Book Recommendations

Pre-K - 1st:

• • Same, Same But Different, by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw: The captivating illustrations in this book allow children to compare and contrast two different cultures. Two boys, one from New York City, and one from India become pen pals and discover that they're not that different after all.

  • One Green Apple, by Eve Bunting: This book teaches children the importance of including others when they come to a new school from a different country. It relays the message to stay true to who you are and embrace your culture.

  • I Am Enough, by Grace Byers: This book teaches children that we shouldn’t try to be like other people. We must be ourselves because that’s what makes us unique. What’s on the inside is what matters most because that’s who we truly are.

  • Iggy Peck, Architect, by Andrea Beaty: This book teaches students to never give up on their passion, despite being put down by others. It encourages children to be innovators, as at the end of the book, Iggy and his classmates build a bridge.

  • Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: This book is great for anyone who has ever had their name mispronounced! It aims to teach children that our names are beautiful and we should be proud of everything it contains. Our names tell a story of who we are and deserve to be celebrated.

2nd-3rd Grade:

• • And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell: This is a true story of two male penguins that fell in love and raised a baby penguin at the Central Park Zoo. It allows children to consider what constitutes family. The underlying theme of this book is to stay true to who you are and be proud of your identity.

  • Ten Ways to Hear Snow, by Cathy Camper: This book makes the reader question, what do we hear in silence? The lyrical language in this book emphasizes that silence can motivate us to be observant, empathetic, and active listeners.

  • Amelia Bedelia Series, by Herman Parish: If you want a good laugh, read these books! They will introduce children to wordplay, along with what it means to interpret phrases literally and figuratively.

  • Sideways Stores From Wayside School, by Louis Sachar: This fun book is relatable to children, as it demonstrates how sometimes we just need to laugh off nonsense. Each chapter is a mini-story about a character in the book, which allows students to identify with some of the traits that the characters have.

  • Dreamers, by Yuyi Morales: This book is a mother's immigration story from Mexico to the United States with her young son. It contains both English and Spanish words and emphasizes what it means to be resilient.

4th-5th Grade:

• • Click, by Kayla Miller: This graphic novel teaches children the importance of staying true to who they are. It highlights the idea that you do not need to be a part of one clique to be accepted.

  • Wonder, by R.J. Palacio: Auggie is a ten-year-old boy born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, making others view his face as a "wonder." He’s aware that people talk about his face, but he is used to it. This book teaches children empathy, character, and that our physical appearance does not define who we are. We must accept others because we don’t know what they’re struggling with internally.

  • One Last Word, by Nikki Grimes: This poetry book is an introduction to the Harlem Renaissance. It is inspired by poets, such as Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more. Grimes combines their work with her own, introducing children to the Golden Shovel Technique.

  • Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff: This book is about a twelve-year-old girl named Hollis who has been in and out of foster care and her journey to finding a family. Chapters alternate between "pictures" and the present day to encourage the reader to draw connections.

  • The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, by Dana Alison Levy: This book follows the lives of four boys and their two dads throughout the course of a school year. Each chapter is a different character's point of view and each son faces a dilemma at some point during the book. However, the Fletchers embrace each change and realize that sometimes the things we least expect are what impact us the most.