Author: Jennifer Ryan

By Sydney Smith  “I know what it’s like to be small in the city”, “The streets are always busy. It can make your brain feel like there’s too much stuff in it.”  Small in the City, written and illustrated by Sydney Smith, is a beautiful narrative picture book about, what at first seems to be… Continue reading Small In The City

by Stacy McAnulty and Illustrated by David Litchfield Hi! I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome. Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, tells the autobiographical story of Earth’s history, from the beginning of time to the present. This text takes you on a walk through geologic time from the perspective of Earth, herself.… Continue reading Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years

“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

We are all interconnected. Towers Falling, by Jewell Parker Rhodes brilliantly brings this message of societal interconnectedness to life as main character, Deja Barnes uncovers her  community’s and family’s history.  Fifth grader, Deja, is new to school. Deja’s family of five lives in a one room apartment in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn. As Deja… Continue reading Towers Falling By Jewell Parker Rhodes

Much like Brown Girl Dreaming, Jaqueline Woodson’s ability to weave together challenging, yet relevant story lines with subtle imagery and graceful, melodic language does not fall short in her 2018 novel, Harbor Me.This is an important story for adults (particularly teachers) and older students alike, as it reminds readers that each child has defining layers… Continue reading Harbor Me