xx - old copy CHSSP Books to Spark Inquiry Database

	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
1	Title	Author	Illustrator	Publisher	ISBN	Annotation	Teaching Notes	Racial Diversity	Social Justice	Religious Diversity	LGBT	Disability	Women	Economics	Family Diversity	Environment	Civics/Citizenship	California	Bilingual	Perspective	Cause & Consequence	Change over Time	Compare & contrast	Continuity & Change

2	28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World	Charles Smith Jr.	Shane Evans	A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Book Press	978-1-59643-820-0	Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, as well as one of the wealthiest black Americans, to Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Lovely picture book with engaging information on each "day." Includes student friendly text as well as background information for teachers and adults.	x	x				x	x			x			x	x	x	x	x
3	A Friend for Henry	Jenn Bailey	Mika Song	Chronicle Books	978-1-4521-6791-6	Henry would like to find a friend. But he discovers his classmates are too loud and too busy. Sweet story about an autistic boy who just wants a friend.	Could be used to promote an inclusive environment in the classroom. Perfect for beginning of the year. FAIR Act opportunity.					x			x					x
4	A Ride to Remember	Sharon Langley & Amy Nathan	Floyd Cooper	Abrams Books for Young Readers	978-1-4197-3685-8	Sharon Langley became the first African American child to legally ride the carousel at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, Maryland, one month before her first birthday, in 1963. Her ride on the carousel followed a series of protests and the arrests of many, including children, who demanded the park integrate.	Story of Sharon Langley who was the first Black child to legally ride the carousel in her homewotwn of Baltimore. Occurred on the same day as MLK's March on Washington speech - August 28, 1963. The carousel is now park of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Terrific PBS article here.	x	x				x		x		x			x	x	x
5	A River Ran Wild	Lynne Cherry		Harcourt, Inc.	978-1-40461-964-7	The author traces the environmental history of the river into the present, documenting the river's destruction by industrial pollution and its eventual reclamation. Small drawings of animals native to the area, items used by the people who lived along its banks, and relevant historical events border some of the text. The endpapers are illustrated with maps and include a brief chronology. Readers will be moved to consider their personal impact on the environment and what they can do to make a difference. From Titlewave.	Great way to introduce industrial pollution and climate change to students.									x					x	x	x
6	A Stone Sat Still	Brendan Wenzel	Brendan Wenzel	Chronicle Books	978-1-4521-7318-4	To some creatures it's a pebble, to others a peak, to some a smell. Each animal that encounters the stone knows it to be something unique, but the stone itself is a constant in an ever changing world. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Nice way to introduce perspective to young students.									x				x			x
7	a sweet smell of roses	angela johnson	eric velasquez	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-4169-5361-6	Two young girls participate in a freedom march and listen to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak during the Civil Rights movement.	Another example of children playing a role in the quest for social justice. Love the subtle illustrations.		x				x				x			x	x	x		x
8	Abe Lincoln's Dream	Lane Smith	Lane Smith	Roaring Brook Press	978-1-59643-608-4	A funny, yet touching tale about a young girl and America's 16th president.	Many teachable moments as Abraham Lincoln reflects on the modern world and the progress (or lack of) since his death in 1865. Metaphor of a ship on a journey to move the story along.		x								x			x		x
9	Alfie	Thyra Heder	Thyra Heder	Abrams Books for Young Readers	978-1-4197-2529-6	Lovely story that tells the friendship of a young girl and her pet turtle. Celebrates that friends can see their relationship and the world quite differently.	Especially nice for younger students who may feel left out in a friendship. Also good for promoting bond between child and pet.								x	x				x		x
10	All are Welcome	Alexandra Penfold	Suzanne Kaufman	Alfred Knopf	978-0-525-57964-9	A warm, welcoming picture book that celebrates diversity and gives encouragement and support to all kids. Every student can find themself in this book. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	A must-read for every classroom. All students, no matter their background, can see themselves in this book. Important read, especially in our current political climate. FAIR Act opportunity.	x		x	x	x	x	x	x		x			x			x
11	All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything	Annette Bay Pimentel	Nabi H. Ali	Sourcebooks eXplore	978-1-4926-8897-6	True story of Jennifer Keelan, a young girl with cerebral palsy, who joined activists in Washington, DC for what became known as the Capitol Crawl in 1990. The Crawl, along with other protests, lead to the signing of the 1990 Americans with Disabilties Act.	Great opportunity for teachers and students to recognize that simple things, like going to school or eating in the lunchroom, are difficult for people with disabilities. Also a powerful example of how children can make a difference. Book includes a forward by Jennifer Keelan and a simple timeline of the Disabilities Rights Movement and Jennifer's life. FAIR Act opportunity.		x			x			x		x			x	x	x
12	An Inconvenient Alphabet	Beth Anderson	Elizabeth Baddeley	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-5344-0555-4	Once upon a revolutionary time, two great American patriots tried to make life easier. They knew how hard it was to spell words in English. They knew that sounds didn’t match letters. They knew that the problem was an inconvenient English alphabet. In 1786, Ben Franklin, at age eighty, and Noah Webster, twenty-eight, teamed up. Their goal? Make English easier to read and write. But even for great thinkers, what seems easy can turn out to be hard.	Details the origins of Noah Webster’s first American English dictionary and the struggles of Webster and Benjamin Franklin to help unify the new country through language in the 1780s. Students will appreciate the frustrations of the two men. Would be great to use with ELL students as they also understand how difficult English can be.										x			x	x	x
