I love this book!

The Day-Glo Brothers tells the story of Bob and Joe Switzer, two brothers who invented fluorescent paints that changed the world of art, advertising, and safety. The book follows their journey from experimenting in a small lab to creating bright, bold colors that captured everyone‘s attention. It highlights their creativity, perseverance, and the impact of their inventions on everyday life.

“One brother wanted to save lives. The other brother wanted to dazzle crowds. With Day- Glo, they did both“

I would this in the class to have students better understand how the things around use these colors and how the help us. I would also have students look at how they came to Ohio which helps them connect as that is were they live.

“ Lets have a parade!“

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet tells the true story of Tony Sarg, who created the giant balloons for the Macy‘s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The book uses fun language and colorful pictures to show how his creativity and love for puppets brought joy to millions.

The style of Balloons Over Broadway is informative and playful. Melissa Sweet uses a storytelling style that mixes real facts with a fun narrative so children can enjoy learning about history. The language is vivid and imaginative, helping readers picture Tony Sarg‘s creative ideas and inventions. The illustrations and handwritten notes add to the lively, artistic feel of the book, making it both educational and entertaining.

What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?

The Hate U Give is a great example of contemporary realistic fiction because it shows real-life problems teens face today. It follows Starr, a girl who witnesses her friend‘s death and learns to speak up for justice. The story feels real with believable characters, modern settings, and honest emotions. It teaches important lessons about courage, identity, and standing up for what‘s right.

This book is not recommended for elementry age students but quotes from the book could be very powerful for students to see and read. This book would be great for middle and high school students as the topics in the story are very relatable and something many of these students have seen or know.

Sometimes I wish everything could just go back to the way it was.”

A thoughtful graphic novel that helps kids understand big changes like divorce and new families, told in a way that is honest, funny, and easy to connect with.

This graphic novel tells the story of Jen, a girl who has to move to the country with her mom and new step family.The images show Jen‘s frustration, jealousy, and growth. The story explores mature themes like divorce, blended families, and finding your place, but the graphic novel format makes them easier for younger readers to understand and relate to.

“ Te-he-he-he“

Teaches children the value of joy, courage, and not giving up, even when things get difficult.

This story is a folktale from Japan. It tells about a woman who follows her dumpling into a hole and ends up in the land of the oni (ogres). Even though she is captured, her laughter and joy never leave her. It fits into traditional literature because it shares a cultural lesson about perseverance and keeping a cheerful heart, even in the face of trouble.

Not only did the world bump his head, but he broke his heart to pieces

A Chinese version of “Little Red Riding Hood” where three children must outsmart a tricky wolf. Suspenseful, beautifully illustrated, and full of a clear lesson about being careful and clever.

This story is a folktale and specifically a beast tale because the wolf disguises himself to trick the children, showing how humans (or in this case children) must use cleverness to outsmart an animal character. It also works as a cautionary tale, warning children to be careful about trusting strangers. Ed Young‘s illustrations deepen the suspense and highlight the cultural version of the tale compared to the European “Little Red Riding Hood.”

“Knuffle Bunny!!! And those were the very first words Trixie ever said.”

Students can write about a time they lost something important, using describing words to show how they felt, just like Trixie in the story.

Knuffle Bunny (Picturebook, Caldecott Honor, 2004) tells its story through creative pictures. The backgrounds are real black-and-white photos, and the characters are drawn in soft colors so they stand out. The round shapes make the characters look playful, and the smooth lines show clear expressions. The composition keeps Trixie and Knuffle Bunny in focus, so the pictures guide the story from start to finish.

“ Always stick with your buddy“

Students can act out their own safety tips in pairs—one giving the rule and the other acting it out, just like Officer Buckle and Gloria. They can also make safety signs to hang around the school to show peers ways to be safe.

Officer Buckle and Gloria (Picturebook, Caldecott Medal, 1995) tells the story mostly through its pictures. The bright colors make the book cheerful and fun. The round shapes of the characters make them look friendly. The smooth lines keep the pictures clear and easy to follow. The composition puts Gloria‘s silly actions in the center, so the pictures show the humor.

After reading, students can make their own “No, ______!” page by drawing a character doing something silly and adding a big “No!” sentence.

“No, David!”

