It's that time of year again! The time where you'll spend all day looking at blogs and noticing how educators and librarians and book fiends have put collections together. And then thinking about how that would fit into something you teach during the year. And then before you know it you have a long list of books to either purchase or find from the library! It's a good kind of day!
This year I am thinking more and more about identity. It's honestly a big topic, not one that 10 books (or you know, plus one...) can even begin to fully explore. But I'm thinking these 10 (+1) books will be important to use, whether it's at the beginning of the year or throughout the year. These books explore all of those parts that make up our identity. From our behavior to our likes and dislikes to the people that influence us. It's about our names and how they are a big part of who we are. It's about gender and accepting ourselves and others. And sometimes, we may have to look at our identity in a new way, a new perspective. Sometimes something we didn't like, or appreciate, about our identity can change.
Titles and authors:
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Becoming Vanessa by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Thao by Thao Lam
Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima
Fred Gets Dressed by Peter Brown
What I Am by Divya Srinivasan
Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy
Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller
Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker
Watercress by Andrea Wang
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
If you would like to see the other 10 for 10 roundups from my blog, click here.
Be sure to follow along using the hashtag #PB10for10!
I can’t believe it’s time for Picture Book 10 for 10 Day (#PB10for10)! It’s always such a fun day to celebrate picture books and the many ways we can use them with young readers.
This school year is going to start differently than any other year - both in the years I’ve been teaching (starting year 25!) and the years I was a student. Some of us will be distance learning. Some will be starting the year with a hybrid approach. And some schools will be full of students but may have other rules and regulations in place that are new. No matter how the year is starting, there are always books that can help you and students have conversations about what is happening. So this year, I’m sharing books to use when starting the school year with different routines.
If I Built a School
by Chris Van Dusen
This book has ideas for many different ways to construct a school. What Fall 2020 is telling us... school is going to look very different than it has in the past! This is a different first day of school discussion - what does your “school” look like compared to your fellow classmates?
I Am Every Good Thing
written by Derrick Barnes
illustrated by Gordon C. James
This is the year to celebrate some positive identity! It is the start of a new year and new possibilities. Let your students know that they are worthy, they are appreciated, you’re happy they are there, and that you see them.
Your Name is a Song
written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Another book about positive identity. Celebrate what makes each child unique and the special ideas they bring to a class.
Don't miss this video that has author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, pronouncing each individual name in the story.
The Arabic Quilt
written by Aya Khalil
illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan
Each of our students will be approaching this year differently than in the past. Some may have experienced trauma or stress since they were last inside a school. Teachers should be respectful and understanding of each student's identity and background. Read this book and let students share about who they are to whatever extent they are comfortable with, even if this just means listening to others for now.
Penny and the Plain Piece of Paper
by Miri Leshem-Pelly
As we think about how we want this school year to look like, please include your students in the discussion, especially when talking about norms and expectations of the class. Please think about what you know about your students and what you learn from your interactions with them in the first few weeks of school. As you have these discussions, remember which voices you hear, and which ones are quiet. This book is a reminder that not all rules work for everyone. Decide together what is fair for this class.
A Little Space for Me
by Jennifer Gray Olson
After you've been in class for a week or two, you may want to talk about taking some grace. There comes a time when an individual says, "I need a break." How do we say that? When do we need to do that? What does it look like? Just like the young girl in the story, we all need to find a space to just be.
It Is (Not) Perfect
written by Anna Kang
illustrated by Christopher Weyant
This is the year to admit, things are not going to be perfect and that is ok. Just like the characters learn, sometimes we can find a new idea, a new possibility, when we take some steps back and reevaluate. And sometimes, with help from our peers, we can achieve something completely different.
Happy Right Now
written by Julie Berry
illustrated by Holly Hatam
The rest of the books focus on mindset. This year is really going to need a growth mindset!
