Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson

 

Summary:

A memoir written in verse that depicts the author, Jaqueline Woodson, growing up in different places during a unique time in American history.  She is an African American girl that was born in Ohio, but raised in the South with her grandparents during the Jim Crow era.  She then moves back to the North to a much harder place, but is able to meet friends.  Jaqueline has to learn how to manage two very different worlds. 

• beautiful memoir written from a child´s point of view
• you are able to learn about the Civil Rights movement through a child´s point of view
• addresses growing up in the segregated South, Christianity, divorce, sickness, and deaths of family
• each poem is emotional as it allows you to catch a glimpse into a child´s soul as she struggles to find her place in the world
• Awarded the Newberry Medal and National Book Award

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. NY: Penguin.

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The Three Pigs by David Weisner

 

Summary:

Witty and imaginative version of The Three Little Pigs.  When the wolf comes a-knocking and a-puffing, he blows the pigs into a whole new landscape where they go flying through other stories.  Some of their adventures include encountering a dragon and a cat with a fiddle.  Readers will find a humorous spin to this familiar tale.

• witty dialogue and comedy are use to retell this familiar tale
• illustrations are clever and whimsical
• allows your imagination to soar
• awarded the Caldecott Medal

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. NY: Clarion.

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

 

Summary:

At eight years old, Bea finds out that her parents are getting a divorce and that her dad is gay.  She learns that she will have to go back and forth between two seperate apartments.  Her parents give her a list of ¨things that will not change.¨  Bea struggles to come to terms with the divorce and the fact that her dad is gay.  She begins to act out and begins to feel bad on the inside.  With the help of her new therapist, Bea begins to learn how to recognize and handle her emotions.  She begins to accept gaining a new family and trying to find happiness.

• a unique story of loss, change, and hope 
• emotional story about changes in family
• acknowledges that not every problem can be solved and that doing a bad thing does not mean you  are a bad person

Stead, Rebecca (2020). List Of Things That Will Not Change. NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

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It´s a Book by Lane Smith

 

Summary:

A laptop doting donkey is baffled by a monkeyś unrecognizable possession - a book.  The donkey asks many questions to figure out what he has, ¨What do you have there?¨ or ¨How do you scroll down?¨  The monkey repeatedly responds with, ¨It´s a book¨.

• hilarious and witty
• connects with today´s digital age
• beware uses the term jackass when addressing the donkey

Smith, L. (2011). It's a book! NY: Roaring Brook.

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Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer

 

Summary:

A book of reverso poems that combine fairytales with poetry with a fun twist, from Cinderella to Beauty and the Beast. Each page is filled with poems that mean one thing on the way down and another on the way back up offering different perspectives and meanings depending on the direction you read.  

• each poem is illustrated with colorful pictures showing both perspectives of the poem
• a celebration of imagery, language, and perspective

Singer, M., & Masse Josée. (2010). Mirror mirror: a book of reverso poems. Dutton Children's Books, an imprint of Pinguin Group (USA) Inc.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack

 

Summary:

Max gets to sent to bed without supper for dressing as a wolf and causing trouble. When in his room he uses his imagination and a forest grows.  Max boards a ship and sails across oceans to an island where the wild things live.  At first he is frightened by the wild things, but Max hypnotizes them and they then reign him King.  Then far away Max smells something good, and sails back home where he finds hot supper in his room.

• a classic of children´s literature
• even though Max misbehaves, the reader can learn of parental love
• the story, writing, and art will have kids asking for repeated readings
• awarded Caldecott Medal

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. NY: HarperCollins.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

 

Summary:

Jess is excited to start 5th grade and to become the fastest runner at school.  He has been practicing all summer.  However on the first day the new girl, Leslie, comes in and beats everyone in the school, including Jess.  Soon they become inseperable friends and together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods in their imaginations.  Terabithia is a place where they learn and accept each others differences.  Suddenly a terrible tragedy occurs and Jess must  find strength and courage that Leslie had taught him.

• an honest, moving story about friendship and loss
• a story of a boy and a girl who became friends despite their differences
• Awarded the Newberry Medal

Paterson, K. (1972). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: Crown.

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We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

 

Summary:

During the time of segregation, African American athletes created their own baseball league.  This helped to create the game of baseball and how it is played today.  Kadir Nelson shows the struggles and successes these athletes face on and off the field.  This is a story of unsung heroes who overcame discrimination, hatred, and low pay to do the one thing they love most: baseball.

