Published: 2018
This story is about a girl, Carmela, who wakes up on her birthday and decides she doesn't need to make a wish because hers has already come true- she is finally old enough to go with her brother to run the family errands. when she finds a dandelion and her brother tells her to make a wish, she thinks of what wish she should make.
Awards: NY Times Bestseller, Boston Globe Best Children's Book

Published: 2018
Alma has a very long name, one she's sure is way too long. But then, Alma's father shares with her each part of her name and why it is important. She gets to hear about different members of her family and see parts of them in herself. She begins to appreciate her name and thinks it fits her just right.
Awards: Caldecott Honor, Ezra Jack Keats Award, Charlotte Huck Award, NCSS and CBC Notable SS Trade Books for Young People

Duck for President is a cute story that is based off the Farmer Brown books. This time, duck is tired of how things are being done on the farm and decides he could do a better job. He then goes on to become governor and then president of the country. This would be a great book to introduce government, democracy, and voting. I would definitely use this in the classroom.

Published: 2012
This is a beautifully illustrated book that goes through the four seasons and all the things we might see outside during the different times of the year. The words are written in poem form and bring images to life with its descriptive and vivid language.

Published: 2006
This is a picture book that is broken up into 3 chapters and is centered around the idea of friendship. The characters are show support for one another in their endeavors of writing books and cooking. This book is one I would use in my classroom in the future.
Award: EB White Read Aloud Award, ALA Notable Children's Books Selection

Published: 2014
This books comes from the perspective of a little girl when the news of freedom finally came to slaves in the south. This is such an impactful book and one I want to use in my own classroom.
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, ILA Teachers' Choice Reading List, SLJ Best Books of the Year, Junior Library Guild Selections

Published: 2014
This is a book about a young boy who loves everything to be very proper until he opens up a paint box given to him by his aunt. He starts painting what he hears and soon finds that no one else hears colors the way he does.
Awards: Caldecott Medal, ALSC Notable Children's Books, Notable Social Studies Trade Books, ILA Teachers' Choice Reading List, Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Award

Published: 2015
This is a cute story about a bear who likes to come up with recipes for eggs until one day, the eggs he plans to eat hatch into goslings. The goslings think Bruce is their mother and follow him everywhere. Bruce tries his hardest to get rid of them but their real mother has flown south early for winter.
Awards: E.B. White Read Aloud Award, Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, ILA Teachers' Choices Reading List, Anna Dewdney Read-Together

Published: 2006
This story gives a new perspective on our own actions and words as the main character's grandfather teaches the impact we can have on others. This is a great book for teaching kindness to children and challenging them to be “bucket fillers“ to one another.
Awards: The Just for Mom Foundation Mom's Choice Award

Published: 1998
This is a story about a girl who struggles with dyslexia and her teacher, Mr. Falker, who helped her and refused to give up on her. It highlights the impact of kindness, hard work, and determination. This is one of my favorite books and one I would read in my classroom.
Awards: NCTE/CLA Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Award, ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award

Published: 2018
This book is about honoring and respecting diversity and celebrating who we are as individuals. It highlights the importance of each part of us and our identities and empowers through the poetically written words. This is a book that inspires confidence and kindness in children.
Awards: Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Book

Published: 2013
This story is told from the perspective of a little boy who has an idea but doesn't know what to do with it. At first he tries to hide it so other people would not see it. But he keeps finding himself going back to the idea and eventually decides to embrace it and soo discovers that it changes everything.
Awards: Independent Publisher Book Award for Children's Picture Books

Published: 2018
This is a story about a young boy who goes to visit his grandfather and decides that at first glance, they have nothing in common. They don't like the same food or television shows and they don't even speak the same language. However, when the boy had given up on talking to his grandfather, he discovers another way they can bond without using words at all.

Published: 2013
Bo at Ballard Creek is a story about a young girl who was adopted and raised by gold miners at the end of the Alaskan gold rush in the 1920s. Bo's story is one of adventure as she learns to live in an Eskimo village.
Awards: Scott O'Dell, ALA Notable Children's Books

Published: 2021
Herizon is about a young girl and her journey to help her grandmother recover a flock of lost sheep. She and her grandmother embark on the journey with the help of a magic scarf in a story that celebrates courage and creativity.
Award: American Indian Youth Literature Award

Published: 2013
This is a story about a young rabbit who sets out on a journey to find his father who had traveled from Mexico to the US in search of work. When he does not return, Panchito decides to go looking for him with the help of Coyote.
Awards: Tomas Rivera Book Award, Pura Belpre Honor

Published: 2022
This book includes accurate depictions of Native American Culture, real words in their language, and the true story of the first thanksgiving from the perspective of the Native Americans. Also includes other information about the Wampanoag tribe and their traditions.
No awards at this time.

