Choice Lit Topic: Booklists
There are so many wonderful new children’s and young adult books published each year — and there is a lot of dreck out there too. We aim to be curators as we sort through, organize, and group books so that you can find just what you need.
Whether it’s mentor texts for a unit on persuasive writing, or just-right books for a fifth-grade English language learner, we’ve scoured lists of award winners, recommendations from colleagues, and the Kidlitsophere to come up with these lists.
Results
Unlikely Friendships: A Multi-Generational Booklist
To validate the existence of another human being is one of the most beautiful and selfless gifts we can give. In doing so, we also validate ourselves. —Tracey Willis Gates...
Short Story Anthologies
For a long while, I had trouble feeling enthusiastic about audiobooks. I understood myself as a reader who needed to hold the book in her hands and read the words...
Hidden Lessons: How Do We Cope with Challenges and Change? (Part 2)
In the first installment of this series, I talked about the growing importance of mental health awareness and social-emotional skills in schools. In my own state of Ohio, we now...
Nonfiction Books for Compassion, Inspiration, and Heart
My class recently did a Mock Caldecott project, and I was surprised by how much I had been missing in the book publishing world. I discovered new authors and illustrators....
Booklist: Books that Cultivate Kindness
Sometimes when I talk to children about why they should be kind and treat each other with respect, they tune out. However, they rarely tune out when listening to a...
Girls’ Sports Books
I stare at the shelves of my classroom library, considering my next book talk, and run my finger across the spines, scanning the titles. I stop at The Crossover by...
Navigating the Election Season Booklist
I am someone who does little talking about politics. There have been years of teaching when I’ve been surprised by things my students know and talk about related to an...
Fostering Math Identities with Picture Books
As the new school year began, I started setting up my classroom and gathering books I might read while thinking about launching each of my workshops. There were books about...
Energizing Early Readers: The Classroom Library as a Co-Teacher (Booklist)
One of the best parts of teaching first grade is being there for The Moment—having a front-row seat as one by one, kids realize that the skills they have developed...
Centering Students’ Brilliance (Booklist)
On July 5, 2022, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad tweeted this: Schools and texts should help students to know themselves, their beauty, brilliance, and genius. What text is in your curriculum to...
Exploring Rural Literature—A Middle-Grade Booklist
As the Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year, I attended the annual National Forum to Advance Rural Education last October. I looked through the conference program to plan my day...
Read Aloud Magic
This is my most cherished time of the day. Gathered with students on the floor, I am sitting just above them on a stool so I can feel closer to...
Anthologies to Diversify Middle School Reading Instruction
When Safa interrupted a story to call out in excitement, “My mom is from Morocco just like this family,” I knew including “Home” by Hena Khan as part of our...
Picture Books to Help Navigate Difficult Emotions (Booklist)
It wasn't until a friend left the picture book Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies on her front porch that Hannah realized how badly she needed it. While navigating the unexpected...
How Many? Counting Opportunities in Picture Books
I was excited to read Shh! We Have a Plan during the first month of first grade. It’s a humorous story with beautiful illustrations, a little suspense, and a sweet...
Picture Books with Recipes to Foster Math Engagement
It never fails. The years when I read Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco, the last page turns into a flurry of questions. What is in a thunder cake? Did you...
What I Am Reading the First Week of School
Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience. —Dr....
Befriending Characters in Times of Grief (Booklist)
You don’t want to lose the things or people that leave imprints on your heart. —Elly Swartz, middle-grade author On the first day of school, 16 fourth graders spread out...
Bring Me Something Funny (Booklist)
I passed the stack of picture books recently picked up from our local library to my son who teaches third grade. “There are some great new picture books here,” I...
Creating Thematic Text Sets for Inquiry
Choosing a one-word theme for the year has been gaining in popularity. Based on what they want to accomplish and how they want to feel, people choose one word to...
Five Books for Teacher Reflection
Summer is a time for rest, rejuvenation, self-care, and relaxation. What better way than picture books to jump-start a reflection on what teachers need most to return to school feeling...
