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
Transitional Chapter Books: A Deeper Look at Features and Formats (Booklist)
After Josie shared a list of transitional chapter books she had explored with a group of students, Hannah found herself thinking about the word transitional, its meaning, and the reason...
Intergenerational Booklist
Coming back after winter vacation I was inspired to read Ten Ways to Hear Snow to reflect on the rare snowfall that our region had experienced over break. My students...
Novels in Verse (Booklist)
When I have a student who has a difficult time building reading stamina, staying motivated to read, or feeling confident about their reading, I consider their book choices. Many times...
What Criteria Should We Use When Selecting Whole-Class Texts?
Do you think it is important for students to read stories that include a wide variety of characters (different races, religions, abilities, genders, etc.)? Here is what some of my...
Book Talk: Sheets and Delicates by Brenna Thummler
Christy Rush-Levine pairs Brenna Thummler's books Sheets and Delicates in this book talk for her sixth-grade class.
Books to Fuel Creativity and Imagination
It is only heavy because you are deciding over and over again to carry it. Embrace change, loosen up your sense of identity, let yourself walk a new path. You...
Picture Books that Help Construct a Wider Definition of Home
One of the topics that is often explored in elementary school is "home." Children naturally like to share about their world: the people in their lives, where they live, how...
Lead with Art, and Literacy Will Naturally Follow
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. —Pablo Picasso There is one book that always makes it onto my personal...
Beyond Personal Narrative: A Change in Perspective
We spend a lot of time in our classrooms giving our writers opportunities to develop their skills at personal narrative. After all, telling a story we know well allows us...
Building Informed Empathy with Picture Books
In a second-grade classroom reading workshop, completely remote this year, students gather around the virtual hearth to read independently. The teacher, Mrs. H, has set students up to stop and...
Best Graphic Novel Adaptations for the Middle Grades
The year 2019 was a historic year for the American Library Association’s Newbery Award. The recipient was New Kid by Jerry Craft, the first graphic novel to receive this prestigious...
Picture Books That Affirm and Celebrate Students’ Identities
Children’s literature brings me joy. When I pick up a stack of picture books from my local library, I plan an afternoon around it. My essentials are a good cup...
Issues Overload
One of my favorite books from childhood was Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary, published in 1955. Beezus lives an almost idyllic life in a loving home on Klickitat Street....
Picture Books for Mental Wellness
For seven months my husband and I attended a class with our daughter so we could learn more about supporting a person with emotion dysregulation. It took a long time...
Meet Someone New Monday: Using Picture Book Biographies to Bring Marginalized Voices into the Classroom
During a summer stroll, I realized my mind was wandering to a beloved corner of my classroom library—my collection of picture book biographies. Although they are available to my readers...
Letting Students Organize Informational Books
I’m scared. It sounds chaotic. I envision books strewn all over the place and students moving around the room like ping-pong balls. I’ve read about how to do this, but...
Reassuring Worried Children with Picture Books
Some time ago I was asked to attend a parent-teacher conference for my daughter with her team of teachers. She was in seventh grade at the time. I expected the...
Reading and Writing for the 100th Day of School
“I don’t believe this!” I mumbled to myself as I left the classroom. I was leaving after a meeting with Allie, who was completing a teaching internship, and her cooperating...
Raising Student Voices: Mentor Texts
I’ve never really gotten over watching A Muslim and Jewish Girl’s Bold Poetry Slam on YouTube. Amina Iro and Hannah Halpern share their poem about the way the world sees...
Detour Texts
Students in the intermediate grades have a lot to learn as readers. They need to pay attention to the small details in a text, keep track of multiple characters, understand...
Expanding Black History Month Reading
It’s easy to tell when it’s Black History Month. Every classroom has a display of favorite read aloud books featuring African Americans. Children can look forward to hearing them during...