Published: 2019
This book talks about the procedure of making Fry Bread, a Native American traditional food. It goes into detail about how it looks, sounds, smells, and tastes using vivid sensory language that brings it to life and teaches about the culture.
Awards: Robert F. Sibert Award Medal, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice, NPR Best Book of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year

Published: 2017
This is a biography book about a young girl who loved sharks and dreamed about seeing them in real life and becoming a scientist. She sets out to show people that sharks are smart and not as dangerous as people may think by being the first person to train a shark.
Awards: 2018 Best STEM Book by the Children's Book Council, Best STEM Book by the National Science Teachers Association, Amelia Bloomer Book List

Published: 2000
This is a story about a girl who lives a privileged life until something terrible happens and she and her mother must leave their life of comfort to become farm laborers.
Award: Pura Belpre Award, Jane Addams Children's Book Award (for Older Children)

Published: 1997
This story is about a young girl who was chosen to take a ticket to America and embarks on the journey across the ocean. She and others arrive in New York City where she starts working for Cousin Kay sewing lace, which she learned from her grandmother.
Awards: Kate Greenaway Medal, Parents Choice Gold Award 1997

Published: 2007
This is written based on the true story of an enslaved man who mailed himself to freedom after his family was split up. I actually read this book with 3rd graders and they all really liked the story and were able learn more about the Underground Railroad through it.
Awards: Caldecott Honor in 2008, American Library Association Notable Children's Book in 2008, National Council for Social Studies Notable Social Studies Book in 2008

Published: 2016
Pax is a story about a boy who rescued a fox and has had him as a pet his whole life. When his father enlists in the army to fight in the war, they must leave the fox behind. The book follows the journey of the fox and the boy as they seek to reunite with one another.
Awards: National Book Award for young people's literature.

Published: 2019
This is a story about a girl who's older sister, Asiya, is old enough to start wearing a hijab to school. The younger sister looks up to Asiya and thinks she looks like a princess in her hijab, but others are not always kind. Wearing a hijab means being different for the first time for Asiya and some kids make rude comments. But Faizah recalls words her mother spoke about wearing a hijab and how it makes her sister strong.

Published: 2018
This is a heartwarming story about a girl who was injured and became an amputee and has to learn to live without her legs. She decides to apply for a service dog and gets Rescue, a dog who has been training to help someone like her his whole life. This book is also inspired by a true story and one I would use in my classroom.
Award: Schneider Family Book Award

Published: 1987
Owl Moon is a story about a young child who goes owling in the woods with his father on a snowy winter day. It is calming story that uses vivid language and tons of metaphors and similes. At the end of the story, they get to see a Great Horned Owl up close. I would definitely use this book in my classroom.
Awards: Caldecott Award in 1988

Published: 2005
This book is a poem that is in the form of an interview between a boy and his cat. The boy asks the cat about things like where does he sleep, what does he like to do, and is he afraid of the dark. The cat answers all of these questions and makes it clear that he would not ever like to be anything but a cat.

Published: 2009
This book talks about real events that occurred in Afghanistan and about how girls are not allowed to go to school there. One day, Nasreen's grandmother finds a secret school and risks everything so her granddaughter can learn about the world. This is a great book that communicates the value of education and hope even in difficult times.
Award: Jane Addams Children's Book Award

The BFG is a story about Sophie, a young orphan girl who is taken from her bed one night by a giant (the Big Friendly Giant). At first, she is afraid he might eat her, but the BFG does not eat humans. Sophie and the BFG become great friends as he keeps her hidden from the other giants and even takes her dream catching. When they hear that the other giants are headed to England to eat more little children, they come up with a plan to stop them.

Published: 2006
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a story about a china doll rabbit who belongs to a young girl but gets lost. The reader is taken on a wild adventure with Edward as he encounters many new people and places and discovers new feelings, both good and bad. This would be a wonderful read aloud and includes so many cliffhangers throughout the story that will keep readers wanting more.

