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
Books That Invite Thoughtful Conversation in Grades K-2
One of the favorite parts of my new job as a school media specialist is that I get to read aloud to primary students again. There is nothing like seeing...
Picture Books for Shared Reading
Last week I was reading Shari Frost's article, Whatever Happened To Mrs. Wishy Washy? when I began to think about the Big Books that have been loved in my room over the...
Book Basket Idea: Cars and Trucks
Around this time of year I am anxious to look back at what kids loved to read. I take into account what baskets the students fought over (literally), and the...
Not Available in a Six-Pack: Books to Place Alongside Leveled Texts for Our Youngest Readers
Some of my favorite days in teaching have been when a new reader insists on reading a book aloud to me (and everyone they meet that day) because they've discovered,...
Choosing New Books for Comprehension Strategy Studies with Young Children
The books I have chosen for reading comprehension have been amazing journeys that we've taken as a class. I thought I would use the books just to help to learn...
Books That Invite Conversations About Perspective (BOOKLIST)
I have recently found several books that invite conversations on perspective - books that for some reason or another, help you look at something from someone else's point of view....
New Versions of Old Favorites (BOOKLIST)
We seem to have gotten away from reading new versions of old stories. With the focus on guided reading and leveled books, I worry that our students aren't hearing the...
Build Fluency with Books That Are Fun for Kids to Read Aloud Over and Over and Over Again
Fluency has been such a hot topic lately. Our students are tested and timed on passages to check their reading progress. There is so much to fluency, but it has...
Books that Invite Student Participation
When I taught first grade years ago, my students had a rousing good time with text that invited them to join in. Even before they were actually reading the text,...
Community First: Using Read Alouds to Strengthen Classroom Connections
There's a lot to accomplish at the beginning of the school year: routines to teach, expectations to communicate, communities to build . . . but not necessarily in that order....
Step by Step: Integrating Nonfiction into Primary Classroom Instruction
Young readers are often fascinated by nonfiction. Have you ever watched a child browse a book filled with vivid photographs? I love how the images often invite conversation among children...
Characters We Love (BOOKLIST)
When I think about matching students to books, I want my students to find books for a variety of reasons. I know that finding favorite series and characters are key...
Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature
When I began teaching, I taught my first seven years at an alternative public school. A focus for our school was to use children's literature across the curriculum to help...
Multicultural Books for Beginning Readers
"Why isn't there an African American Henry and Mudge?" asked a teacher in the audience of a session on multicultural children's literature. I reminded her of a previous slide stating...
Getting the Most Out of Picture Books
If you haven't enjoyed a picture book by Mo Willems, you should! Mo happens to be a favorite in our room for a number of reasons. I think the pictures...
Novels in Verse (BOOKLIST)
This year several of my students got hooked on novels in verse. A novel in verse is a short novel that is told in a series of poems or verses....
If You Like Captain Underpants: Related Books for Students (BOOKLIST)
I have found that there is often one book that hooks a child on reading. Children may know how to read other books, they read other books . . ....
Fairy Tales for Middle Grade Readers (BOOKLIST)
Fantasy is becoming quite a popular genre with middle grade and middle school readers. Even though I am not a huge reader of fantasy, I am a fan of fairy...
Books for Phonics Instruction – Accomplishing More Than Just Sounding Out Words
"Do you want me to read you a book?" I looked up and found myself face-to-face with Lemekia, a first-grade girl with a big smile and a head full of...
A Workshop Model in the Library: Time for More Than Book Checkout
Starting a new job as a school librarian has been a learning experience for me. There is so much to love from being around books and kids all day, sharing...
Picture Books About Books: Young Learners and Reading Identity
In the first few weeks of school, I am attempting to understand a whole new class as individual readers (yikes!). I am trying to discover where, when, why, and what...