13	Antiracist Baby	Ibram X. Kendi	Ashley Lukashevsky	Kokila, Penguin Random House	978-0-593-11050-8	Introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Provides the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest ages.	Great discussion with the author can be found here.	x	x								x			x	x	x
14	Bad Seed, The	Jory John	Pete Oswald	Harper Collins	978-0-06-246776-8	The Bad Seed: a funny yet touching tale that reminds us of the remarkably transformative power of will, acceptance, and just being you. Perfect for readers young and old, The Bad Seed proves that positive change is possible for each and every one of us. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	Perfect for class meetings. Many opportunities for discussion about acceptance of others.													x		x
15	Barbed Wire Baseball: How One Man Brought Hope to the Japanese Internment Camps of WWII	Marissa Moss	Yuko Shimizu	Abrams Books for Young Readers	978-1-41970-521-2	Tells the story of Kenichi "Zen" Zenimura, a Japanese American baseball player, who spent time in an Arizona internment camp during World War II and his creation of a baseball field there. Beautifully illustrated. Includes author and illustrator's notes and photographs. California connection - Fresno.	National Park Service images of Manzanar can be found here.	x	x						x		x	x		x	x	x	x
16	Be Amazing: A History of Pride	Desmond Is Amazing	Dylan Glynn	Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers	978-0-374-31258-9	The history of Pride told by drag kid Desmond Is Amazing. Begins with the Stonewall Riots and includes short biographies of Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Ru Paul.	Very positive tone. Nice for students to learn about LBGTQ+ trailblazers from one of their own peers. Short glossary included. FAIR Act opportunity.	x	x		x				x					x	x	x
17	Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story	S.D. Nelson		Abrams Books for Young Readers	978-1-4197-1528-0	Lakota Black Elk fought in the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn at twelve years old, was shot at Wounded Knee, and performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Using archival material, Sioux author-artist Nelson offers a first-person account of Black Elk's life. Captioned black-and-white photographs and extensive notes provide historical context and critique the exploitation of Native American tribes. Timeline and bibliography included in teacher notes.	Books with a Native perspective are a rarity. This one is a bit lengthy for a read aloud, but could be used thorughout the indigenous peoples' unit. Some of the photographs are graphic, but important to the story. Important perspective.	x	x							x				x	x	x
18	Black is a Rainbow Color	Angela Joy	Ekua Holmes	Roaring Brook Press	978-1-62672-631-4	A young black child ponders the colors in the rainbow and a crayon box and realizes that while black is not a color in the rainbow, Black culture is a rainbow of its own.	Rhythmic words tell the story of Black culture. Many opportunities for further readiing, "Black is the robe on Thurgood's back." Stained glass church windows with the names of Till-Mobley, Baker, Edelman, Hamer - strong women in the Civil Rights movement. Includes a playlist of songs and details for some of the lines of the text. "My color is Black."	x	x						x		x			x	x	x		x
19	Brave Girl	Michelle Markel	Melissa Sweet	Balzer & Bray, Harper Collins	978-0-06-180442-7	True story of how immigrant Clara Lemlich, fought back against the poor treatment of her fellow factory workers and led the largest walkout of women workers in the country. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Excellent background information about Clara and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire can be found here. Another great site for background information is from Cornell University.	x		x			x	x			x				x	x
20	Cool Cuts	Mechal Renee Roe	Mechal Renee Roe	Doubleday Books for Young Readers	978-1-9848-9557-8	African-American boys and their cool hair are celebrated in this bright, joyful read-together picture book that will have boys everywhere repeating the book's chorus: "I am born to be awesome "	This book is just plain fun. Use your GLAD strategies and have the class chant, "I am born to be awesome."
21	Crayon Man, The	Natasha Biebow	Steven Salerno	Houghton Mifflin	978-1-328-86684-4	True story of Edwin Binney who discovered Crayola crayons with the help of his schoolteacher wife.	Crayons are ubiquitous, everyday items, but as this informational picture book attests, that wasn't always the case. The hero of this tale is Edwin Binney, American businessman and inventor. In the early 1900s, Binney (who'd already pioneered dustless chalk for teachers) listened to his customers and family when they clamored for a new product: inexpensive, easy-to-use crayons for children. After a lot of messy experimentation with various materials and colors-aspiring scientists and makers may feel a surge of recognition-Binney finally struck the "top-secret formula" that eventually became Crayola crayons. Great story of persistence and determination...and scientific process!							x		x	x		x		x	x
22	Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln	Margarita Engle	Rafael Lopez	Athenum Books for Young Readers	978-1-4814-8740-5	In the dark days of the Civil War, a girl named Teresa Carreño sat down at a badly tuned piano to play for a special audience: Abraham Lincoln and his family. This book tells the story of how a young refugee from Venezuela comforted the grieving president with her music.	A story of overcoming fear and using one's talents to spark joy despite unforeseen obstacles. Illustrations also tell a story.	x					x	x							x
23	Day You Begin, The	Jacqueline Woodson	Rafael Lopez	Nancy Paulsen Books	978-0-399-24653-1	Heartening book about Roberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, who finds the courage to connect and reminds the reader that we all feel like outsiders sometimes. Emphasis on inclusiveness.	Could be paired with All Are Welcome. Lovely beginning of the year book, perfect for class meetings or when a new student is added to the class.	x						x	x					x	x		x
24	Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin	Duncan Tonatiuh	Duncan Tonatiuh	Abrams Books for Young Readers	978-0-8109-3872-4	Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in America, share letters about their lives. Glossary of Spanish words included. Amazing artwork.	Great way to have students realize that their similarities are greater than their differences. Could serve as an excellent "pen pal" activity, especially during distance learning.								x	x			x	x			x
