“You can be anything you want to be, if you just believe in yourself.“

Dream Big motivates children to aim high and take the necessary steps toward realizing their aspirations, making it a powerful tool for encouraging self-confidence and ambition in young readers. This book also connects to an athlete that many children might know about.

Dream Big by Deloris Jordan is an uplifting children's book that encourages young readers to pursue their dreams with determination and confidence. Written by the mother of basketball legend Michael Jordan, the book reflects her belief in the power of dreaming big and working hard to achieve one‘s goals. This book also captures her experience raising Michael Jordan.

“We will not be held back by a single thing... We will not be held back by our race. We will not be held back by our gender. We will not be held back by anything.“

This book not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of these women but also sheds light on the broader social and racial issues of the time. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of diversity, perseverance, and the unsung heroes who contribute to historical advancements. It was also made into a film which could be shown to the students.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly tells the inspiring true story of three African American women who played critical roles at NASA during the early years of the space program. Despite facing racial and gender discrimination, these women made significant contributions to America's success in the space race. Their work was crucial to space exploration.

“I wasn‘t afraid to try. I wasn‘t afraid to fail.“

I Am Jane Goodall helps children understand the importance of scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and following their passions. It also introduces them to the concept of making a difference in the world through empathy and dedication.

The book follows Jane from her childhood, highlighting her deep fascination with animals, especially chimpanzees. It shows how, despite facing obstacles and doubts from others, she followed her passion for studying animals in the wild. Her journey takes readers through her groundbreaking work in Gombe, Tanzania, where she observed chimpanzees in their natural habitat, learning about their behaviors, emotions, and social structures.

“She wasn't afraid of the ocean. She was fascinated by it.“

Through vibrant illustrations and a narrative that celebrates curiosity, determination, and scientific discovery, this book encourages young readers, especially girls, to pursue their passions, regardless of obstacles.

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating is a picture book biography of Eugenie Clark, a pioneering marine biologist known for her groundbreaking research on sharks. The book tells the inspiring story of Clark's childhood passion for the ocean and her determination to study marine life, particularly sharks, despite the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field.

“And oh yeah, I've got asthma, which I don't like because sometimes it gets in the way of having fun.“

I related to this book because I have asthma. If I was a younger student this book would be beneficial to help understand what asthma is and how it is treated and what causes it.

I'm Tougher Than Asthma by Alden R. Carter and Siri M. Carter was written in 1966. It is a children's book that tells the story of a young girl, who has asthma, and her journey of overcoming challenges related to the condition. The book is written from her perspective, emphasizing how she faces daily struggles with asthma but is determined not to let it define her or limit her potential.

“These kids are eight years old. They are about five times as tall as this book, but only half as tall as this ostrich.“

This book highlights the smallness of Earth in the grand scheme of things, while also celebrating the wonder of our place in the universe. Your Place in the Universe encourages curiosity, awe, and a deeper appreciation for the cosmos. This book can be used across several content areas such as math, science, and ELA.

The story follows a young girl who journeys to understand where Earth fits in the cosmos. Starting with Earth, the book zooms out to show the relative sizes of objects like the Moon, the Sun, etc. helping readers grasp the immense size of the universe. Chin uses visual comparisons to illustrate concepts such as the size of galaxies and the distance between celestial bodies, making complex scientific ideas accessible to young audiences.

“Marie's map had revealed the ocean's biggest secret.“

In my classroom, I would use this as an introduction to a geography map unit. Students could gain practice in creating maps for themselves. I think it would be meaningful to connecting it to an exploration lesson where students explore ocean life, or make their own models.

Ocean Speaks, Biography, published in 2020.
This biography talks about the life of Marie Tharp. It talks about her love of exploring from a young age, how she solved, problems, and pushed limits. She loved to push the limits of what girls and women were expected to be. One of her biggest accomplishments is the mapping of the mid-Atlantic ridge.

“Gyo, along with the others living on the East Coast, was told to stay where she was”

This story would be used well to showcase a history lesson on Japanese internment camps and the history of racism during WWII.

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear is a picture book biography about Japanese American artist Gyo Fujikawa. This story talks about Gyo‘s struggle with racism, her love or art and her time in an internment camp. This story is full beautiful illustrations that showcase Gyo‘s life.

