Earthdance by Joanne Ryder and illustrated by Norman Gorbaty is an incredible piece of P dedicated to appreciating our home, Earth. It allows the students to imagine what it would be like to be the Earth and to remind them the importance of protecting our home, hence why a DR would be an ideal teaching strategy with this book. The author and illustrator managed to bring this beautiful poem to life, all while emphasizing a truly important message.

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth is a F Caldecott book that I think will be ideal for a RT project. This beautifully illustrated book shares the story of three sibling who learn individual life lessons from a very wise panda named Stillwater. I will certainly be adding it to my future classroom and would recommend you all do the same because it teaches students how to problems solve in a meditative way following the “zen” way of life. #UCFLAE3414F19

Is Your Mama A Llama? written by Deborah Guarino and illustrated by Steven Kellogg is a sweet F picture book your students will enjoy, especially during a S activity. It tells the story of a curious llama that learns all about different animals. This is a go-to book for children to read and enjoy in your elementary levels classroom libraries. #UCFLAE3414F19

A Different Pond by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui is a beautiful Caldecott RF story. Phi speaks volumes with this incredible story that students with struggling families will connect with, having them do an AS will be perfect. This story manages to balance sadness and content all while teaching kids the value of family. Although some underlying messages may be overseen by elementary aged students, it is still a book all educators must have.

Swimmy by Leo Lionni is a Caldecott winning F picture book that teaches students the importance of wonder, exploration, teamwork, and perseverance. A must have to both inspire and entertain your elementary aged students. Performing a RA with this book will make for a memorable lesson your students will love. #UCFLAE3414F19

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown is a beautiful F picture book that all elementary educators should have in their classroom libraries. It teaches children the importance of individuality and being yourself in a very unique way. Students and teachers alike will love this story. A teaching strategy that would align with this book is a DR. #UCFLAE3414F19

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown is a classic Caldecott winning F picture book. It tells the story of a Jasper Rabbit who gets followed by some creepy carrots, with a sweet and unexpected ending. The way Brown illustrated this book is a work of art itself, as a color coding enthusiast the color scheme was not unnoticed nor unappreciated. This is the perfect book for a Fall time RA. #UCFLAE3414F19

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle is a RF picture book like no other. For starters, it tells an incredible story of an unlikely friendship with no words. This Caldecott winning book will make your students appreciate the diversity in literary works, a must have in your elementary classroom library. An “IR” assignment with this book will be amazing to see what students think of the book when discussing it as a group later on. #UCFLAE3414F19

The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small was a beautiful HF read. The story is about a Mexican girl that moves to the US and practices her English by sending her aunt letters. I connected to the text because I learned how to read and write English by writing letter, similar to how the main character did. It‘s overall a book your ESOL students will love and most likely relate to, all while being the perfect book for PR.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers is an entertaining piece of F your students will love. It tell the story of crayons and how their owner uses them in an incredibly amusing way. Although, this book is aimed for your elementary aged students, everyone is bound to love this story. A RT would be so cute for students to dress and act as each crayon, this book is definitely a treat for all! #UCFLAE3414F19

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall is a RF Caldecott award winning book. It‘s a perfect story for IR and a must-have for your elementary classroom library. It tells the story of a lighthouse keeper and his life in the lighthouse, but Blackall manages to write this book in the most beautifully captivating way possible. Your students will certainly enjoy this book, especially those with a love for the sea. #UCFLAE3414F19

Grandfather‘s Journey by Allen Say is my favorite picture book to this day. This heartwarming NF Caldecott winning book tells the story of a Japanese grandfather and his longing for his two homes. All educators should have this book in their classrooms because it will resonate with your immigrant students. An AS is the ideal strategy to use because students will get background knowledge to better understand the book. #UCFLAE3414F19

Me... Jane by Patrick McDonnell is the B of the inspiring Jane Goodall. It presents students to one of the most famous anthropologist and primatologist of the world. McDonnell won a Caldecott for this beautifully written and illustrated book that showcases Goodall‘s beginnings and how she fell in love with the animals she would come to protect later on in life. The teaching strategy I‘d most likely use with my students would be SR. #UCFLAE3414F19

Rumpelstiltskin‘s Daughter by Diane Stanley is an amazing piece of traditional literature with the most incredible unexpected ending. This is a wonderful book to include in your 4th-6th grade classroom libraries. It includes topics such as kindness, greed, collaboration, and even touches on a few political terms. A RT assignment for the students based from this book would be an amazing teaching strategy choice. #UCFLAE3414F19

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts is an incredibly entertaining SF read for students in any elementary level. It promotes curiosity and wonder in the most creative way possible. The perfect teaching strategy for this must-have book would be CR. All students will enjoy this wonderful book, but students who particularly love the STEM subjects will feel identified with little Ms. Ada Twist. #UCFLAE3414F19

Don‘t Call Me Bear! by Aaron Blabey is an entertaining educational book your elementary classroom library should definitely have. It teaches children marsupials in an incredibly amusing way your students will most certainly enjoy. This F book is sure to make your students remember to never call a koala, a bear. Using this book for a RT would be a perfect choice, it would make for a class your students will never forget. #UCFLAE3414F19

Written by the amazing Oge Mora, Thank You, Omu! is a Caldecott and Coretta Scott King award winning exemplary book on community and selflessness. It‘s a must have in the K-3 classroom libraries to teach children the value of helping others and kindness. This RF work of art is perfect for PR and having your students reflect on the story.

I Am Enough by Grace Byers and illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo is a beautifully empowering piece of poetry all elementary classrooms should have. It touches on themes such as resilience, love, respect, and inclusivity while using leveled vocabulary and spectacular drawings. This is a perfect book for IR and a truly inspiring read. #UCFLAE3414F19

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is a great novel to include in your elementary classroom library. Besides it being awarded the prestigious Newberry Award, it‘s a work of RF your students will certainly enjoy. The novel touches the journey of a lifetime a group of kids go on to find Virgil, a missing neighborhood kid, with some unexpected bumps along the way. It‘s a perfect novel for your students to read and discuss during their LCs.

Last Stop On Market Street by Matt De la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson is a great addition to your classroom libraries and an amazing book to do a RA with. This Newberry, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King Award winning book tells the story of CJ and his Nana around NYC. It‘s a piece of RF that teaches students the value of helping and respecting others, while finding beauty in the places you‘d least expect to find it. #UCFLAE3414F19