25	Dreamers	Yuyi Morales	Yuyi Morales	Neal Porter Books, Holiday House	978-0-8234-4055	Dreamers is a celebration of what immigrants bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own gifts wherever we roam. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Many connections for our students, especiall immigrants who are English Learners. Main character finds a home in the library which is filled with classic and notable titles...and learns to read, speak, and write to "make our voices heard." California author.	x	x					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x
26	Duck Rabbit	Amy Rosenthal	Tom Lichtenheld	Scholastic Books	978-0-545-26437-2	Two unseen characters argue about whether the creature they are looking at is a rabbit or a duck. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Hands-down one of the most engaging read alouds to remind us that everyone brings their own perspective to a situation.													x			x
27	Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah	Laurie Ann Thompson	Sean Qualls	Schwartz & Wade Books	978-0-449-81744-5	Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people-but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message- disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled.	FAIR Act opportunity. Learn more about Emmanuel and his foundation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities at https://emmanuelsdream.weebly.com/	x				x				x				x	x
28	Encounter	Jane Yolen	David Shannon	Harcourt, Inc.	0-15-225962-4	Story of the first meeting between Christopher Coumbus and the new world as seen through the eyes of a Taino boy.	Use as an important starting point for conversation on Columbus. Told from the perspective of a native. Stunning illustrations.	x						x		x				x	x		x	x
29	Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America	Deborah Diesen	Magdalena Mora	Beach Lane Books	978-1-5344-3958-0	A timeline of voting rights showing how enslaved people, women, and women of color were all denied the right to vote. Throughout the book, the demand for voting equality grows with the crowd.	Many opportunities to use primary sources with this book. The chant that runs throughout the book, - But nothing could muffle Equality's Call: A right isn't a right till it's granted to all - could be especially powerful with younger students.	x	x			x	x				x				x	x		x
30	Everybody Cooks Rice	Norah Dooley	Peter J. Thornton	Carolrhoda	978-0-87614-591-3	Carrie is sent to find her younger brother at dinnertime and is introduced to a variety of cultures through encountering the many different ways rice is prepared at the different households visited. Recipes are included.	Students and families could share their favorite rice dish as a follow-up to this read aloud. Important to note that we have more similarities than differences.	x							x	x
31	Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon	Simran Jeet Singh	Baljinder Kaur	Kokila, Penguin Random House	978-0-525-55509-4	The true story of Fauja Singh, who broke world records to become the first one hundred-year-old to run a marathon, shares valuable lessons on the source of his grit, determination to overcome obstacles, and commitment to positive representation of the Sikh community.	Lovely story about perseverance and grit. Illustrations give many clues to traditions of Sikh culture.	x		x		x								x	x			x
32	Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins	Carole Boston Weatherford	Jerome Lagarrigue	Puffin Books	978-0-14-240894-0	The 1960 civil rights sit-ins at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, are seen through the eyes of a young Southern black girl.	Story of the Greensboro Sit-Ins told from a young girl's perspective.	x	x					x			x			x		x
33	George vs. George: The American revolution as seen from both sides	Rosalyn Schanzer	Rosalyn Schanzer	National Geographic	978-1-4263-0042-4	There are two sides to every story. Rosalyn Schanzer's engaging and wonderfully illustrated book brings to life both sides of the American Revolution. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Terrific for the 5th grade classroom. Not many books offer the British perspective.										x			x	x
34	Going Home	Eve Bunting	David Diaz	Harper Collins	978-0-06-026296-9	Christmas is coming, and Carlos and his family are going home--driving south across the border to Mexico. But Mexico doesn't seem like home to Carlos, even though he and his sisters were born there. Can home be a place you don't really remember?	Would suggest only using the text to convey this message. While colorful, the artwork does not add to the story of the depth of a parent's love for a child.	x						x	x	x		x	x	x		x
35	Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough, The	Katie Smith Milway	Sylvie Daigneault	Kids Can Press	978-1-55453-488-3	Eleven-year-old Maria Luz and her family have a small farm in Honduras, but may not have enough food to sustain them for the year, so Maria's father must leave home to find work, leaving her in charge of the garden. With the help of a teacher, Maria uses sustainable farming methods that yield good crops eliminating the "middlemen" who made profits on the backs of poor farmers.	A Citizen Kid book that encourages students to be inspired to make a difference in the world. This book is about a real global issue that teaches children about their world. They will enjoy reading and discussing problems that people in underdeveloped countries are having in growing enough food to sustain themselves. The illustrations are vibrant with a lot of attention given to the details. A section on Spanish words used in the book, suggestions on what we can do to help, and information on hunger around the world is also included.	x					x	x		x				x	x	x
36	Grace for President	Kelly DiPucchio	LeUyen Pham	Hyperion Books for Children	978-0-7868-3919-3	After finding out there has never been a female U.S. president, Grace decides to run in her school's mock election, where she learns about the American electoral system and sets out to be the best person for the job even though her opponent, Thomas, seems to be winning all the boys' votes. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Gentle way to introduce the electoral college to students.Would be great to use with Student Council Representatives in the elementary grades.	x					x				x	x		x	x	x