• displays oil paintings and dramatic double page fold outs
• an incredible nonfiction book about the history of Negro Leagues
• Awarded the Sibert Medal and Coretta Scott King Award

Nelson, Kadir (2008). We Are The Ship. NY: Hyperion.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

 

Summary:

Catherine´s brother, David, has autism, a mental disorder that makes it hard to communicate, and their 

family´s  life revolves around her brother.  Because Catherine loves her brother, she creates a list of rules for him to help him understand social situations.  For example, ¨if someone says hi, you say hi back.¨  Even though Catherine loves her brother she feels frustrated and embarrased by him and feels left out.  One day, a new girl moves in next door to her and Catherine worries David may ruin their friendship.  She also meets Jason, who is a different type of friend.  Catherine soon questions what normal actually is.

• a heartwarming and witty story about feeling different and finding acceptance
• a look at handling frustrations, struggles, and devotion
• awarded the Newberry Medal in 2007

Lord, C. (2008). Rules. Scholastic.

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Gross as a Snot Otter by Jess Keating

 

Summary:

An informational text from the creators of Pink is for Blobfish.  This book is apart of The World of Weird Animals and describes seventeen of the most revolting creatures.  You can learn about slippery, slimy snot otters, gulls that projectile vomit on command, and chipmunks that cultivate healthy forests by pooping a trail of seeds wherever they go. You will also learn how the things that make them so disgusting is what helps them to survive in the wild. 

• weird and wonderful
• combines fascinating animal facts with vibrant photographs and cartoon illustrations
• words and phrases that may be unfamiliar are bolded in the text and defined in the glossary

Keating, J., & DeGrand, D. (2019). Gross as a snot otter: discovering the world's most disgusting animals. Alfred A. Knopf.

Comic Squad by Jennifer and Matthew Holm

 

Summary:

A hilarious graphic novel series that includes different side splitting, action packed tales of every kid´s favorite subjects, recess and lunch.  The third book in the series is about every kid´s biggest fear, detention. The series includes all their favorite comic characters in one book.  For example: Baby Mouse, Lunch Lady, and the Peanuts gang.  

• bust your gut laughing comics anthology
• original contributions for the most beloved and best selling names in graphic novels

Holm, J. L., Holm, M., Krosoczka, J., Castellucci, C., Bell, C., & Brown, J. (2016). Comics Squad. Random House.

It´s So Amazing by Robbie Harris

 

Summary:

Begins with a chapter titled ¨Curious? Embarrased? Confused?¨ and explains to kids that it is perfectly normal to feel that way when learning about where babies come from.  It also addresses the big sex-ed questions such as where babies come from, how boys and girls are different, what pregnancy and birth is like and much more.  It´s So Amazing also discusses topics such as different kinds of loves, different kinds of families, adoption, AIDS/HIV, birth control, and why growing up is so amazing.

• straight forward and approachable sex ed guide
• uses bird and bee character approach to capture kids´ viewpoint
• includes a table of contents if you want to address certain topics
• assists in families talking about questions they may have

Harris, R. H., & Emberley, M. (1999). It's so amazing!: a book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families. Candlewick Press.

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

 

Summary:

While traveling home on a segregaged bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an African American named Rosa Parks is ordered by the bus driver to give up her seat in the ¨nuetral section"to a white passenger.  Rosa refuses to give up her seat, so the driver calls the police and she is arressted.  When others hear of her defiance in giving up her seat, they gather together and organize a boycott of the buses until segregation has ended.

• a biography of Rosa Park that deals with realities of discrimination
• includes paintings that combine watercolor and collage
• celebrates courageous action
• Awarded Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award

Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2005). Rosa. NY: Holt.

Strega Nona by Tommie DePaola

 

Summary:

Strega Nona is the ¨Grandma Witch"of an Italian village.  She creates potions and cures to help all of her neighbors.  As she gets older, she decides she needs help caring for her home and garden.  As Big Anthony is helping her, he notices Strega Nona singing over her pasta pot and it magically makes pasta.  However, he fails to see the rest of her spell.  When he is left alone, he uses her special phrase to make pasta for the village.  Things go very wrong without the rest of her secret.

• a fun and hilarious folktale
• big, colorful illustrations on each page
• awarded Caldecott Medal

Lovelady, J., & DePaola, T. (1983). Strega Nona. NY: Putnam.

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Planting Stories by Anika Denise

 

Summary: 

Based on the life of Pura Bulpre.  The story traces her life as a Puerto Rican immigrant arriving in New York City in 1921.  She first works in a clothing factory then becomes a librarian in Harlem.  She discovers that she cannot find any Puerto Rican folktales on the library shelves, so she decides to write on.  Pura also spends her time sharing folktales with puppets during storytimes throughout the city.  Finally, her book is published and she is able to travel and share her stories.  She eventually stops working and traveling when she meets her husband, an African American violinist and composer.  Years later, she later returns to the library.

