El Deafo is a graphic novel that tells Cece Bell’s own story of growing up in Virginia in the 1970s. Students love graphic novels and they are a great way to hook even the most reluctant readers with their colorful illustrations which support the plot and illuminate the world of the story. El Deafo is … Read more
An old chestnut and winner of a Newbery Honor in 1939. But just as intriguing for its age. If your school is looking for a book that escapes the challenges of the 21st century and returns readers to a nostalgic time, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is such a book. First published during the Depression – it is miraculously still … Read more
Katherine Applegate invites you to listen to trees. “…if you find yourself standing near a particularly friendly-looking tree on a particularly lucky-feeling day, it can’t hurt to listen up. Trees can’t tell jokes. But we can certainly tell stories.” And so Red, a Wise Old Tree, invites us to listen to this story of a … Read more
“This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky.But no one saw it happen. No one heard anything. So instead, this story will begin like all the…good ones.With boogers.” And thus begins a story in ten acts, told as only Jason Reynolds could tell it … Read more
He was only one squirrel. There wasn’t much time. What should he do? Nuts to You by Newbery Medal winner Lynne Rae Perkins encourages us to ask this question and plenty of others. The story will take students and families on a journey of self-discovery and survival, and it will have every reader laughing out … Read more
Searching for books with diverse characters? How do you know which underrepresented group to feature? It can be hard to do when you can only choose one book at a time. Enter Flying Lessons, a collection of short stories with several protagonists often overlooked in children’s literature, written by some of our finest authors. Consider … Read more
“You know, Stella, someone can only make you feel bad if you let them. It’s just words.” The school year is off to a rocky start for Stella, a third grader working hard to find her way. While she is smart and creative, her quiet nature draws the wrath of the class bully. Stella’s mother … Read more
Read to Them is excited to offer Finding Langston as an opportunity to explore a richly written story that weaves together The Great Migration, The Chicago Renaissance, the poetry of Langston Hughes, loss and grief, bullying, and the power of poetry in just over 100 pages. It’s a mystery as to how an author can … Read more
“Always remember, when you are with your people, you are home.” Welcome to the ARRT Room – A Room To Talk. Here, six Brooklyn middle school students are afforded one hour each Friday to talk amongst themselves – no adults present. The students are blessed with a humane and understanding teacher who creates this private … Read more
This edition of Malala’s story is 172 pages – ideal for elementary and upper elementary school shared reading. The story of Malala Yousafzai – the Afghan girl who defied the Taliban, was attacked and injured, and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize – is deservedly well-known by adults. But each succeeding wave of … Read more
“Louie had not had the best luck nurturing creatures.” Newbery Medal-winning author Sharon Creech shares a heartfelt story about loving big despite the risks. When Louie’s father brings home a sickly newborn donkey from Uncle Pete’s farm, Louie is determined to save the “pitiful-looking” creature he names Winslow, even though he hasn’t had such great … Read more
“Next week is our first-ever Franklin School pet show!” This is great news for Cody Harmon, who truly is the King of Pets. He has nine pets he could potentially showcase – two dogs, two cats, three chickens, a rooster, and a pig. Which to choose!? But for all the kids in Cody’s class who … Read more
What happens when a self-proclaimed “school’s biggest prankster” has to move from his cool beach-side home to the perfectly-named Yawnee Valley, filled with boring cows? (Yawnee Valley is so boring that “counting moos is a popular pastime.”) Well, it sure doesn’t feel like a “fresh start” to Miles Murphy. But it is an opportunity to … Read more
“They say the Year of the Dog is for friends and family. But there’s more to it than that. The Year of the Dog is for thinking… it’s a good year to find yourself.” In The Year of the Dog we meet ten-year-old Pacy in a story inspired by author Grace Lin’s real life. Pacy … Read more
“I knew what it felt like to want to be the best at something.” J. Dillard’s debut book will have readers laughing, learning, fist-pumping, and page-flipping as they get to know young J.D. He wears his hair in cornrows. Now it’s time for his first real haircut… J.D. doesn’t have a cool dad to cut … Read more
But you know what’s one thing that’s definitely not required for being an expert baker? Having arms. That’s what. Aven Green Baking Machine introduces us to eight-year-old Aven who is not only an expert baker, but she’s also a smart, wry kid learning to navigate life with the help of her friends, her family, and … Read more