37	Grace Goes to Washington	Kelly DiPucchio	LeUyen Pham	Disney Hyperion	978-136802433-4	On a school field trip to Washington, D.C., student council member Grace and her classmates learn about the three branches of the federal government, how school government operates, the qualities of effective leadership, and how to be a good citizen. Provides a practical example of government in action at the school level.	All students can experience government in action at a young age with this book as a model. Would be terrific beginning of the year Student Council read for elementary students.		x				x				x			x	x		x
38	Granddaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box	Michael S. Bandy & Eric Stein	James Ransome	Candlewick Press	978-1-5362-0561-9	Granddaddy always makes time for play, especially fishing trips. He reminds his young gradnson, Michael, that it takes patience to get what's coming to you. One morning, when Granddaddy heads into town in his fancy suit, Michael knows that something very special must be happening--and sure enough, everyone is lined up at town hall. For the very first time, Granddaddy is allowed to vote, and he couldn't be more proud.	Beautiful story of the friendship between a grandfather and grandson. Unfortunately, Granddaddy never gets the chance to cast his vote due to voter suppression laws in the South. When Michael is able to cast his first vote, he brings a photo of his grandfather to the polls. Many opportunitites to dig deeper into the voting roadblocks of the 1950s and 1960s and beyond.	x	x					x	x		x			x	x	x
39	Greta and the Giants	Zoe Tucker	Zoe Tucker	Frances Lincoln Children's Books	978-0-7112-5377-3	This inspiring picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg--the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world's climate crisis--using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Climate change and some scary creatures who represent some of the worst offenders.						x			x	x				x	x
40	Hair Love	Matthew Cherry	Vashti Harrison	Kokila, Penguin Random House	978-0-525-55336-6	Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair -- and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	Nice story about a dad and his daughter...and hair! Also an award-winning short film.	x	x						x								x
41	Harlem's Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence MIlls	Renee Watson	Christian Robinson	Random House	978-0-375-96973-7	Book that tells the life story of Florence Mills, touching on her family history, and describing her accomplishments as a singer during the Harlem Renaissance.	Bold illustrations bring the story of Florence Mills to life. A short YouTube video of her life can be found here. An overview of her many accomplishments and the intersections of her life can be found here.	x	x				x							x		x	x
42	Harvesting Hope	Kathleen Krull	Yuyi Morales	Harcourt, Inc.	015-201437-3	Story of Cesar Chavez and his fight to organize migrant farmworkers in California.	Also includes historical context for Chavez's life. Message of how one person can make a difference.	x	x					x			x	x		x	x	x
43	Henry's Freedom Box	Ellen Levine	Kadir Nelson	Scholastic Books	974-0-439-77733-9	True story of Henry Brown, a slave in the 1800s, who mailed himself in a wooden box from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia for a better life.	Caution should be used with younger children as Henry's wife and chlidren are sold to another slave owner.		x					x	x					x	x	x		x
44	Hiawatha and the Peacemaker	Robbie Robertson	David Shannon	Abrams Books for Young Readers	978-1-4197-1220-3	Hiawatha, a Mohawk, is plotting revenge for the murder of his wife and daughters by the evil Onondaga Chief, Tadodaho, when he meets the Great Peacemaker, who enlists his help in bringing the nations together to share his vision of a new way of life marked by peace, love, and unity rather than war, hate, and fear.	Story of the Iroquois Confederation, beautifully written by Robinson. Fabulous illustrations by one of my favorites, David Shannon.	x	x								x			x	x	x
45	Home in the Woods	Eliza Wheeler	Eliza Wheeler	Nancy Paulson Books, Penguin Random House	978-0-399-16290-9	Gorgeously illustrated book tells the story of what happens when six-year-old Marvel, her seven siblings, and their mom must start all over again after their father has died. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Learning to do more with less and appreciating the simple things in life. Great Depression story.							x	x	x				x	x	x		x
46	I Am Enough	Grace Byers	Keturah Bobo	Harper Collins	978-0-06-266712-0	A story of loving yourself and respecting others' differences.	Simple language, but a powerful message. This would be terrific for the beginning of the year or anytime when someone needs a boost.	x				x	x							x	x			x
47	I Am Every Good Thing	Derrick Barnes	Gordon C. James	Nancy Paulsen Books	978-0-525-51877-8	A must-read for every classroom (out loud to capture the cadence). This book is a celebration of a confident Black boy and of Black boyhood.	"I am a nonstop ball of energy. Powerful and full of light. I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader." Powerful words to share with students and a great opportunity for them to create their own version of how they can be a difference maker.	x	x								x			x	x			x
48	I Am Not a Number	Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer	Gillian Newland	Second Story Press	978-1-927583-94-4	When Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school, she is confused, frightened and terribly homesick. She tries to remember who she is and where she came from despite being told to do otherwise. When she goes home for summer holidays, her parents decide never to send her away again, but where will she hide and what will happen when her parents disobey the law? Annotated from Titlewave	Resources about the American Indigenous peoples' experience with boarding schools can be found here.	x						x	x					x	x
49	I Dissent	Debbie Levy	Elizabeth Baddeley	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-4814-6559-5	Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Simpy wonderful book about the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. An excellent read aloud. Female students will be especially empowered by Ruth's story and her legacy.		x				x		x		x					x		x
50	I Have a Dream	Martin Luther King, Jr.	Coretta Scott King Award Artists	Scholastic, Inc.	0-590-20517-X	Text of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech accompanied by illustrations from fifteen different artists who combine to capture the message of the speech.	Includes descriptions from each artist.	x	x	x							x			x	x	x	x	x
