Image serves as section header. Text reads: About This Year's Adopted Library
Background photo of desks in a classroom is slightly blurred. Text in foreground reads, "A Little About This Year's Classroom. 2022-23"

Curator's focus: After meeting a kindergartner in Febrauary who talked to me about being afraid of the dark, I decided to focus this month's curation on books that were about night time, darkness or saying goodnight. As I was curating, I couldn't help but think of this tip from Donalyn Miller's and Colby Sharp's The Common Sense Guide to Your Classroom Library. (See quote to the left).

Total Books:  12/101

Curator's focus: This month's focus was on books celebrating winter and all things snowy! I worked to select newly published books that kids could enjoy even if they are not yet able to decode the text! 

Total Books:  7/89

Curator's focus: This month's focus was inspired by Aliza Werner's Build Your Stack session at NCTE. After hearing Aliza share 50+ picture books created to help kids navigate their feelings, I knew I wanted to devote one month of this project to books with the same focus! Big thanks to Aliza for providing me (and others!) with so many great ideas.  

Total Books:  11/82

Curator's focus: This month, I decided to focus on nonfiction. This was a particular challenge for me, because my knowledge of NF texts for readers this young is limited. I was delighted to find so many options that not only introduced little learners to interesting concepts, but that were also filled with captivating illustrations/photos for emerging readers to explore as they continue to learn to decode text. 

Total Books:  17/71

Curator's focus: An important goal for me in curating books for future readers, (those who are still formulating their understanding of words, sounds and even books themselves) is that I select books that will help these little learners associate reading with joy. This month, I focused on titles that when read together, (with a teacher or adult), or explored alone (to practice turning pages and looking at illustrations) would elicit smiles and giggles. The more we can help kids associate the act of reading with joy and pleasure, the more likely they are to see the juice as worth the squeeze when the work of learning to read becomes more challenging. - JL

Special thanks to Franki Sibberson for helping me with this month's book selections! 


Total Books:  10/54

Curator's focus: Because the readers are the most important part of any library AND because all readers deserve to see themselves represented in the pages, and on the covers, of the books in their libraries, this month, I chose to focus on titles that seemed likely to capture those experiences. Whether engaging with the text during a read aloud, or simply perusing the illustrations, I hope the readers in this classroom will see themselves reflected in this month's book selections. I also included a copy of Donalyn and Colby's book as a professional resource for this teacher. - JL

Total Books:  14/44

Image contains a quote from The Common Sense Guide To Your Classroom Library by Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp. Text reads: “Building a collection is about much more than putting books on the shelves. It takes purposeful, knowledgeable effort.” An image of the book's cover appears at the bottom.
Image serves as section header. Text reads: August Book List

Total Books:  30