“The rich person is richer when he becomes poor, than the poor person when he becomes rich.”

I would use this as a lesson or read aloud in my classroom. And keep it in the classroom library throughout the year.

Pam Muñoz Ryan‘s Esperanza Rising is a heartfelt tale of courage, resilience, and transformation. Set during the Great Depression, the novel follows Esperanza Ortega, young girl from Mexico who must rebuild her life in a migrant labor camp after losing everything. Themes of family, hardship, and social justice. With its vivid historical context and universal lessons, this book inspires readers to find strength in the face of adversity.

“Thousands of other bees rise from the nest, too, first to orient themselves and then to forage for water, or collect a sticky lant sap called propolis, a kind of bee glue or gather pollen.”

I love this book as a read aloud and a way to learn about animals and insects. This would be great in a series of lessons that teach about the small animals around us.

This book by candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann is a simpler read with beautiful pictures that show the life of the Apis Mellifera which is a specific type of bee. It provides information on how the bees live their lives, collect pollen and create honey. It gives a look at the small life of a bee that makes a major difference for the world around us.

“Dinosaurs lived long, long ago, even before people livedo n earth. They ruled and roamed the land for millions of years.”

I like this book for a younger grade. I love the simplicity while also providing strong details an information about dinosaurs and what we know about them from a long time ago. It can be used as a more advanced book in the younger grades or an easier read in the higher grades.

This nonfiction picture book written by Gail Gibbons is a short and simple story about dinosaurs and their characteristic‘s. From everything from when they lived, to their size and how we study them to this day. The book talks about how it is a job to discover and study animal bones and provides different types of dinosaurs and even how to pronounce it.

“Dream it. Believe it. A girl can build many things. A girl can build anything.”

I really like this book and would add it to my class library. I think that if I were to read it, I would have to find another book that is similar to a boys can do anything type of book. More than likely, I would get it simply for my library.

This book written by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller is quite the inspiring tale that empowers girls to be creating and build. The book inspires young readers to do what inspires them and whether it is tinkering or welding, this story empowers girls to think BIG!

“They‘ll soon be gone,” Granny says, “flying north like you.” The little girl looks sad, so Granny kisses her and says, “Maybe they‘ll visit you in New York City.”

I think this is a very cute story but not something I would go out of my way to choose for my classroom. Maybe for a younger grade read aloud but not something that I would use in my third grade classroom

Hummingbird by Nicola Davies is a nonfiction story that talks about hummingbirds and their characteristics. It tells about the hummingbirds journey through the Grannys garden and people that come across the hummingbird. Telling what they observe about the birds and facts about the Ruby throated Hummingbird.

“The iron horse, the great machine! Fifty feet and forty tons, wheels spinning, rods swinging, motion within motion, running down the track”

I really like this book and would use it in my classroom as a part of a social studies lesson or activity, or even just to have it in my classroom library. Very interactive and has good pictures and is an overall very dynamic book

Locomotive written by Brian Floca is a detailed nonfiction book about how the transcontiental railroad was built. The book talks about the need for a railroad that runs across the states used to transport people and things all the way from the plains through the mountains and to the pacific sea. It give great descriptions about what it was like to travel by train and how it worked all those years ago.

“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.

“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.

“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”

Paper Son is a powerful tool for teaching about immigration, perseverance, and the power of art. Wong's story inspires revolves around on discrimination and the importance of following one's dreams. Students can analyze his artwork, write creative pieces inspired by his journey, or research Chinese American history. This book sparks empathy and encourages students to appreciate diverse perspectives.

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.

“Lighting is electricity.“

This book could serve as inspiration for students to make an invention of their own or think of inventions they would like to see in the future. Its could create their own acts or this book could be an intro to a stem activity

Now & Ben written by Gene Baretta(2006) is an informative picture book that explores the connection between Benjamin Franklin's inventions and their modern counterparts. The book features vibrant illustrations and engaging text that makes Franklin's accomplishments accessible to young readers. This book is a great choice for introducing children to American history and inspiring them to think creatively.

“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 ww2

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.

“She imagined she would become an architect who created buildings with art, science and math.”

It introduces students to Maya Lin's innovative thinking and resilience. In the classroom, I‘d use this book to encourage students to think about how they can express big ideas through art, perhaps even leading a project where they design their own memorials for causes important to them. It‘s perfect for integrating art, history, and character education.

In the biography about Maya Lin and how she designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Jeanne Walker Harvey, the story is about Maya Lin as a child and her creative personality growing up. Known for her minimalist and thoughtful approach, her work emphasizes harmony with nature, simplicity, and the power of memory, using light and lines to create spaces that invite reflection and emotional connection

“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.

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.

“We never saw the ship. But she was there… She carried more than twelve hundred men on deck, or working down below. We didn‘t look up. We didn‘t know. ”

This is a great way to incorporate poetry into social studies and a way to discuss pivotal events in our history that caused a lot of sadness in our history. The emotion and rhythm that is in the poems deliver the material well and allows for different activity opportunities.

On the Horizon is a poetry book with reflections on World War II written by Lois Lowry, published in 2020. Written through poems, he provides an account on the lives that were lost in two of WWII‘s most infamous events: Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.

June 30:

If you are wondering about me and where I could be on a day that drips hot and thick like honey walk down the river and around the bend to flat rocks, warm and waiting and there I will be and you will find me swimming

I really liked this book and would implement it in my classroom as a way to introduce poetry. It can be very interactive especially in young readers and young grades. I would also do this according to the dates that are in the book and coordinate fun activities to do with them. It is a great way to talk to students about the different structures of poems.

When Green Becomes Tomatoes is a poetry book written by Julie Fogliano and Illustrated by Julie Morstad and published in 2016. This book is a collection of poems that depict the changing of the seasons throughout the year and how we change with the seasons as well. It goes from the beautiful blossoms of spring scenes to summer activities, to fall chills and the serene quiet of winter.

“I don't fear change coming, and so I sing along. “

Watching this poem being read I noticed the bright illustrations as well as a diverse set of children. With the illustrations being diverse it helps emphasize the meaning of “Change Sings “where all are respected and valued. There were several instruments depicted as well to help incorporate the musical element.