51	I Talk Like a River	Jordan Scott	Sydney Smith	Neal Porter Books	978-0-8234-4559-2	Poet Jordan Scott writes movingly in this powerful and ultimately uplifting book, based on his own experience, and masterfully illustrated by Greenaway Medalist Sydney Smith. A book for any child who feels lost, lonely, or unable to fit in.	The narrator's father picks him up from school after a "bad speech day" and takes him to the river where he listens to the water churn and flow. As the river moves, it stutters, and so does the author. A lovely opportunity to talk about the challenges we all have. Beautifully illustrated with hazy images when the narrator speaks. Many figurative language connections. FAIR Act.					x								x		x		x
52	I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference	Mark Shulman	Serge Bloch	Neal Porter Books, Holiday House	978-0-8234-4561-5	Explains the concept of choosing, individually, and as a group, from making a simple choice . . . to even more complicated decisions, like electing community representatives. Backmatter includes information about the United States electoral process. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	Good for all grade levels. Provides examples of how voting doesn't necessarily take place in a voting booth but can be done every day.										x				x
53	I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness	Kerascoet	Kerascoet	Schwartz & Wade Books	978-1-5247-6955-0	Wordless picture book about how the actions of a single person can inspire an entire community.	Great way to introduce helpful words to young students when they see someone being bullied. (aggressor, ally, brave, bullying, bystander, name-calling, target, teasing)		x								x			x	x	x	x
54	I, Too, Am America	Langston Hughes	Bryan Collier	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-4424-2008-3	Beautiful illustrations combined with Langston Hughes' words crates an inspirational picture book that carries the promise of equality.	Would be a most inclusive way to start the year. Powerful words, powerful artowrk. Includes a note from the artist describing his inspiration.	x	x					x						x				x
55	If Dominican Were a Color	Sili Recio	Brianna McCarthy	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-5344-4179-4	This book about self-love and the importance of accepting others is a delightful celebration of the differences contained within the vibrant, vivid world and cultures of the Dominican Republic.	Students will love the bold colors. A celebration of diversity.
56	In Our Mother's House	Patricia Polacco	Patricia Polacco	Philomel Books	978-0-399-25076-7	Marmee, Meema and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house they cook dinner together, they laugh together and they dance together. But some of the other families don't accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two mums and no dad? But Marmee and Meema's house is full of love - and the mums teach their children that different doesn't mean wrong. No matter how many mums or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be.	Celebrating the non-tradtitional family unit. Would be perfect for "My Family" unit in K-3 classrooms. FAIR Act.				x		x		x		x	x		x
57	In the Garden with Dr. Carver	Susan Grigsby	Nicolle Tadgell	Albert Whitman	978-0-8075-3630-8	Fictionalized account of how plant scientist George Washington Carver visited an Alabama school and taught the children how to grow plants in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production.	Definitely a fictionalized account, but visuals in particular could be used to develo students' analytical skills. (i.e.children dressed in nice clothes and look well-nourished, etc)	x						x		x	x			x	x	x
58	Jabari Jumps	Gaia Cornwall	Gaia Cornwall	Candlewick Press	978-1-5362-0290-8	Jabari has decided that today is the day he will jump off the high dive. With the help and encouragement of his father, Jabari learns that it's okay to be afraid of new things and that sometimes it takes a while to gather one's courage to do something new.	Quiet support from Jabari's father makes this a nice story about family, and specifically a dad as the provider.	x							x					x	x	x
59	Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella	Jewell Reinhart Coburn, Tzexa Cherta Lee	Anne Sibley O'Brien	Shen's Books	978-1885008-01-5	Despite a cruel stepmother's schemes, Jouanah, a young Hmong girl, finds true love and happiness with the aid of her dead mother's spirit and a pair of special sandals.	One of many Cinderella stories found in many cultures. A comprehensive list can be found here from the American Library Association.	x					x	x
60	Julian at the Wedding	Jessica Love	Jessica Love	Candlewick Press	978-1-5362-1238-9	This book about self-love and the importance of accepting others is a delightful celebration of the differences contained within the vibrant, vivid world and cultures of the Dominican Republic.	Such a refreshing book. Julian attends a wedding and couldn't be happier. A celebration of weddings and a subtle yet poignant reminder that gender, like love, is expansive. Lovely. Beautifully subtle illustrations. FAIR Act.		x		x				x							x		x
61	Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice	Nikki Grimes	Laura Freeman	Athenum Books for Young Readers	978-1-5344-5267-0	Story of a young daughter of immigrants who would grow up to defend the rights of people everywhere in this moving picture book biography of Senator Kamala Harris. First Black woman of Asian descent to be nominated for Vice President of the United States.	This important biography of California Senator Kamala Harris comes at an opportune moment, when the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment intersects with the Black Lives Matter Movement. A must for all libraries.	x	x				x		x		x	x			x	x	x	x
62	La Frontera	Deborah Mills, Alfredo Alva, Claudia Navarro	Claudia Navarro	Barefoot Books	978-1-78285-388-6	Text in English and Spanish. "Alfredo and his father must cross la frontera, the border, on their difficult journey from Mexico to the U.S. Will they find the new home they're searching for on the other side? Based on a true story.	Timely story about the journey to American and the struggles of immigrants. Some of your students may have family members who have experienced a difficult journey to the United States.	x						x	x	x	x		x	x	x
63	Lailah's Lunchbox	Reem Faruqi	Lea Lyon	Tilbury House	978-0-8848-431-8	Lailah is excited to finally be old enough to participate in Ramadan and the Muslim month of fasting. Explaining why she is not eating lunch is trickier.	Classroom friendly way to introduce Ramadan to students.			x			x		x					x	x
