Published in 2013, Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin and illustrated by Bryan Langdo is a book I read every year for Month of the Military Child. This is best geared to my kindergarteners and first graders. The illustrations are terrific, depicting a military mom deployed and showing different aspects of her job. So many books are geared toward men in the military, however for those students whose moms are deployed this book sharing is a sense of pride. The author compares the moms to superheroes, a perfect comparison for our young students. I appreciate that the illustrations represent many ethnicities.

Published in 2017, After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat (Author and Illustrator). This picture book is a great read aloud for middle and older elementary students with a subtle lesson in overcoming your fear and perseverance. The story begins after the fall and explains that Humpty is a bird watcher, thus his perch on the wall. After falling he is too afraid to climb to the height he once sat. Working toward overcoming his fear he finally makes it to the top…I don’t want to reveal the ending! This is a book I will read for years to my students. Love the story and the illustrations!

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle and Illustrated by Rafael Lopez was published in 2019. This beautiful picture book won the Pura Belpre Illustrator Medal in 2020. This picture book is the story of Teresa Carreno and her love of music. A musical prodigy she, and her family, were forced to leave their home in Venezuela during a revolution. Now in the United States, where few speak her language, she seeks solace in her music but again faces war, the US Civil War. She is lonely and feels like an outcast but begins to become famous for her music. She is ultimately invited to the White House to play for President Abraham Lincoln. I love the illustrations in this book. The story is one of immigration and the challenge a young girl faces.

Areli Is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales, A DACA Recipient. This is a very special book at it is the first picture book written by a DACA Dreamer. This book was just published this June of 2021. I purchased the book immediately based on both the story and the beautiful cover illustration. This is Morales’ personal immigration story beginning with her entrance to America when she was in Kindergarten. She writes about the change from her home in Mexico to the busy city of New York, having to learn the language and being teased by other kids. This is a must for every elementary school library. I loved the story and will read it to every grade level.

Dragons in a Bag is the first of two novels by Zetta Elliott. There is so much I loved about this book. I’ve already ordered the second. First, the fantasy aspect about dragons pulls kids in. Second, our main character, Jaxon is black, and the setting is in an urban environment, Brooklyn. In this first book, Jaxon finds out the women his mom sent him to stay with is a witch. He then has to help her deliver baby dragons to a world of magic. He has to follow two rules, first don’t feed the baby dragons anything sweet, and two, don’t let them out of his bag. I loved this book, and it is constantly checked out in my library along with the second book, The Dragon Thief. I have fourth and fifth graders checking it out and some high third graders.

Dragons and Marshmallows from the Zoey and Sassafras, series by Asia Citro, is the first of nine books in the wonderful fantasy series for kids. Zoey is a young black girl who discovers a glowing photo that reveals a magical secret. She finds that magical animals that have been injured are coming to her barn to have her help them. Then a sweet sick baby dragon named Marshmallow comes for help and Zoey and Sassafras have to figure out how to help. I loved this book and every single one in the series. A great read for elementary students. I read the first book and thought it was so cute and charming that I read the rest of the series.

This beautifully written and illustrated picture book by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Caldecott medal winning illustrator, Michaela Goade is a memorialization of the tragic Dakota pipeline and its destruction to indigenous land. Written with authenticity, Lindstrom (Turtle Mountain band of Ojibwe Indians) and Goade (Raven moiety and Kiks.ádi Clan from Sitka, Alaska) created a story creating awareness around the need to safeguard our Earth’s water. The back of the book provides a great glossary and more information regarding the Dakota access pipeline.

This is by far one of my new favorite books. Authored by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho, this beautiful story is about an Asian girl who recognizes the special features in her eyes. The illustrations are vibrant and gorgeous. Initially, it appeared online that it was a book about a path of self-acceptance, but I was delighted to learn that it is a celebration of her features, her uniqueness of her soul and spirt. She reflects on the sharing of her beautiful eyes with her mother, grandmother, and little sister. She also celebrates her relationship with each of them and how important they are in her life.

Erin Hunter's series Warriors, Into The Wild is based on a wild cat's kingdom where humans live but four cat clans rule. These clans have lived for generations with the forest following "laws" that were given to them by their ancestors. Then one clan begins to grow stronger while another is facing dangers of dying. Rusty is a housecat, curious about the clans. He begins to explore and finds that he is worthy to become part of a clan after showing great fighting prowess. He then becomes Firepaw. As an adult I struggled to stay interested in the story but felt the way Hunter built this cat kingdom was excellent. I understand how it grabs my upper elementary students.

Birdsong, by Julie Flett is an AIYLA winner book about an indigenous girl name Katherena. She moves to the country but is lonely. She becomes friends with her neighbor, an elderly woman named Agnes. The story follows their friendship through the seasons. The soft illustrations following the seasons are a beautiful backdrop as Katherena shares her culture with Agnes, and they both share an interest in art Their friendship and their lives mimic the seasonal changes with Agnes aging and needing to stay in bed. I appreciate how the Cree words are in a glossary at the beginning of the book.

This fun second book in the series of Upside Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins. This is a Harry Potterish style story in a setting called Dunwiddle Magic School. Students may find it familiar as Disney created a movie that was released July of 2020. In the second book The magic of the four kids in the house of UDM (upside down magic) are struggling to keep their spells from going wacky. They soon become the ones blamed for magic problems within the halls of the school, to which they swear they are not a part of. The UDM house comes together to figure out what is going on in the school before it gets worse. This is a fun magical series for students who may not be ready to take on the reading level of Harry Potter. With a Lexile level of 540 it is perfect for those 2-3rd graders.