No, David! (Picturebook, Caldecott Honor, 1998) tells the story through its pictures. The bright colors make the book feel fun and playful. The simple shapes look like a child‘s drawing, which makes the story easy for kids to connect with. The wiggly lines show David‘s wild and messy behavior. The pictures are set up so David is always the focus, which makes his actions the center of the story.

“Creepy underwear is nothing to be afraid of… right?”

would use this book to show students how pictures can set the mood of a story. They could try drawing their own “creepy” or “silly” illustrations to match a story.

Creepy Pair of Underwear! (Picturebook, 2017) tells much of its story through the pictures. The dark pages, glowing green underwear, and big shadows make the book feel spooky. The shapes are bold and simple, which keeps it funny instead of scary. The pictures guide the reader‘s feelings on every page.

“Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can‘t catch me—I‘m the Stinky Cheese Man!”

This book would be a great book for older grades to explore different fairy tales with a twist. I then could have them make their own silly fairy tale.

Lane Smith's illustrations in The Stinky Cheese Man are bold and full of personality. He combines cartoon characters with real-life images, like old engravings, to create a fun and surprising look. The textures in his artwork add depth and make the pictures feel lively. Overall, his unique style brings the silly stories to life in a way that's both funny and engaging.

LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!

A fun activity I could with the book is to have the students create their own bus and write or say if they would let the pigeon drive the bus. This could be a great way to have the kids laugh but also engage them.

The pictures by Mo Willems are simple but very funny and full of feeling. The big shapes and faces show what the pigeon is thinking and feeling. The plain white background helps us pay attention to the pigeon‘s actions. The drawings look like quick sketches, which makes the story fun and lively for kids.

“ Lombard, am I a blushful Hippopotamus?“

For this story I could have students go around and compliment each other on things and be good friend like Lombard. This would boost confidence in students and allow friendships to grow.

The pictures in The Blushful Hippopotamus are bright and fun with lots of bold colors. The soft lines make the animals look friendly and happy. The backgrounds are colorful and help show how the characters feel. The drawings make the story feel cheerful and easy to enjoy.

This is a wordless book. If I could add a quote I would add “No words are needed to tell their story—only the language of dance.“ I would add this at the end of the book.

This book would be great to use with young kids. The flabs that open and close helps engage the child and not using words help them tell the story. I can have students think about what animal they would want to dance with and why.

The pictures in Flora and the Flamingo are soft and pretty, made with gentle watercolors and light pencil lines. The pink and white colors help show the dance between Flora and the flamingo. The pages have lots of empty space that makes the movements feel smooth and calm. The drawings show feelings and actions without any words, so kids can understand the story just by looking.

“The carrots were everywhere—in the shadows, in the bushes, and even in Jasper‘s dreams.”

This book would be great for kids in kindergarten to 2nd grade. This would be a great way to engage students by having them draw their own creepy garden and write a short story on it.

Peter Brown‘s illustrations in Creepy Carrots uses bold black shadows and bright orange to create a spooky yet playful atmosphere. His use of sharp lines and strong contrasts gives the book a comic-book feel that builds suspense and humor.The dynamic compositions guide the reader‘s eye and enhance the story‘s tension without being frightening. light and shadow play a big role, making the carrots seem alive and adding personality to Jasper.

This book is mainly wordless. I would add words that describe how Juan felt as she took bites of food and would be cool to see her use her home language as well.

This would be a great book for 1st-3rd grade. This story can help students see and understand how scary it can feel for a new student who comes in and does not speak English as their first language. They then can also share our foods that make them feel like Jun when she gets to eat her lunch.

Cherry Mo‘s illustrations in Home in a Lunchbox use soft, muted colors to convey feelings of loneliness and isolation, shifting to warm, bright tones to express comfort and connection. The artwork blends full-page spreads with comic-style panels, using clean lines and expressive faces to show Jun‘s emotions clearly. Selective use of color highlights key moments, like the vibrant lunchbox that symbolizes home and belonging.

This is a picture book that tells the story of Rosa Parks and her brave act of refusing to give up her bus seat. The theme of courage and justice is shown through simple, powerful text and bold, colorful illustrations. The words highlight Rosa‘s quiet strength and how one small action can change history. This book is a clear and inspiring way to teach about standing up for what is right.