64	Last Stop on Market Street	Matt de la Pena	Christian Robinson	Scholastic Books	978-1-338-03523-0	A young boy rides the bus across San Francisco with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Many teachable moments, including "They sat right up front." Great place to tie in the bus protests and segregation in the Sout during the Civil Rights movement.	x	x				x	x	x	x	x	x		x				x
65	Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters	Andrea Pinkney	Stephen Alcorn	Houghton Mifflin	978-0-547-90604-1	Beautifully illustrated book highlighting the lives of ten black women, from Sojourner Truth to Shirley Chisholm. Not a read-aloud, per se, but would be a terrific biography project. Upper elementary reading level.	Would use with upper elementary students for text-dependent activity.	x	x	x			x	x			x	x		x	x	x		x
66	Let the Children March	Monica Clark-Robinson	Frank Morrison	Houghton Mifflin	978-0-544-70452-7	1963 story of the Children's Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama, who volunteered to march in peaceful protests in place of their parents who were afraid of losing their jobs. Poetic text.	Terrific story of the Birmingham March in 1963. Pair with this video from Teaching Tolerance.	x	x					x			x				x	x	x	x
67	Let's Talk About Race	Julius Lester	Karen Barbour	Amistad	978-0-06-446226-6	Julius Lester narrates a conversation that everyone has a story, that is deeper than what you see on the outside. In other words, your story is deeper than your race.	Would be an excellent starting point for the new year. Littles may giggle at the idea that Lester advocates for "taking off your skin and your hair" because we all have the same bone structure underneath.	x		x	x				x					x	x		x
68	Lift as You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker	Patricia Hruby Powell	R. Gregory Christie	Margaret McElderry Books	978-1-5344-0623-0	Ella Baker grew up on her grandparents’ North Carolina farm, where they’d once labored as slaves. She learned to listen to others, to help people in need, and to “lift as you climb.” From her grandfather’s church pulpit, she heard the resounding question, “What do you hope to accomplish?” After college, Baker worked for the NAACP and SCLC, and gradually became a significant figure in the civil rights movement, challenging its leaders on occasion, speaking up for women within the movement, focusing on issues such as voting rights, and always listening at the grassroots level.	Another great opportunity to use GLAD strategies with chanting, "What do you hope to accomplish?" One of the few women who served with grace and poise as a senior advisor and leader of the Civil Rights movement.	x	x				x	x	x		x			x	x	x
69	Lillian's Right to Vote	Jonah Winter	Shane Evans	Schwartz & Wade Books	978-0-385-39028-6	As an elderly woman, Lillian recalls that her great-great-grandparents were sold as slaves in front of a courthouse where only rich white men were allowed to vote, then the long fight that led to her right--and determination--to cast her ballot since the Voting Rights Act gave every American the right to vote. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	Lillian's life story is told as a journey up a very steep hill. Along the way, Lillian meets the Civil Rights heroes who made it possible for her to cast her first vote. Would be a great way to also teach plot - rising action, climax, denouement - to students. Connect to Voting Rights Act of 1965.	x	x				x				x				x	x		x
70	Little House, The	Virginia Lee Burton	Virginia Lee Burton	Houghton Mifflin	978-1-328-74194-3	Seventy-five years ago, Virginia Lee Burton created the Little House, and since then generations of readers have been enchanted by the story of this happy home and her journey from the pleasures of nature to the bustling city, and back again.	A country house is unhappy when the city, with all its buildings and traffic, grows up around her. Great way to discuss how communities change over time.							x		x				x	x	x		x
71	Love to Langston	Tony Medina	R. Gregory Christie	Lee & Low Books Inc.	978-1-58430-283-4	A series of poems written from the point of view of the poet Langston Hughes, offering an overview of key events and themes in his life.	Unique biography as the author uses his own poems to tell Langston's life story. Topics include Hughes's experiences with racist teachers, his father, jazz music, and his love for libraries.	x	x					x	x					x		x
72	Major Taylor: Champion Cyclist	Lesa Cline-Ransome	James E. Ransome	Anthenum Books for Young Readers	978-0-689-83159-1	Introduces students to the life of the African American bicycle racer who won the 1899 World Championship title.Major Taylor was once the highest paid professional athlete in the United States.	True story of a lesser-known African-American athlete breaking down racial barriers. Major Taylor rose to the top of the cycling world in the early 1900s, starting out working in a bike store as a boy and ending up a world champion cyclist. The engaging narrative and rich oil paintings create an impressive portrait of an inspiring man. Pride of Indianapolis.	x	x					x							x	x
73	Malala: A Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal: A Brave Boy from Pakistan	Jeanette Winter	Jeanette Winter	Beach Lane Books	978-1-4814-2294-9	Meet two heroes of Pakistan who stood up for the rights to freedom and education in these inspirational nonfiction tales from acclaimed author-illustrator Jeanette Winter. Two stories of bravery in one beautiful book--including the story of Malala Yousafzai, a winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize!	More biographical content about Malala, including her speech to the United Nations can be found here. Caution should be used when reading with younger students.	x	x	x			x				x				x	x
74	Malala's Magic Pencil	Malala Yousafzai	Kerascoet	Little, Brown and Company	978-0-316-31957-7	As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	More biographical content about Malala, including her speech to the United Nations can be found here. Caution should be used when reading with younger students.	x	x	x			x				x			x
75	Mario and the Hole in the Sky	Elizabeth Rusch	Teresa Martinez	Charlesbridge	978-1-58089-581-1	True story of Mario Molina, a Mexican American chemist, who discovered that CFCs were destroying the earth's protective ozone layer. Important topic in discussion of global warming.	More biographical information about Mario Molina can be found here. Great information comparing Ozone Holes and Global Warming included in the back of the book. Note: Poitical statement about global warming and the urgency to act is also featured.	x								x	x			x	x	x
