“dance, little baby, dance up high.”

The story is very visually appealing. The father is a fisherman and owns his own boat. He is excited for his child to see their first fish. This is a good family story for all ages.

Over the Hills and Far Away is a story with a good message of a mother and father playing with their newborn child outside. It gives a representation of the families love for their child. While introducing their child to the world around them.

“If you know how to read, you can never be lonely.”

The style of these poems are all warm welcoming and inclusive. This book can be understood by a wide variety of people because of its use of everyday images and themes.

Everything Comes Next written by Naomi Shihab Nye was published in 2020. Is a collection of poems that explores human connection, childhood, conflict, and connectivity. The book includes new and old poems and is divided into 3 sections of poetry.

“In the face of the sun, dance! Twirl! Whirl!”

The illustrations added to Langston Hughes “Dream Variation” in That Is My Dream! is a great addition to the words and help create a better picture of what Langston is saying. 

That Is My Dream! by Langston Hughes (2017) is one of Langston‘s most celebrated poems, “Dream Variation”. It is a dream about a world free of discrimination and racism that was turned into a picture book with the help of illustrator Daniel Miyares. The illustrations bring the words to life and are a wonderful addition to the poem. 

“Im very, very smart and rather lucky, I would say”

This book would be great for younger readers as it uses rhyme and alliteration.

Cricket in the Thicket by Carol Murray contains a poem for every bug you can think of! It uses cute and inviting illustrations and fun poems that use fun rhymes that children will love. I would recommend this for the ages of 3-7.

“If I opened my classrooms wooden door not knowing how to read or speak English, imagine.”

This story creates an amazing visual for students to observe and think of when thinking of their future.

Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera is a poetic story that brings the reader through scenarios where they should imagine what they would feel like if they were put in that position. This story teaches readers of the different circumstances they could be in and what they would learn!

“Are you there God? It‘s me, Margaret.”

I read this book as a middle schooler and I remember it making me feel seen! It was a great read and I loved reading it again. There are more older child topics (preteen) older grades would love it.

Are You There God? It‘s Me, Margaret written by Judy Blume was originally published in 1970. It won many awards including Outstanding Book of the Year. The main basis of the book is a coming of age novel about a 6th grader named Margaret Simon who is navigating the challenges of growing up. This book is easily relatable to children and a book that creates a sense of “you are not alone”!

“It is always brave to be kind, but in those days, such kindness could cost you your life.”

Auggie and Me written by R. J. Palacio is a great story that will teach readers to be inclusive and kind to everyone no matter how different they may be!

This story is from three different perspective, which helps readers see different sides and views of Auggie who is the main character of the book. Helps readers learn to be mindful and inclusive with students who may be different from them!

“Just a boring sandwich,” said the kid.

This story is about food but it dives deeper into race and culture, along with accepting and including everyone!

Lunch from Home by Joshua David Stejn publishes in 2022 is a children‘s book about students who feel judged by their peers for foods of their cultures. It shares the story of multiple children from different cultures that face prejudice from peers over their lunches. Great way to talk about being kind and respectful to other cultures and people!

This story is a classic adventure that can be enjoyed from all age groups! Great lesson taught throughout journey of book!

“Underneath the jewels was a stack of papers that had once belonged to the first Stanley Yelnats.”

This book written by, Louis Sachar, explains a journey in a juvenile correction camp where they dig holes all day, where they learn new things about themselves and the camp!

Great story that has an interesting writing style that is a story for young readers that will hook in readers who have many different interests!

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket is book three of the 13 book series that explores the adventures of the Baudelaire children who are orphans. I recommend this book for children ages 8-12!

“After all, the three children had just disembarked from the fickle fairy.”

“Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The Knight Bus”

Harry Potter is a great interactive book that inspires creative and imaginative thinking. I would LOVE to read this in my classroom to my students if I am ever placed in an older classroom.

Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix is a fascinating speculative fiction written by J.K. Rowling. This story explored Harry Potters third year at Hogwarts. We learn more about the wizarding world and the trails harry must go through to stay safe from Voldermourt and now a new conflict Sirius Black!

“The spirit obeyed and then departed, for there was nothing more he could do.“

This story gives the message that we may wish that we can change and be something else, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. He keeps changing into something “more powerful“ but ends up feeling less powerful than who he started as.

This Japanese Folk-Tale written by Gerald McDermott follows Tasaku who began the story as a stone cutter. He then wishes to become more powerful and the spirits grant his wishes each time. But each time he wants something more and doesn't end up happy in the end. The illustrations are very abstract, made of shapes which I enjoyed looking at and interpreting them my own way. It looks as though shapes were cut out the pasted on top of each other.

“It was the Nutcracker, now a boy, on his feet and on the move.“

This is a great choice for a story during the winter season. You can also read different versions of The Nutcracker and have students compare the similarities and differences between different stories.

This rendition of The nutcracker by Jan Brett published in 2021 has such beautiful illustrations with such detail that you want to stay on the page long after you're done reading the words. This story takes special parts of the original ballet and ties it in with little changes following the story of Marie and her brother on a Christmas Journey.

“The wolf huffed, and he puffed, but no matter how much he tried, he could not blow down.”

This book would be great for young children. It is a great way to show how you can take one story/fable, and change it to a magical new story. This story would be great for literature activities, such as comparing the two stories. Putting them side by side will help children to work on comparing and contrasting the stories.

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner. Published in 2002. Created a crazy twist on the traditional tale of The Three Little Pigs. He uses the illustrations as a big part of the story, such as creating depth and dimensions to switch it up. He makes the pigs come to life, by creating a narrative for them.

“He did not want to miss a moment”.

I really enjoyed how the hedgehog was able to experience some of winter and see what snow looked like before he hibernated. All because the little girl took him inside! It shows appreciation to the beauty of the winter season

This story follows a hedgehog named Hedgie who is about to hibernate for the winter. He goes on one last walk around the farm and all the other animals say goodbye to him and tell him they will miss him. Hedgie realizes he doesn‘t want to hibernate so he tries to stay up, a young girl saves him and brings him indoors so he can look out the windows and experience the beauty of the winter
season

“Matti couldn't wait any longer. He opened the oven door to take a peek. Instead of a gingerbread boy, out jumped a gingerbread baby!"

This story is great to use during a folk tail lesson but read after the original story about the gingerbread man. The students can compare and contrast the two stories to each other. There is a great use of pictures for younger readers who cannot quite read the words on the page.

This story is a spin the the Gingerbread Man tale, where the little boy accidentally undercooks the gingerbread and out pops a gingerbread baby. The baby runs away and the boy goes after him on a journey until they find him hiding away in the gingerbread house that the little boy made!

“But I hope we never see her again‘”

The illustrations in this book are very detailed and would be interesting to talk about during a read aloud