In this book, we see a situation that is initially perceived as negative, until the character thinks about the situation in a positive way. I like that this book also mentions that sometimes things don't go the way we planned and it makes us sad, and it's ok to have those feelings too.
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao
written by Kat Zhang
illustrated by Charlene Chua
Have you ever tried to make/create/do something and you know how you want it to end up, but it ends up very different than how you planned? Welcome to 2020! This year is not working out how we had at all planned, but we pivot, and try something new! Perfect book for growth mindset!
Lift
written by Minh Lê
illustrated by Dan Santat
This book has it all - being content, getting upset when things don't go your way, figuring out something amazing, sharing it with others. This year is going to have us experiencing so many emotions, but let's experience it together and lift each other to new heights!
Regardless of where you are teaching this fall, I wish everyone a happy new school year and hope for many positive new experiences for you and your students.
It's been awhile since I've participated in #nf10for10. It always creeps up on me and I lose track of time. Before I know it, it's here and I don't have a post. For some reason I was thinking about it early this year! There has been a huge insurgence of picture book biographies. They are well enjoyed by educators, librarians, and readers. Maybe because of their narrative stories. Maybe because they are inspiring. But most of them are about people who seem out of reach to our young readers. They have trouble thinking of them as real people. I love finding picture book biographies about kids. When you read a book out loud about some of the things they have done, you can almost see a lightbulb go on in the eyes of readers. They start thinking, maybe they can do it. Maybe it influences something in their life. Maybe it gives them a thought of what they can do. 10 nonfiction picture book biographies that feature kids: Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln written by Margarita Engle illustrated by Rafael López Teresa Carreño shows us the power of music and how it can make us feel many emotions. Hello, Crochet Friends! Making Art, Being Mindful, Giving Back: Do What Makes You Happy written by Jonah Larson with Jennifer Larson Jonah reminds us that we can find what we are passionate about and use it to help ourselves and others. Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams written by Lesa Cline-Ransome illustrated by James E. Ransome Venus and Serena reminds us of the power of family, hard work, and determination can help us reach our goals. Our House is on Fire: Greta Thunberg's Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter Greta encourages everyone to use their voice - because it is necessary - to protect our planet. Nadia The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still written by Karlin Gray illustrated by Christine Davenier Nadia teaches us that it's ok to fall... just get back up again and rise! The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng written by Sophia Gholz illustrated by Kayla Harren Jadav shows that even young kids can care and learn about their environment and make a difference for generations to come. Trombone Shorty written by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews illustrated by Bryan Collier You're never too young to discover your passion is the message from Trombone Shorty. And play music all the time! The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist written by Cynthia Levinson illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton We can stand up for our rights and our beliefs like Audrey Faye Hendricks did! Anybody's Game: Kathryn Johnston, the First Girl to Play Little League Baseball written by Heather Lang illustrated by Cecilia Puglesi Kathryn had a passion for baseball but because of gender rules, she had to fight for her right to play. Be like Kathryn and fight for equal gender rights! Ada's Violin: They Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay written by Susan Hood illustrated by Sally Wern Comport Reduce, reuse, and recycle has a whole new musical meaning after reading the story of Ada and friends. What maker idea can you create? Round up some of these picture book biographies and see what ideas your readers can come up with and create!
Thank you Cathy Mere at Reflect & Refine and Mandy Robek at Enjoy and Embrace Learning for organizing this day. Stop by the Google Community to see even more ideas, or look for the hashtag #pb10for10. Cultivating mentor texts is something we've been working on for awhile. And while we look at curriculum units and plan for engaging and connected lessons, we've also learned we have to have texts that look at the whole child. Meaning while curriculum learning is important, so is social emotional learning. Here are 10 texts that you can pull out to encourage students to approach the social part of their learning. Feeling like you belong and learning it's ok to be different: Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson The Day You Begin written by Jacqueline Woodson illustrated by Rafael López Albie Newton written by Josh Funk illustrated by Ester Garay Kindness: Be Kind written by Pat Zietlow Miller illustrated by Jen Hill Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse written by Marcy Campbell illustrated by Corinna Luyken I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët Feeling of anxiety: Ruby's Worry by Tom Percival Jealousy: Neck & Neck by Elise Parsley Reacting to emotion: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld Sadness: I'm Sad written by Michael Ian Black illustrated by Debbi Ohi Looking for more lists? Be sure to search the hashtag #pb10for10 - your picture book ideas will overflow! Here are some past lists: books that show a new perspective books to use at the start of the year books to use for quick writes books to celebrate a readerly life (and some other great reads!)
