“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.“

Since this book is historical fiction there are many things that are different from then and now. Back then black and white people did not go to the same school, shop at the same grocery store, or use the same bathrooms. We can teach our children about the different cultures and races of people. Especially since nowadays there are more families immigrating into the U.S. We can teach our children about the past but teach ways to better the future.

This is a historical fiction book. This story takes place during the 1930s. During this time in history black and white people did not share the same restroom let alone live together. Times were quite different, especially how people lived and how people treated each other. During this time the Civil Rights action was starting to take place. Black people were starting to stand up for themselves and want more freedom and privileges as white people.

This is a biography about Martin Luther and his I have a Dream speech. He was an African American public speaker who spoke about a better future for his people. He talked about how one day they would get treated as real people instead of overlooked. He lead many group riot walks through the streets to make his presence known and know that he was not going to stop until his people were heard. He knew everyone was different and that made us unique.

This is a biography about a girl named Ruby Bridges. She was African American and the oldest of 5 children. She was the first colored girl to attend an all white elementary school. She attended first grade at Williams Frantz Elementary school. During this time in history black and white people did not attend the same schools. Her movement paved the way for the Civil Rights action in the south.

This a biography about a boy named Jarett. Jarett was in high school when he went to camp for the first time. When he learned that it was for seriously ill kids and families he thought it was going to be sad and overwhelming. He learned that it was a lot more than he expected. He learned more about different kids and their illnesses and how they live with it everyday. He became a safe person that kids could go to and tell their feelings to.

This is a biography about a girl named Nina Simone. She grew up in a very religious household where her momma was a preacher and house maid. She had a rough time growing up because she was not easily excepted because of her color of skin. She was very talented in playing the piano. She tried to get into a performing arts program called Curtis Institute. She later learned she was rejected because of her skin color. She grew more popular overtime.

This book is a biography about a girl named Judy Heumann. She has been such an inspiration to disability people all around the world. She fought most of her life to get her voice heard and advocate for those who were disabled and not able to go to school. She only felt included at a summer camp for the disability. She made connections and made herself known to the state and federal government about getting changes made for disability people.

In the poem Gift it is a simple but meaningful. This poem many teenagers can relate to and wanting their first phone. This poem gives a great description of what a teenager is thinking and feeling. I personally can relate to this poem and wanting my first phone and seeing all my friends with one. This poem is appropriate for early teenagers/ high schoolers because the language and message relates to their lives.

The poem in this book 'Food for each season' is cute and simple. This is a great poem for any age to read. It didn't rhyme but it had a good simple theme of describing a food with the type of season it went with.

In this book the poem called 'Neighborhoods' is cute and simple. The description of the words make it easy to paint a picture of what the author is writing about. The poem would best interest any age of students. The description of the houses and who lives there and who has come so far and worked hard over the years to pay for nice housing is worded amazing.

The poem 'Checkpoint' is informational and gives an inside look an a real family traveling from the US to Mexico. This is a great poem for older readers that would understand the whole crossing the boarder process. This is a great book for students to read about what other students and families have to go through when traveling from country to country. This poem does not rhyme as much but gives a lot of information in a short amount of words.

The poem 'The Whales off Whales' is simple but informational. The poem has a rhyming scheme every other line. This is good poem for any age because it is simple but has lots of information about a whale. The description of words in the poem help create a picture for the readers.

The poem 'I am a Baby Porcupette' is so cute and such an easy read. This poem is so simple yet has such descriptive words to paint a picture of how the porcupette is living. I would recommend this poem for elementary students because is short and cute and the students could relate to the animal and being young. There was some rhyming among the different lines but not too much.

This book is non-fiction because it is based on an actual historical event that changed many lives that are still affected to this day. This is a good book for middle schoolers and high schoolers because it is based on a real life event that can be hard for younger readers to process. This book is great to read about terrible real life events that happen all around the world and effect people and their daily lives just like us.