Published: 1981
This book is a poetically written story that goes through the alphabet naming things the main character saw on a stroll down market street.
Award: National Book Award

Author Spotlight: Fantasy series featuring a strong female protagonist that overcomes many trials.

Published: 1973
This is a story about Mrs. Beggs who allows Mr. Alabasium to check into her boarding house. She heard strange noises that night from his room, and the next day she found her flowers wilted and her garden all grown up in briars. Increasingly strange events followed, and the other guests in the boarding house become very upset. Mrs. Beggs decides to take matters into her own hands.

Published: 1998
Pumpkin Soup is a story about a cat, squirrel, and duck who are making soup for dinner and each have a job. When the duck wants stir the soup, the others tell him that is not his normal job and irritated by this, he leaves. Soon, the cat and the squirrel go looking for him and start to feel bad about not letting him help. Then, the duck returns and the cat and squirrel are so glad to have him back, they decide to let him stir.

Published: 1996
This book is about a young boy, Nick, and his experiences with a new teacher that is known for being strict and loving the dictionary. Nick is known for challenging the rules and decides to do so in a way that is specific to this new teacher. He challenges the meaning of words by renaming a pen a “frindle” and soon has his entire class following.

Published: 2018
This is a historical fiction story that focuses on the contributions of children to the Birmingham Children‘s Crusade of 1963. This story talks about how when people stand together, they can make a difference. It is an inspiring story about standing up for what is right and persevering in the face of trials and hardships. This is a story I would definitely like to include in my classroom.

Published: 2018
This is a story about a boy named Julian who loves mermaids and decides to dress up like one. His Abuela sees that he loves mermaids and takes him to a place where he can see them. She is supportive of him in this way and allows him to chase his dreams of becoming a mermaid.
Award: Stonewall Award Winner

Published: 1980
The Paper Bag Princess is about a fierce princess who goes to save the prince she is set to marry who was taken by a dragon. The dragon burned down her castle and the only thing she had left to wear was a paper bag. The princess takes on the dragon by outsmarting him and saves the prince. The prince decides she doesn't look like a “real princess“ in her paper bag and they do not get married in the end.

Published: 2020
This is a story about a young boy who wants to jump off the diving board. He thinks he is ready but finds himself feeling very nervous. His father encourages him as he works on finding the courage to jump. This is a story about working through fears and shows that they are normal and can be overcome.
Awards: ALSC Notable Children's Books, Charlotte Zolotow Award, Junior Library Guild Selections

Published: 2002
Mrs. Biddlebox wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and is having a very bad day. This story follows her as she goes through all the steps to baking a cake. By the end of the story she is in a much better mood. This is a story that focuses on being proactive when we feel gloomy and working to have a better day.
Award: Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration

Published: 1982
This book follows the life of Miss Rumphius whose grandfather once told her to find a way to make the world a more beautiful place. She travels the world far and wide, and sees the beauty that is already there. She is stumped on how she could possibly make it more beautiful, until she does so by planting lupine flowers all over her town.
Award: National Book Award for Children's Books

Published: 2013
This story takes on a humorous tone as a young boy named Duncan finds that each color in the crayon box has written him a letter. The crayons each explain that they will be going on strike because they do not like the way they are being used. This makes Duncan use his imagination to solve this problem and use colors in a whole new way.
Award: E.B. White Read Aloud Award

Millions of Cats is a tale about an elderly couple and their search for the perfect cat. The old woman desperately wants a cat so her husband sets out on a journey to find her the prettiest cat in the world. When he comes to a hill that is covered with “millions and billions“ of cats, he has difficulty choosing just one, so he decides to take them all home.

Published: 2015
This story follows a young boy named CJ who is asking his grandmother lots of questions about why things are the way they are in the world around them. His questions are met with encouraging explanations that point readers to see the beauty in life and in people.
Awards: Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, Caldecott Honor

Published: 2019
This book focuses on sadness in a way that addresses how to deal with it in a healthy way. It expresses that sadness is a “guest“ in our lives and is temporary, but it's okay and normal to be sad. It also talks about the fact that sadness may stick around for a while and may be overwhelming, but that we can deal with our emotions in different ways such as going outside, drawing, or just sitting quietly.

Published: 2020
This book talks about the real life event of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and is told from the perspective of an Ojibwe girl. It gives insight to her beliefs and culture and shows how her tribe responds to the “black snake“ that threatens their water supply. It talks about standing up for what you believe and coming together with others to make change.
Awards: Caldecott Medal, Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text