Month: October 2019

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

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

"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

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

“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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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