothing could change, nothing ever would.” As fifth graders’ worldview begins to expand, they start to understand that the things that they might take for granted are treasures to children in other parts of the world. Amal Unbound, by Aisha Saeed is a beautiful story that demonstrates how our perspectives are shaped… Continue reading Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
P Is for Pterodactyl
P Is for Pterodactyl The Worst Alphabet Book Ever by Raj Halder and Chris Carpenter was highly recommended to me by my favorite public librarian. As I read the text for myself and explored the book, I found the idea of focusing on words that start with silent letters an interesting word study focus. It… Continue reading P Is for Pterodactyl
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Teacher Thoughts: The first time I read The Undefeated, I knew I’d be using it for multiple purposes in my classroom. Author Kwame Alexander wrote the poem that became this beautiful picture book after the birth of his daughter. He wrote it to remind her to never give up and was inspired by the words… Continue reading The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
I’m Trying to Love Math by Bethany Barton
Math is all around us, and Bethany Barton takes us on an out of this world adventure in order to prove it! This adorable alien friend reveals how math pops up in space, when baking and even when reading and playing music! A space alien? What do YOU know about math?--bethany barton According to Brown… Continue reading I’m Trying to Love Math by Bethany Barton
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill
“Be Kind” ~ How often have you heard those words? How often have you said them? We spend hour after hour sharing the importance of being kind and trying to teach our students the value of kindness. But what does it mean to be kind? Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller takes the concept of… Continue reading Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill
Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
"You saved my life!" "And you saved mine!" They said to one another. And in a flash, to each it felt, there simply was no other." Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis is Haack's debut picture book with a happy ending. A modern take on a traditional tale of finding the… Continue reading Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk
Teachers say... You Are Home is a must have for every elementary classroom. This book is so important for various reasons. First of all, the exquisite art makes readers feel as if they are actually walking through each national park soaking up the beauty that surrounds them. The paintings by themselves are reason enough to… Continue reading You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk
Learning to Revise Our Thinking with the Help of the Piano Recital by Akiko Miyakoshi
I was so excited when I found this book at the Harvard Book Store one Sunday afternoon. It is a fantasy picture book that pushes students to reconsider their initial ideas and lift their thinking as they read. When I began reading this book to a group of fourth-graders, they had no trouble inferring how… Continue reading Learning to Revise Our Thinking with the Help of the Piano Recital by Akiko Miyakoshi
Lottie & Walter by Anna Walker
Lottie and Walter, by Australian author, Anna Walker, is a sweet story of overcoming fear with the help of an imaginary friend. Lottie is terrified of getting into the pool for swimming lessons because she is sure that there is a shark in the water who wants to eat only her. She avoids the pool… Continue reading Lottie & Walter by Anna Walker
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
When I first read Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, I knew it would be a hit in my fourth-grade classroom. When read it aloud to my students last spring, they shared so many insights about the book and its contributions to our world. Author/illustrator Yuyi Morales immigrated to the United States with her son in 1994.… Continue reading Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 by Lauren Tarshis
Yes, this really happened! And, if you live in Massachusetts, it happened close to home - in the North End of Boston! This tragic event was caused by negligence on the part of the company who owned the molasses tank, United States Industrial Alcohol. For the first time in American history, a company had to… Continue reading I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 by Lauren Tarshis
Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth
I have been reading "Always Anjali" by Sheetal Sheth to a lot of classes this fall! Anjali is so excited to ride her new bike to the school carnival with her best friends where they decide to buy matching personalized license plates. Mary and Courtney find theirs right away, but Anjali's name is nowhere to… Continue reading Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth
The Field
The Field by Baptiste Paul, illustrated beautifully by Jacqueline Alcantara A winner of many awards in 2018, The Field shows and tells the story of a girl, her brother and some friends as they pick up a soccer game in rural St. Lucia, the author's home of origin. Through stunning illustrations full of movement… Continue reading The Field
The Joys Of Being A Little Black Boy
The Joys of Being A Little Black Boy by Valerie Reynolds Illustrated by Chris Turner The Joys Of Being A Little Black Boy is an empowering book. In compiling stories of prominent black figures such as Barack Obama and Muhammad Ali, the author offers positive images of black men in particular, while illustrating positive role… Continue reading The Joys Of Being A Little Black Boy
Grandma’s Record By: Eric Velasquez
I can't think of anything to write about? How many times have we heard students utter this phrase? Finding ideas can be a struggle for many of our reluctant writers. Grandma's Records by Eric Velasquez is the touching memoir about the special relationship he shares with his abuela. Every summer, Eric goes to live with… Continue reading Grandma’s Record By: Eric Velasquez
Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Kids shared: “I think that the author is trying to let us know that we can be anything we want to be. I don’t think he is telling us to be a certain kind of person, but inspiring us to be the person we want to be.” “I like how the author put ‘imagine’ at… Continue reading Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Lubna and Pebble By Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egneus
“This unforgettable and stunningly illustrated story explains the wrenching dislocation of refugee families, and one girl’s powerful act of friendship in the midst of uncertainty” – sometimes the book sleeve says it best! This gorgeous picture book opens the door to conversations about worries, friendship, and the powerful notion of hope. Second graders loved predicting… Continue reading Lubna and Pebble By Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egneus
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Every once in a while a book comes along that students and teachers alike can not put down. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is one of those books. The pages are filled with quirky characters, an interesting setting and one of a kind adventures that leave readers at the edge of their seats. I read… Continue reading The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
Last spring, a student I've known for years came to talk to me because he was having a bad day. He shared that everyone was trying to make him feel better, but he was just having a bad day and wished that everyone would give him space to have it and then move on. He… Continue reading Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
The Bad Guys: The Big Bad Wolf by Aaron Blabey
An alien invasion is afoot, and the redeemer of the misjudged, misunderstood; those poor souls unable to set the story straight by their own means, has gone rogue. As a Hulk-sized Mr. Wolf reeks havoc through the city, and the threat of aliens looms, the "BEST OF THE BEST" must put their heads together and… Continue reading The Bad Guys: The Big Bad Wolf by Aaron Blabey
#WeBelong #IAmAmerican #CountMeIn
Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj is the best children's book I have read all year! This book tells the story of a young girl and how she is transformed into an “accidental activist” after a terrible racist attack on her grandfather. The story is told from the point of view of Karina and her… Continue reading #WeBelong #IAmAmerican #CountMeIn
Because of the Rabbit By Cynthia Lord
Meet Emma. Emma is starting fifth grade in a Maine public school after years of being homeschooled. She is eager to start school and would love a best friend. She meets Jack on the first day. Jack is a boy who doesn’t quite fit in. He’s not the best friend she thought she was looking… Continue reading Because of the Rabbit By Cynthia Lord