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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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