This is a non-fiction book and gives historical information about how Fry bread is made. In the book it talks about the ingredients needed to make the bread and which holidays the bread is eaten on. This book is great for elementary and older students because it gives great background information and is fun to read. In the book it talks about all the different tribes that used to make the bread and how their tradition has continued to this day.

This is a nonfiction book because it talks about the history of outer space and how the first couple hundred stars were created. This is a great book for upper elementary students and older because it gives a lot of information about the world overall. This book relates to life on earth and talks about gravity and how it is different on earth versus in outer space. The illustrations in this book were very detailed and brightly colored.

This book is nonfiction because it gives history of how the color blue became about. This book is great for upper elementary, middle school readers because it gives lots of historical facts about the color of blue and where it came from. This book talks more about what the color blue means and how it makes other feels. In the story it talks about the color blue and how it is still used today and the long journey the color has taken over time.

This is a great book for early elementary students to read. This book gives great information about real life animals and their living environment and how it is quickly going away. This book is a nonfiction book because it is factual and showing true events happening in the world.

“The skeletons whirled. “Ella!“ cried Gus. “A bone dog?“ cried the skeletons.“

This book reminds me of personal connections that we have with animals of our own. We all have or had a pet in our lives that has made a difference and didn't want to think about when the time would come for them to leave us. This story shows that no matter what happens the animal lives on forever.

This story is super cute and kid friendly. The illustrations are amazing and have so much color that it brings the story alive. The story is easy to read and follow along. The illustrations on some pages don't even have words to tell the story because the illustrations can say so much on there own.

“I tiptoed, pranced, and flirted with waves. Just we three and empty beach. Nothing stirring.“

This poem reminds me of the beach a lot and I love the beach myself. The wording used to describe the scenery describes how I would like to be on the beach. Describes how the waves look from the shore and the environment overall at the beach with no one around except the characters talked about in the poem.

I picked the poem The Beach within On the Horizon. This poem was short but detailed. It has a smooth way with the words and has a lot of meaning behind the words written. It paints a simple image in your head as you read the poem to get a feel for where it is taking place.

“Buried in the ancient churchyard is a trooper without a head, and in the gloomy moonlight he rises from the dead.“

In the poem it goes into detail about the headless horseman and where he is buried in the churchyard and how he comes alive at night.

This poem is about a place called Sleepy Hallow in New York. It is said that you should know about this place before going on your own. There are rumors about a headless horseman who was buried alive years ago and in gloomy moonlight he rises again. The poem is suspenseful and keeps you wanting to read more to know if anything happens.

“If I opened my classroom's wooden door not knowing how to read or speak in English, imagine.“

The moment when he wrote about imagining what his life would be like if he could go to school and understand English instead of being confused and the only non-speaking English learner.

In this story Imagine is about a boy named Juan who speaks Spanish at home but his school speaks English. He starts to write his own poetry about his views on the world around him. At the end of each poem he ends with the word imagine. This story is cute and appropriate for elementary schoolers.

A girl named Angie was being bullied through her freshman and sophomore year of high school. Her sisters memorial was being brought up constantly reminding her of the times they had together and what they could have done together. Then a group of students took a road trip where they grew within themselves and got to know each other better. Then her bully got what he deserved and she felt more comfortable going back to school.

About a girl named Ann Marie who lives in Denmark. During this time is the start if the holocaust and Hitler take over. Her best friend Ellen and her family were Jewish and they are forced to leave Denmark and go into hiding. Ellen stays with Ann Marie while her family leaves. Ellen blends in with Ann Marie's family so that the soldiers don't think of anything suspicious and that Ellen can stay safe and reunite with her family afterwards.

About a girl named Ellie who is self conscious of her body image and her mom talks bad about her to her face which brings her down. Ellie struggled as being the “bigger girl“ but over time she learns to love herself and her body. The book is in more of a poetry format so there are a bunch of mini stories instead of chapters. It is set up differently than other books but that is what makes it interesting and easy to read.