76	Martin's Big Words	Doreen Rappaport	Bryan Collier	Hyperion Books for Children	0-7868-0714-8	Beautifully illustrated book highlighting the "big words" found Martin Luther King's speeches, sermons, and articles. Simple and direct quotes.	Excellent Reading Guide on Smithsonian Education website. Quotes in book could be analyzed by students.	x	x								x			x	x	x	x	x
77	Marvelous Cornelius	Phil Bildner	John Parra	Chronicle Books	978-1-4521-2578-7	This heartwarming book about a real garbage man tells the inspiring story of a humble man and the heroic difference he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Highlights the role of an essential worker - in the case a sanitation worker - who gave back to his community. Five-minute National Geographic film can be found here.	x						x		x	x			x	x	x		x
78	Memory Coat, The	Elvira Woodruff	Michael Dooling	Scholastic	978-0-590-67717-2	In the early 1900s, two cousins leave their Russian shtetl with the rest of their family to come to America, hopeful that they will all pass the dreaded inspection at Ellis Island.	A classic tale, and might be hard to find. Touching story of immigration and the resiliency of those who underwent the transition, told with the fondness of a cherished memory.	x						x							x
79	Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968	Alice Faye Duncan	R. Gregory Christie	Calkins Creek	978-1-62979-718-2	Story of a nine-year-old girl who marched in the Memphis sanitation strike with her parents. Includes details about the events leading up to the strike, the response of the local government, and the role of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the protest.	So many opportunities for connections to today's students - economic instability, power of peaceful protest, government response. Also nice for students to understand the background for MLK's visit to Memphis. Really nice book.	x	x					x			x			x	x
80	Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom	Carole Boston Weatherford	Kadir Nelson	Disney Hyperion	978-0-7868-5175-1	Story of Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her North to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of slavery. This is a moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad--a woman who would take 19 subsequent trips back South without being caught.	Beautiful book with strong religious undertones. Highly recommend using the author's note in the back of the book which adds relevant facts to Harriet's spiritual journey.	x	x				x	x						x	x
81	Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children	Jonah Winter	Nancy Carpenter	Schwartz & Wade Books	978-0-449-81291-4	Stunning picture book about Mary "Mother" Jones and the 100 children who marched from Philadelphia to New York in a fiery protest against child labor.	Terrific collection of quotes from Mother Jones. Not cited completely, but could definitely be used as inspiration with young activists. And any book that begins with "My name is Mother Jone, and I'm MAD" has to be a winner. Many modern day connections - protests, working conditions, child labor.		x				x	x			x			x	x	x
82	My Shoes and I: Crossing Three Borders	Rene Colato Lainez	Fabricio Vanden Broeck	Pinata Books	978-1-55885-884-8	Rene Colato Lainez's moving bilingual picture book brings to life the experiences of many young children who make the arduous journey from Central America to the United States in search of a better life. In this case, a boy and his Papa travel from El Salvador to the United States to be reunited with Mama, his wonderful new shoes help to distract him from the long and difficult journey.	Describes the hard journey that immigrant children and families face. The journey is not a choice but a necessity to look for a better place, where they can accomplish their dreams. Lovely use of descriptive language that could dovetail with a writing lesson.	x						x					x	x			x
83	New Shoes	Susan Lynn Meyer	Eric Velasquez	Holiday House Books	978-0-8234-3573-9	Ella Mae is used to wearing her cousin's hand-me-down shoes—but when her latest pair is already too tight, she's thrilled at the chance to get new shoes. At the shoe store, Ella Mae and her mother have to wait until there are no white customers to serve first. Her mother traces her feet onto a sheet of paper, and the salesman brings them a pair he thinks will fit. Disappointed by her treatment, Ella Mae and her cousin Charlotte hatch a plan to help others in their community find better-fitting shoes without humiliation.	Eric Velasquez' realistic oil paintings bring life to this story of a young girl's determination in the face of injustice. Good introduction to systemmic racism in the United States.	x	x					x						x	x	x	x	x
84	Not Quite Narwhal	Jessie Sima	Jessie Sima	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-4814-6909-8	Kelp is not like the other narwhals and one day, when he spies a creature on land that looks like him, he learns why. This picture book is about fitting in, standing out, and the all-encompassing love of family. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Gentle way to introduce sexual orientation to younger students. FAIR Act.				x				x					x
85	Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read, The	Rita Lorraine Hubbard	Oge Mora	Schwartz & Wade Books	978-1-5247-6828-7	In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read.	What an amazing story to share with students. Supports the idea that you are "never too old to learn" in a positive way. Illustrations in cut paper, mixed-media style by Caldecott honor winner. A bold and inspiring story. Includes biographical information about Mary, who lived through 26 (!) presidents.	x	x				x				x				x	x		x
86	One Proud Penny	Randy Siegel	Serge Bloch	Neal Porter Books, Roaring Brook Press	978-1-62672-235-4	Who knew the life of a penny could be so exciting? Follow the adventures of a penny, including history and facts about the coin.	Absolutely love this book about the often overlooked penny.							x			x			x		x		x
87	Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins & Her New Deal for America, The	Kathleen Krull	Alexandra Bye	Athenum Books for Young Readers	978-1-4814-9151-8	Tells the story of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and the mastermind behind Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.	Perfect for fans of I, Dissent, the text also contains details about the sexism Perkins faced and could start discussions about how society's attitudes toward gender have changed or stayed the same over the course of history. Quotations stand out due to fabulous lettering styles throughout the book.		x				x	x						x	x	x		x