“On sunny days, you could often find Tyrus Wong on the beach, facing the ocean he crossed so long ago, flying a large, colorful kite he'd made himself“

Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song by Kathryn Erskine was published in 2017. This is a biography about Miriam Makeba's fight for equality. The people once called her Mama Africa as she used her voice to protest and sing. This story was beautifully written and captivating!

Paper Son is a memoir of Tyrus Wong, an artist and designer. Published in 2019. Wong recounts his harrowing journey as a Chinese immigrant during the Great Depression, sharing his experiences of discrimination, hardship, and resilience. The book offers a powerful and intimate look into the life of a remarkable man who overcame adversity to achieve artistic success.

“Her song is strong. Mama Africa will not give up! She will see her people free.“

The pictures in this book look like they were painted on the pages. The use of color shows the emotion on each page, anger, sadness, happiness, etc. There is a soft movement to the images as it paints a picture for the reader.

Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song by Kathryn Erskine was published in 2017. This is a biography about Miriam Makeba's fight for equality. The people once called her Mama Africa as she used her voice to protest and sing.

“It was as if Ben could see into the future. Almost everything he created is still around today.“

I would use this story to integrate ELA and Social Studies. This book would be a good way to deep-dive into one of the most important people in American History, while keeping it fun with investigating his inventions.

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin was written by Gene Barretta. Published in 2006 this is a biography about all of Ben Franklin's inventions. This story is structured in way to show how we use the invention now and then how Ben Franklin came up with the idea and created it.

“I am the sapphire night you are the lantern moon, light me“

This book evokes calm and gentle feelings. It is soothing and calming and this makes it a beautiful read for students. This story could be added to morning meeting or even a relaxation routine to help students unwind!

Pea Pod Lullaby then by Glenda Millard, a cute children's book that uses soothing and calm rhythms with a beautiful story about a mother‘s love for her child. The narrative and plot takes readers through a fun journey in a garden that is filled with vibrant and gorgeous imagery and gentle, moving text that evokes a calming and joyous atmosphere.

“The seeds of thoughts were planted. I had set my story free! That poem in my pocket turned into a POETREE“

This book can be used to teach students rhyming words by doing a rhyming word search as the book is read.

Poem in My Pocket by Chris Tougas was published in 2021. This story symbolizes how the story flows from the main character. The main character experiences a rip in his pocket that he does not know about. The hole demonstrates the words falling out rhythmically.

And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

This poem can be used during Halloween time to fit the fall and scary theme! This book can also be used to teach the moral lesson of “stranger danger“.

The Spider and the Fly is a poem that was written by Mary Howitt in 1829. This classic poem is about a spider that manipulates a fly into its trap with twisted words. At the end of the poem, the spider heeds a warning to the children who are reading to not be tricked by the words of strangers.

June 15
“you can taste the sunshine
and the buzzing
and the breeze
while eating berries off the bush
on berry hands
and berry knees“

This book can be used as an introduction to poetry as well as an investigation of the changing seasons. Science and ELA can go hand in hand with this collection of poetry.

When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Season by Julie Fogliano was published in 2016. This is a collection of poems about the season. It touches on the tomatoes of summer, golden fall, and cozy winters. Each poem is titled with a month and a date. There are vibrate pictures with the rhythm of the words on each page.

“meet me in the park. I have that, and Dad's old flannel. still loose at my shoulders and long for my wrists. And I have the knife tucked inside my boot. Just in case“

I think the book is very interesting but not suitable for young readers in the classroom. It is more of a young adult read and the experiences in the story are too mature for elementary audience.

This is a contemporary fiction book by Mary E. Roach, published in 2024. The story revolves around Lucy Preston, a teen looking for a relaxing vacation. Things take a turn when her mother discovers a body in an abandoned amusement park. Lucy meets Audrey Nelson and together they uncover the secrets of the town's hidden past. This book is full of suspense and romance!

“Do you think everybody misses somebody? Like I miss my mama?” “Mmmm-hmmm,” said Gloria. She closed her eyes. “I believe, sometimes, that the whole world has an aching heart.”

I would use this book to talk to my students about emotions. While observing in my previous and current classroom placements, I have noticed emotional regulation is one of the biggest challenges I see students struggling with. I would also use this to educate students about overcoming challenges.