We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know is a picture book by author Traci Sorell. Sorell previously authored the book We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, published in 2018 and winner of a Sibert honor, a Boston Globe-Horn Book honor, an American Indian Youth Literature Award (AIYLA) honor and an Orbis Pictus honor. She also has authored At the Mountain’s Base (AIYLA honor book) and co-authored Indian No More (AIYLA winner). Sorell was born and raised in the Cherokee Nation and lives there today. This historical overview of the how the “Native Nations have faced challenges, fought for rights, and persevered.” The book explains some of these challenges in a school setting as student presentations for Indigenous Peoples Day. A great book for Indigenous Peoples Day in a perfect format for upper elementary.

Published in 2018, How to Take Informed Action is a book aimed toward upper elementary/middle school students. The target age is 7-10 years old but I believe this is an excellent book for 6th and 7th graders as well. The author begins with an excellent kid-friendly definition of informed action and why it is necessary. He then moves into the "how" to being informed. Especially relevant in these times of the need for digital citizenship, Turner then discusses good vs. bad information, provides examples and why it is important to differentiate for positive informed action. Turner's examples of different types of action are current and relevant. He finishes up with the positive outcomes informed action can produce. The glossary at the end is clear and concise, perfect for the age range. I especially appreciate after the index the note regarding how quickly website and information changes so instead of printing sites in the book they refer you to an online list of websites to ensure they are current. Photos in the book are vibrant, positive and represent all.

Edwin Binney, inventor, and the creator of Crayola crayons was in the business of producing carbon black, a new kind of pigment. Edwin had invented a new inexpensive slate gray, smooth writing pencil, a white chalk that was dusty and didn’t crumble and a black wax crayon that could write on wood and paper packaging. His wife, Alice, encourage him to invent a better, cheaper colored crayon for children he began. The experimentation with color and wax brought him to the first 8 pack, non toxic crayon that we know today. The name Crayola was also suggested by his wife, Alice from the French words, craie for stick of chalk, and oleaginous, meaning oily in texture became the word Crayola.
In the back of the book there are pictures from the factory and explanations as to how the crayons are made today.

This is a terrific book about finding your roots, celebrating family and figuring out who you are in the process. Amara is an eleven, about to be twelve-year-old, who has been an only child…until now. Her mom is due in a month with her new baby sister. Amara has always wanted to go to New York, to Harlem where her dad grew up. Mom, who doesn’t like New York, feels that their quieter ways in Oregon is a better place for Amara to stay. Finally, Mom agrees, and Amara sets out on a work trip with her Father to his hometown. Learning about her dad’s side of the family (the rift between her dad and grandpa), navigating a big city for the first time, interspersed with figuring out who she is, the author takes you on a journey of family and forgiveness.

Wings of Fire, The Dragonet Prophecy is book #1 in the series for author Tui T. Sutherland. This story captures kids who love dragons! A story of five dragonets, who grow up under a mountain by dragons that want to see peace in their war torn land. The five are raised secretly to fulfil a prophecy to choose a queen. Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Sunny and Starflight are the five dragonets who grow and learn together. I appreciated the good v. evil theme as the dragonets are meant to end the war between the tribes. The friendship that develops between Clay (who this first books seems to be set) and one who is supposed to be an enemy, Peril, is a bit of nice among a somewhat gory and brutal fights. I especially like that the adventure in the book keeps it moving when the dialog at times was a bit dull. I don't feel this would be true for the intended audience. I definitely see this geared toward the 4-8 grades that love the world of dragons and fantasy.

This picture book is a wonderful story about two little girls, Ella and Charlotte and their experience discrimination of buying shoes during the 50's. Ella recounts how she is angry and humiliated when she and her mom are treated badly and cannot try on the shoes they buy in a shoe store. Ella and Charlotte then decided to create a better situation for their friends and family members by working for used shoes and a small amount of money for polish. They clean, buff them shiny, and put them on display. They create an area in the barn where friends and family can buy used shoes for a discount and try them on without enduring humiliation. This is great book to read K-5 to demonstrate ingenuity and the courage of two little girls. The Author's note at the end is a beneficial added reading for students. I especially appreciate the hope the book ends on, showing children they can make a difference.

This traditional retelling of The Three Little Pigs is a wonderful Little Golden Book rendition by Walt Disney. I personally appreciate this version as it is child friendly story where many versions have details that frighten young children. This version has classic Disney illustrations that are bright, colorful and timeless. This is one of the many fairy tales all children should be read and remember from their childhood. Kindergarteners and First graders will love listening as you create voices to go along with each character.

Kwame Alexander's book, The Undefeated is a beautifully written celebration of the perseverance of blacks throughout history and current times. This book evokes emotion. The poetry is powerful and joy to read. The illustrations, by Kadir Nelson, impactful. I appreciate the listing of iconic historical figures and events that Alexander presents throughout the book in the reference pages in the end. This book is not only a celebration of perseverance, but a reminder of those who did not survive and were taken by hatred. The introductory message striking…”This is a love letter to America. To black America…” and the afterward that Mr. Alexander writes provides insight to his process regarding the book. This is a book that can be used at any grade level, kindergarten through high school, with differing objectives. This is a book I will read every year to my students as we need to hear this message repeatedly.