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
Picture Book Biographies
Whenever I heard the word biography from my teacher while I was growing up, my mind translated it as a long, boring, unappealing, and completely dull book. I never would’ve...
Refugees: A Children’s Booklist
How could I ever forget her? Her eyes were full of hope. Her smile had shadows behind it, but I didn’t know her journey. She seemed happy at times. Other...
Comics and Graphic Novels for Tweens
My 10-year-old grandtwins, Molly and Jacob, are officially tweens, and I see it in their reading tastes. They devour chapter books and picture books, still love read-alouds, appreciate good joke...
Books on a Budget
It was post-awards season. All my bookish friends were on a literary social media site, sharing their thoughts on the most recent American Library Association Youth Media Awards recipients. We...
Mentor Texts for Letter Writing
A few months ago, Jennifer Serravallo posted a photo of children in her neighborhood writing letters and postcards. When we looked at this photo, we could almost hear the productive...
More Nonfiction Read Alouds
Every year I plan to read aloud more nonfiction to students. And every year I do—but just a little more. I have worked hard over the last five years to...
Great Books for African American Boys
When Serena saw the class list for her middle school language arts class, she knew that it was going to be a challenge. There were 18 boys in a class...
The Benefits of #bookaday
A few things came together to create one of my most favorite classroom routines. Jillian Heise took Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday idea and shared a picture book a day with her...
Increasing Read Alouds in the Primary Grades
Years ago, I was sitting in a workshop led by Debbie Miller as she talked about the importance of reading aloud to students. Of course I already knew the importance...
No More Strong Girls?
“Why does every heroine have to be a Katniss?" asked Laini Taylor, author of Strange the Dreamer. “Aren’t there other ways for girls to be worthy role models without shooting...
Playful Texts for Beginning Readers
Easy as ABC? Child’s play? Not for some kids. For kids who find learning to read difficult, it is critical that we give them the most engaging books that we...
Books That Mirror the Children in Our Classrooms
A book can show you the world but it can also show you a reflection of yourself. Grace Lin We sat in silence. “Comments? Thoughts?” I asked this group...
Graphic Novels for Beginning Readers
“Whoa! Do we get to read this?” asked Malik, holding up a copy of the graphic novel Binky the Space Cat. “No, sweetie,” replied Rochelle. “That book is for the...
Culturally Responsive Texts
We were gathered together on our rug, ready to dive into thinking and feeling along with the characters in a book. Having looked for a text that would be relatable...
Adjusting the Classroom Library for Student Needs
It won’t work. Can I make it work? No, I can’t make it work. This was my circle of thought during the first month of school. I had recently finished...
Teaching Inference Through Picture Books
One reading strategy my fifth graders still struggle with is inference. After years of working with students this age, I think they are making this more complicated than it needs...
Little Levels, Big Thinking
I’m teaching first grade after a year in third grade. It was such a good learning year for me. I realized that lots of books that work in first grade...
Reorganizing Primary Information Texts
Each summer, I think about all the things I want to change in my classroom for the upcoming year. I think about replenishing supplies like chart paper and colored paper,...
Nonfiction Books with More Than One Entry Point
My third graders love facts and information. Often their nonfiction reading lives consist of books that share lots of facts and isolated information about topics they love. I want to...
A Booklist for Grandparents Day
Grandparents are special people for many children. Sometimes they are baby-sitters or day care providers. Sometimes grandchildren live with their grandparents. Sometimes they live far away and only get to...
Read Alouds as “Third Things”
Many things are unpredictable each day in our classroom, but one thing my students can count on is that they will be read to every single day. I read aloud...