88	Other Side, The	Jacqueline Woodson	EB Lewis	Nancy Paulsen Books	978-0-399-23116-2	Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together.	"Someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down." Lovely use of the wooden fence as a metaphor for systemic racism. Inspiring that the children are the ones who break down the barriers.	x	x					x			x			x	x	x
89	Our California	Pam Munoz Ryan	Rafael Lopez	Charlesbridge	978-1-58089-337-2	The art in this book is colorful, evocative, and just plain stunning. The text is brief, four-line verses that highlight some interesting features in the 14 California locations, or give reasons for their historical or current importance. Some of the places are well known (such as San Francisco and Los Angeles) and some will be less familiar to children. Includes an illustrated spread featuring the state symbols.	A must for every fourth-grade teacher in California. Great way to introduce students to our amazing state. Includes details about each of the locations featured in the book. Also available in Spanish. Many art project opportunities.											x	x	x
90	Our House Is On Fire: Greta Thunberg's call to save the planet	Jeanette Winter	Jeanette Winter	Beach Lane Books	978-1-53446-778-1	From acclaimed picture book creator Jeanette Winter comes the urgent and powerful story of Greta Thunberg, the sixteen-year-old climate activist who has sparked a worldwide student movement and is demanding action from world leaders who refuse to address climate change. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Message to encourage activism among young people. There will liley be more titles with this theme that might be more engaging.						x			x	x				x	x
91	Papa's Mark	Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert	Colin Bootman	Holiday House Books	0-8234-1650-x	Sweet book detailing the pride in which a man makes his mark to vote.	Hard to find book. But worth the journey. Use with Equality Now, Lillian, etc. and when teaching the Voting Rights Act.	x	x			x			x		x			x	x	x		x
92	Paper Son	Julie Leung	Chris Sasaki	Schwartz & Wade Books	978-1-52477-187-4	Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing--which he loved to do--but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime--and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of Bambi. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	Loved this book. Students will enjoy learning about Tyrus and his talents as an artist. He is credited with designing the landscapes in the Disney film, "Bambi" although he was only listed as a background artist. Great California connection as Tyrus spent time at Angel Island as a child.	x						x			x	x		x	x
93	People Shall Continue, The	Simon J. Ortiz	Sharol Graves	Children's Book Press	978-0-89239-125-7	Traces the progress of the Indians of North America from the time of the Creation to the present.	A bit too long to be read in one setting, teachers might consider chunking the text into manageable pieces. Many tangents to follow - influence of explorers, government, boarding schools, religion, reservations, etc.	x	x	x				x		x				x		x
94	Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre	Anika Aldamuy Denise	Paolo Escobar	Harper Collins	978-0-06-274868-3	A picture book biography of one of the most significant and inspiring figures in library history. Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.	Beautifully illustrated, tells the story of the influential librarian, author, and puppeteer. Great way to introduce the power of storytelling to students. Spanish words are nicely interspersed in the text. Includes bibliography and stories by Pura.	x					x							x		x
95	Pop's Bridge	Eve Bunting	C.F Payne	Harcourt, Inc.	978-0-15-204773-3	When it was completed in 1937, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was hailed as an international marvel. This riveting story salutes the ingenuity and courage of every person who helped raise this majestic American icon. Annotation adapted from Titlewave	Be sure to use historical images from the bridge throughout the years found here.	x						x		x	x	x		x	x	x		x
96	Power of Her Pen, The	Lesa Cline-Ransome	John Parra	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers	978-1-4814-6290-7	This picture book biography of Ethel L. Payne, one of the first African American press correspondents for the White House, is a comprehensive look at the life of a journalism pioneer.	Amazing story about the first Black woman of the White House press corps. Biography from the National Women's History Museum here. And from her alma mater.	x	x				x				x			x	x	x
97	Power of One, The	Trudy Ludwig	Mike Curato	Alfred Knopf	978-1-5247-7158-4	Ludwig’s text doesn’t tell a story so much as it delivers the straightforward message that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.	Perfect story, especially for little people. Would be a nice beginning of the year title.		x											x	x	x
98	Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag	Rob Sanders	Steven Salerno	Random House	978-0-399-55531-2	In this true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today's world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders's text, and illustrator Steven Salerno's evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable - and undertold - story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.	Includes biographical notes and both Harvey Milk and Rainbow Flag timelines. FAIR Act opportunity.				x					x		x			x	x
99	Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family, The	Ibtihaj Muhammad	Hatem Aly	Little, Brown and Company	978-0-316-51900-7	A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad. Annotation adapted from Titlewave.	First female Muslim Olympic medal winner for the United States.	x		x			x		x					x			x
100	Quickest Kid iin Clarksville, The	Pat Zietlow Miller	Frank Morrison	Chronicle Books	978-1-4521-2936-5	Story of a young girl in Clarksville, Tennessee, who dreams of being the fastest runner in town just like hometown heroine, Wilma Rudolph. Rudolph, who won three Olympic gold medals in the 1960 Games in Rome, overcame polio as a child and worked tirelessly to become a strong athlete.	So many opportunities for connections in this book - economic disparities, segregation (Clarksville was a segregated town), single parent family, etc. Includes a brief biography of Wilma Rudolph.	x	x			x	x	x						x	x	x