• beautifully illustrated by Paolo Ecobar
• a kid friendly biography of the first Puerto Rian librarian in New York City

Denise, A., & Escobar, P. (2019). Planting stories: the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré. Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

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Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de LaPena

 

Summary:

C.J.´s nana, whom is a strong African American grandmother, believes in finding the beauty in the world.  C.J. asks Nana many questions as they journey from church to a soup kitchen on a city bus.  As Nana answers his questions, she shares her wisdom and insight.  C.J. begins to understand the diversity in the people he meets and the beauty in the surroundings around them.

• teaches the value, and fun of acceptance, generosity, appreciation, and imagination of a less than perfect world
• vibrant amd lively illustrations by Christian Robinson
• Awarded Caldecott Medal, John Newberry Medal, and Coretta Scott King Illustrations Honor

Peña, M. D. la, & Robinson, C. (2017). Last stop on Market Street. Puffin.

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Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by C.A. Deedy

 

Summary:

A Cuban folktale where a beautiful cockroach, Martina, lives with her family in Havannah.  Her family gives her many gifts to help her be mor attractive so she can find a good husband.  However, her abuela gives her the most useful gift of all, advice.  Her advice is for Martina to conduct the ¨coffee test¨ on each suitor to test his kindness to her.  Once the word the is out, many suitors come from all over the village to vie for Martina´s love.  Martina gives each suitor the coffee test and has no luck, until the last villager.  She instantly feels he is the perfect match for her when the coffee test is turned around on her.

• beautiful illustrations by Michael Allen Austin
• has a friendly sprinkle of Spanish words
• displays Cuban culture
• lively and funny to read

Deedy, C. A. (2014). Martina the beautiful cockroach: a cuban folktale. Turtleback Books.

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Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

 

Summary:

Leigh Botts was only in second grade when he started writing to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw.  Leigh was such a big fan of his books, he wrote to the author again and again the next year hoping to get a response that he could post on his classroom bulletin board.  He eventually hears from the author and a pen-pal relationship begins to develop.  Leigh learns writers needs to write often to become better at what they do.  He also learns that by writitng about his own struggles, his parents´ divorce, missing his dad, and a school bully can help him deal with some of the pain he is feeeling.

• illustrations and short chapters make a lively and easy read
• excellent for new or reluctant readers
• Awards include Newberry Medal, American Library Assocation Notable Children´s Book, Horne Book Fanfare Children´s Book Award

Cleary, B., & Zelinsky, P. O. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. Morrow.

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El Deafo by Cece Bell

 

Summary:

A girl named CeCe loses her hearing from meningitis at a very young age which causes her to to leave everyone and everything she knows begind when she has to go to a deaf school.  Then she gets a big and embarrasing hearing aid and is able to go back to her old school.  Because of her differences, she has trouble making friends.  One day she makes a starling discovery that through the hearing aid and the teacher's microphone, she can not only hear her teacher in the classromm, but wherever she is in the school  CeCe believes this is her superpower.  Even with this superpower, she continues to be lonely until she finally makes a new friend.  CeCe is able to learn how to advocate for herselp and empathize with others.

• Teaches the importance of acceptance and overcoming challenges
• A story of friendship that reminds you of the importance of kindness
• a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that is funny and relatable
• very well illustrated 
• Newberry Honor Winner

Bell, C., & Lasky, D. (2014). El deafo. Amulet Books.

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Crown an Ode to a Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

 

Summary:

The barber shop is where magic happens!  A slow, steady cut helps boys feel like royalty.  The crisp line helps the boys to feel sharp and frames their ¨swagger¨.  They feel more aware of every great thing that can happen to them when they look good..  Grades turn into A´s, girls notice them, and moms give tighter hugs.  Everyone seems to notice them.  This book celebrates self-confidence and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber´s chair, a tradition that places on their head a ¨crown¨ that confirms their brilliance and self-worth.  It allows them to not only love and accept themselves, but to also develop a care to how thy present themselves to the world.  The fresh cut is where it all begins.

• Illustrations by Gordon C. Games are vibrant in color, realistic, and engaging
• This book honors artistry and signifigance of barbers in the black community
• it reflects hip hop and youth culture
• awarded the Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, and the Newberry Medal

Barnes, D. D., & James, G. C. (2017). Crown: an ode to the fresh cut. Bolden, an Agate imprint.

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