In My Family

Garza, C., & Schecter, D. (1996). In my family. San Francisco, Calif.:

Children's Book Press.

The author takes the reader to her home town in Texas where she shares memories of her traditional Mexican American community. The story is told from the main character’s point of view, Carmen, who grew up in Kingsville, Texas and uses 13 illustrations that were painted by the author herself. Each painting gives the book the look of a photo album with short, independent stories for each. Painting topics are sharing a night in their local restaurant, a cousin’s wedding day and a visit to abuela Elisa’s house. This book is ideal to expose your kids to topics such as family, history and culture. In My Family has received numerous awards including the Tomás Rivera Children’s Book Award and the Américas Picture Book Award. It also includes a section where the author answers question from her young readers.

Smile

Telgemeier, R., & Yue, S. (2014). Smile. Graphix.

From the artist of BSC Graphix comes this humorous coming-of-age true story about the dental drama that ensues after a trip-and-fall mishap.

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

Really cool people & places.

Iasevoli, B. (2014). Really cool people & places. New York: Time for Kids

Books.

This book was written for children but the content has some difficult words. This informational book is perfect for fourth grade and up, and accelerated third graders.  

Kids love fun fact books like this!

Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books.

           

            Jacqueline Woodson, on of today’s best authors, was raised in South Carolina and New York. However, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and the powerful Civil Rights movement. Each poem is both relatable and emotionally charged. Woodson’s eloquent poetry reflects her story, and how she became the writer she is.

Jacqueline Woodson's website 

        

If You Lived Here

Laroche, G. (2011). If you lived here: Houses of the world. Boston:

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

From the Spain to South Africa, Italy to China, France to New Mexico: Giles takes readers through a journey of homes around the world and uncovers the reason behind each home’s construction. As children, it is hard for young readers to take on the perspective of others. This book helps give children a broader worldview. As a teacher who wants to create global citizens, this book is a wonderful introduction to the world outside our classroom walls.

With this book, I would love to share my own travel experiences with my students.  I would do an entire travel unit.

Travel Unit Activities

Planting a Rainbow

Ehlert, L. (1988). Planting a rainbow. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

This educational, nonfiction book helps children understand how to plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings, and nurture their growth. The collage illustrations bring science to life.

There are countless art and science projects to do with this book:lesson plans, crafts, science activities. This book is perfect for young explorers.