Thank you Cathy Mere at Reflect & Refine and Mandy Robek at Enjoy and Embrace Learning for organizing this day. Stop by the Google Community to see even more ideas, or look for the hashtag #pb10for10. This year's #pb10for10 snuck up on me. I would remember at odd times that it was coming up but never at a time where I got it done, much less thought about it much. Once I sat down to think about it, I didn't know where I wanted my focus to head. I didn't have to look much farther than social media or the news. Because it seems all we see is the state our nation is in. Where it's ok to mock people, build walls to exclude people, make up your own rules and say horrible things but still be elected to a position to make important decisions. Somehow, looking out for yourself, and not thinking about others, is okay. While I surround myself with people who know this is not ok, I wonder how can we avoid getting to this place again? And then I look at our students. Impressionable human beings who are soaking up knowledge and learning what is right and wrong and ok and not ok. How can we make this world better for them? How can we get them to look at things in a new way? And that's when it hit me. Perspective. How can we teach our young readers to see things, to see people, to see views with perspective? Through literature, of course. So here are 10 books that can start the conversation on perspective. Some books deal with the topic head on, some go about it using a comparison, but all will lead to important conversations. Happy #pb10for10 day. Here's to a new perspective! Nerdy Birdy Tweets written by Aaron Reynolds illustrated by Matt Davies Double Take! A New Look at Opposites written by Susan Hood illustrated by Jay Fleck I Like, I Don't Like written by Anna Baccelliere illustrated by Ale + Ale A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices written by Sally Derby illustrated by Mika Song After the Fall by Dan Santat (publishes October 3rd) A Bike Like Sergio's written by Maribeth Boelts illustrated by Noah Z. Jones Normal Norman written by Tara Lazar illustrated by S. Britt My Two Blankets written by Irena Kobald illustrated by Freya Blackwood Toys Meet Snow written by Emily Jenkins illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio Want to see past #pb10for10 posts? Take a look! 2016: books to use at the start of the school year 2015: books to use for quick writes 2014: books to celebrate the readerly life Happy picture book reading!
for this wonderful day of nonfiction picture book sharing!
Be sure to follow #nf10for10 to get lots of new nonfiction picture book ideas.
Here are my posts from past years. 2016 #nf10for10 - it's all about the series 2015 #nf10for10 - nf can be interesting! 2014 #nf10for10 - themes in nonfiction This year I am collecting my recent top 10 science books. I find myself drawn to picture book biographies and I'm trying to make sure I vary my nonfiction reading. Interestingly enough as I made this list, I realize my favorite science books often concentrate on animals. As I try and find books that fit our school's NGSS units, I'll keep trying to find a variety of science books to use with young readers. Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas Super Gear by Jennifer Swanson Plants Can't Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch Animals by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins Pink is for Blobfish by Jess Keating Giant Squid by Candace Fleming Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari The Great Leopard Rescue by Sandra Markle Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater If you're interested in other science lists be sure to check out Melissa Stewart's post where she has lists for science, STEM and other nonfiction collections you'll want to check out. Click here for the post. Are there some science books on here you haven't read yet? By including books like these in your classroom library, you'll show students the importance of nonfiction reading and help encourage a love of scientific learning! Happy nonfiction reading!
