Age: 4th-7th grade
Identity: Female mixed (black mother, white father)
Immigration: Dominican Republic
Tough Issue: Deportation, Institutionalized racism,

Spoiler

Mother died in car accident, father imprisoned

First Line: "We think they took my papi."

Seven 5th-grade students are given a free period to sit and discuss whatever is on their minds, without the supervision or guidance of a teacher or adult. This freedom from authority will draw middle grade readers in to the lives of fledgling tweens of color and their experiences with modern issues. The brevity of the text is another appealing factor for readers, but Woodson packs heavy themes alongside a tantalizing plot with such fluidity and power. This is an essential classroom discussion book.

Age: Kindergarten-3rd grade
Identity: Nonbinary Transgender illustrator

A simplified, straight-forward approach to explaining gender identity to the little ones. Via fictionalized children, Thorn presents transgender, cisgendered, non-binary, gender-fluid, and gender identities that cannot be captured in words. There is a lot of information to digest but Thorn is reassuring, repetitive, and connects with the audience through your/you pronouns.

Although the societal process of mis-gendering is complex and tangled, Thorn simplifies it for children by saying:

"When you were born, you couldn't tell people who you were or how you felt. They looked at you and made a guess. Maybe they got it right, maybe they got it wrong."

As adults, history and research and our own experience have revealed the complexity of gender identity, but Thorn normalizes it for modern-day children. Children are invited to examine their own gender identity as easily as they examine their favorite color or food. A great step forward for a new generation of introspective, self-loving, open-minded people.

Age: Preschool-1st grade
Animals: penguins

Penguins are always polite, the narrator says, but is rudely refuted by the devious actions of one Polly Penguin. When everyone else starts acting loud like Polly, baby Peter becomes frightened until considerate and protective Polly starts to be polite again.

An interesting manners book that uses an older sister's compassionate concern for her little brother in order to act more respectable.

Age: Preschool

English and Spanish words seamlessly rhyme for this all seasons celebration of imaginative play.

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Animals: Bears
Emotions: Unpleasant feelings (worried, nervous, confused, sad, lost) and the comfort of love

Based on this song by the author, charmingly warm illustrations depict a baby bear being comforted by an adult bear after feeling more negative feelings like worry, nervousness, and sadness. An easy story for cuddling and assuring children that they will always have a warm embrace to return to.

Age: Older preschool-2nd grade
Animals: Bunnies
Emotions: Persistence
STEM: Medical science & laboratory science

An inquisitive and persistent bunny strives to solve a rampant illness that is affecting her fluffle of bunnies and other forest creatures.

Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Concept Skill: Shapes
Reprint from 2016

A great practice in critical thinking, utilizing mathematical vocabulary, and utilizing sameness and difference. When there is no "right" reason, children will feel empowered to speak up and share their answers in a group setting. A great book to begin the school year and encourage class participation from the start.

Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Math: Addition & Subtraction

Another poor narrator foiled by the antics of her subjects. "One bright and sunny morning, ten pigeons...HEY! WAIT!" And so proceeds the narrator's many failed attempts to count all ten very distractable pigeons, unable to get past the first line of the story. As the pigeons leave or come back, the narrator says what numbers are being added or subtracted, accompanied with a number equation.

The suspense, the humor, and the intriguing scenarios are exciting from beginning to end.

Age: Toddler-young preschool
Nature: Playground
SEL: Emotions

Children are given an invitation to say how they feel through observing a park with a variety of children experiencing a range of emotions. Each spread features a child's face and a scenario that explains that one emotion. Emotions include happy, sad, silly, mad, sorry, scared, calm, brave, shy, and friendly. Simple and incredibly effective for curious tots.

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Animals: Bengal Tigers
Family: Mother and two cubs

Having heard humans the night before, a mother tiger must lead her cubs to a new, safe location. The charcoal illustrations give a softness to the tigers' fur and an intimacy to the affection between mother and children.