You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown published in 2011 follows a young bear named Lucille who is in need of a friend. Lucille ventures into the lush forest and encounters many critters but cannot find the perfect match of a friend. Eventually a kind flamingo flys by and instantly connects with Lucille. This can be a great lesson for children that the right people for us don‘t always come into our lives right away, but when we are least expecting.

This book would be useful if they‘re students in your class who feel left out or are struggling making new friends. This can be a gateway to forming new friendships!

This Old Van by Kim Norman is an interactive story that follow along an old “hippy” van. As the van travels all over as we turn each page we count up by one. Along with this the practice of rhyming is used frequently making the story more fun and exciting toned. This story teaches counting and rhyming skills, along with focusing on how important making new friends throughout life is!

“Just be yourself”

This is a great book for younger children to practice their counting to 10 skills with rhyming!

This old van she passed four, roaring past the grocery store

I love how this book may make children feel better about their “wild side” coming out!

“And then one day, Mr. Tiger, had a very wild idea.”

Mr. Tiger by Peter Brown, published in 2014 follows a tiger who is tired of living the proper, structured, and elegant life style. Mr. Tiger gets a WILD idea one day and walks on all fours. Eventually he has left all of his properness behind and goes fully wild in the wilderness. He realizes the wilderness is a bit lonely and goes back home to see his friends also going a bit wild. This book lets kids know it‘s ok to turn to your wild side.

Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe, 2016. Caldecott Award Winner. This book shows the rise of the young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It shows the relationship he had with his mother and the hardships he faced. The illustrations are a beautiful acrylic paint work I would assume. Wonderful story with an important message.

This book provides great imagery through its unique illustrations and powerful writing.

“Art is the street games of little children, in our style and the words that we speak.”

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell, 2011. Caldecott Award Winning Book. This story follows a young girl named Jane and her stuffed chimpanzee Jubilee. Jane loved observing all the creatures outside and would study them as much as she could. Jane dreams to one day go to Africa, her dream comes true as an adult and we come to find out the story is about Jane Goodall.

About halfway into this story, I predicted it was about Jane Goodall. At the end of the book, I found my prediction to be right.

“At night Jane would tuck Jubilee into bed, say her prayers, and fall asleep… to awake one day… to her dream come true”

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, 2018. Caldecott Award Winning Book. This is a sweet book about a father and son waking up early to go fish for their dinner before the father has to go to work. It shows a glimpse of what life was like for people who were in the Vietnam War, and how many had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. The illustrations perfectly portray the lighting before the sun rises.

This would be an excellent book for children to read with their parents! It shows a sweet father son relationship.

“A kid at my school said my dad‘s English sounds like a thick, dirty river. But to me his English sounds like gentle rain.”