A young girl during the summer between 7th and 8th grade. Her mother died at the age of 5 so she has grown up without a mom. Her best friend also dies during the story but it is a great book to talk about death with and to know that it happens but everything will still work out and adapt to different life styles to keep going through life. I would recommend this book to older elementary, middle schoolers.

“Discover. Imagine. Courage. Kindness. Good luck. Keep going. Wish. You got this! “You got this!“ I said out loud, putting the rock in my pocket.

A moment in the beginning of the story when Emma is beginning her first day at public school her brother slips a lucky rock into her pocket and tells her to only look at it when she most needs it. She looks at the rock when she arrives and it says 'be yourself' I think that is such a sweet message especially since her older sibling gave it to her as a reminder on her first day.

This book was cute and very appropriate for elementary age students. The use of imagination was well detailed. This story was about a girl named Emma who had been home schooled since she started school and now in high school is starting public school for the first time. Emma and her dad rescue a rabbit and take it home to care for it and Emma ends up caring for the rabbit and convincing her parents to let her keep it.

“As dawn breaks, the lagoon turns to turquoise-and-pink glass. I plunge into the warm clear water. Immediately, I'm surrounded by a tornado of angelfish. I free dive through the reefs. I wave good morning (from a safe distance) to a viper moray who's peeking out from his crevice. I admire a fourteen-foot nurse shark cruising through the sea grass.“

This book talks about death and war. This book would be appropriate for high school readers and maybe mature middle schoolers. This story may be hard for readers to read about loosing parents or even loved ones close to them. This story allows for those older readers to use their imagination and see the story happening right in front of them. This story has a great message about bravery and leadership and stepping up in times of need.

This book is speculative fiction. The main character Ana is a freshman at a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists. Her parents died while on a scientific expedition so she is left with her older brother Dev. While on her way to a weekend trial at sea she learns that her school Harding-Pencroft and Land Institute have been fighting for 150 years. Ana's fighting and leadership skills are put to the test.

“The king is ready for war. He is not fighting another army. He is not fighting another king. He is fighting three children. And their dog.“

This story is taken place in France in 1242, to many readers is hard to wrap their heads around the idea that time existed back that far. This book has a little more violence since it has demons and dragons in the stories. This book is better for an older more mature audience. It is fun to read from a different time stand point and country because many stories today are all based in the U.S and just a couple years ago.

This book is speculative fiction. This book would be appropriate for high schoolers to read. This story takes place in the time era of 1242, which I think many younger readers would not be able to grasp. Three characters, Jeanne, William, and Jacob all have different powers and they have to work together to use their powers to fight off demons and dragons.

“The mysterious bright light has disappeared, and I forced myself to sit up. I had scrapes on my palms, and my butt was sore from the fall. My head was spinning, too. The werehyenas were pacing back and forth a few feet away. I thought for sure they would've eaten us by now. This gave new meaning to playing with your food.“

This story is great for middle school readers because this book displays bravery and self-identification I think those are two huge points that middle schoolers struggle with. Middle school can be a difficult change for many students. This story allows them to remember to use their imagination but also not loose sight of who they truly are because they were made for greatness.

This book is speculative fiction. This story isn't too scary or harmful for children to read. This book would be good for middle schoolers and opening their imaginations. This story represents a lot of bravery and self-identification. Maya has found out she has to face her worst nightmare in order to save her father and the real world.

“If I were standing in the dungeon, I would hear these sounds. If we were standing together in the dungeon, we would hear these sounds and we would be very frightened; we would cling to each other in our fear.“

This story would be good for older elementary students probably more middle school aged. There aren't too overly violent parts in this book. This story allows for children to open their imaginations and pretend that mice and people talk to each other and get along. The overall message is good for students to see that you can rely on others who may not be exactly like you but are going through something similar.

This story is speculative fiction. In this story there are other stories being told within. In the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who loves music and stories, and a princess named Pea. There is a story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in a world of darkness. Then finally there is a story of Miggery Sow, who is a server girl and just wants one wish. All these characters are on a journey of their own but come together to help each other out.