“Wonder”, rf, is by R.J Palacio and is a #1 New York Times Best Seller. It can be used for lit circles or independent reading. The book centers around Auggie who was born with a facial condition. He‘s been homeschooled his whole life until now, when he attends Beecher Prep for 5th grade. His first year in school is filled with a lot of bullying, forgiving and changing attitudes. We see how each of his relationships change, even with his family.

“One Crazy Summer”, historical fiction, is by Rita Williams-Garcia and has won both a Newbery and Coretta Scott King Award. It can be used for lit circles or independent reading. This book is about 3 sisters from New York that have been raised by their father with no real idea about what their mother is like. This changes when they spend a summer with her in her home of Oakland, California in 1968. An important year for the Black Power Movement.

“Stellaluna”, mf, is by Janell Cannon and has won a Keystone to Reading award. A read aloud will create a great experience for students with this book. Stellaluna is a little baby fruit bat who is separated from her mother very young. After finding a nest, she is adopted by the mama bird and is raised like a bird! But one day, she is reunited with her bat mother! This book touches on family dynamics and relationship themes.

“Eleanor and Park”, realistic fiction, is by Rainbow Rowell and has won the Michael L. Printz award. It can be used for lit circles or independent reading. Readers follow the story of Eleanor and Park, two teenagers in Omaha during the 1980s. The pair are both considered “outsiders” in their high school and meet on the bus. They form a connection and need to figure out how to handle love in their complicated lives.

“The House On Mango Street”, realistic fiction, is by Sandra Cisneros and is a New York Times Best Seller. It can be used for lit circles or as an independent read. We follow around a young girl named Esperanza and her life living in a poorer area of Chicago. Her family is Mexican and her parents are immigrants. Esperanza has an idea of “real” life from T.V and it contrasts her living version of life. She begins writing poetry to express herself.

“Elephant Secret”, mf, is by Eric Walters and it is a 2019/20 Sunshine State Young Readers Award winner for Middle School. The main protagonist is 11-year-old Samantha. She was born on an elephant sanctuary and lives there with her dad and her “family” of 11 elephants. Samantha has a close bond with each elephant and her dad.

“The Westing Game”, rf, is by Ellen Raskin and has won the Newbery Medal. It can be used for independent or partner reading. This book is definitely a mystery that is set up almost like a puzzle. The readers get introduced to 16 different characters. They learn that they are heirs to Sam Westing‘s fortune. Soon, they are brought together in the Westing Mansion in order to solve a series of clues but there‘s a twist, some are behind it all.

“Library Lion”, modern fantasy, is written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes and is a New York Times Best Seller. It works best as a Read Aloud or even independent reading. The local library has a surprise when a lion comes in and enjoys everything the library offers! The humans are a bit scared and wonder why the lion hasn‘t been put out but the head librarian doesn‘t see any issue because the lion follows all her rules!

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, rf, is by Eric Carle and is a New York Times Top Ten Bestseller in its time. It can be used as a choral read with slight adaptations. Readers get to see how a little egg on a leaf grows into a caterpillar and it keeps growing and growing and eating a lot of different foods until something transformative happens. UDL 1.3 and 5.1 and ESOL strategy 17 best apply as they focus on providing different forms of media.

“Olivia”, modern fantasy, is by Ian Falconer and has earned a Caldecott medal. It can be used as an independent read, read aloud, or adapted as a reader‘s theater. Olivia is a confident, strong-minded, sassy piggy. This book goes through Olivia‘s days which are always different because she has varied interests from soccer to drama. She always puts her own “Olivia” flair to them. This book can serve as a mirror to a strong-willed child.

“Frog and Toad Are Friends”, F, is by Arnold Lobel and is a Caldecott Honor book. This book can be adapted for Reader‘s Theatre or can be used as a Read Aloud. This is a collection of five short stories that follow Frog and his best friend Toad. Frog is excited for Spring and to have new adventures with Toad but when he goes to visit his friend, Toad doesn‘t want to wake up from his winter nap!

“No, David!”, RF, is by David Shannon and is a Caldecott Medal winner. This book can be used for a Read Aloud or Independent Reading. It shares the story of a young boy named David and the trouble he gets into. The title reflects the phrase that his mom is constantly using: “No, David!” Even though, he gets into a lot and a lot of trouble, his mother still shows that she loves him.

“Where The Wild Things Are”, F, is by Maurice Sendak and is a Caldecott medal winner. A Shared Reading can up the experience of reading this book. Max, a rowdy little boy, is sent to bed by his tired mom and imagines going to the Land of Wild Things where the other Wild Things make him the King of the land. A wonderful story told through the eyes of a child, allowing for connections to be made by students.

“Ada Twist, Scientist”, RF, is written by STEM advocate Andrea Beaty. It is a New York Times Bestseller. This book can be used for good partner reading or as an introduction to an Author Study. The main character is Ada Twist, an inquisitive little girl. She spends her days asking questions and coming up with solutions to not-so big problems. However, she is met with a challenge and depends on her passion and her family to push her to keep on!

“The Day the Crayons Quit”, F, is by Drew Daywalt and is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. It works well as a Read Aloud or even a Dramatic Reenactment or quick Readers Theatre. This cute story details the grievances Duncan‘s crayons have. They leave Duncan some letters in their place in the crayon box and their colorful personalities come through!

“The Giving Tree”, F, is a Newbery Honor book. This book focuses on the relationship developed between a female apple tree and a young boy. Their days spent together are described. This page, https://www.raisingareader.org/2015/12/04/the-giving-tree/ , provides info on practices for comprehension. UDL principles 3.3 and 3.4 and ESOL strategy 1 and 4, relating to comprehension, best apply. #ucflae3414sp20

“Rosie Revere, Engineer”, RF, is a New York Times Best Seller. This book is all about following your passion and pushing through failures as seen through a second-grade girl who wants to be a great engineer. She loves to invent but she finds herself in a hard spot. This book can be great for partner reading! This website, https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2013/09/17/putting-books-t..., shares ideas...

“A Sick Day for Amos McGee”, F, is a Caldecott Medal Winner and can work well for a Readers‘ Theater. It tells the story of a zookeeper who is really close with the animals he tends for and one day, they come and visit him when he is sick at home. There is a Teacher‘s Guide to this book at https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/material/sick-day-amos-mcgee-teachers-guide. The UDL 3.2 and 3.3 and ESOL 1 and 10, regarding questioning, best apply

This biographical book, titled “Me...Jane”, is a Caldecott Honor book. The author, Patrick McDonnell, tells the story of Jane Goodall‘s life and her lifelong passion for animals. The reader gets to see her dream of living and working in Africa come true with the inclusion of both illustrations and photographs. This story can be best used for Storytelling or Guided Reading. The ESOL strategies 14, 16 and 17 and the UDL 8.3 and 2.4 best apply.

“Actual Size”, a rf book, is a great book to be done in a class Read Aloud! Kids can learn about different facts about various animals and see and believe it because the illustrations of the animals are done in actual size! It can be an intriguing book for a range of readers as they come across a giant Squid eye or a big Gorilla hand.