10 Picture Books I Cannot Wait to Share With My Students – 2014

Another summer has passed and in it was the discovery of even more amazing picture books that now beckon my 7th grade students to read them from my shelves.  Some are new and others are just new to me, but all should solicit some sort of reaction when they are read and shared.  (And these are in no particular order).

1. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley SpiresI will be using this book to introduce 20% time with my students, thank you Chris Lehman for the recommendation.  I love the message of not giving up but also of finding use in other people’s mistakes.
2. Froodle by Antionette Portis This seemingly silly book packs a powerful message; everyone should be allowed to experiment with their own voice.  It is one I hope to read at the beginning of the year.
3. Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea Thea has this book and I have the book in my classroom as well.  This book has such a great story about not judging, wrapped up in whimsy, and every time I read it aloud I laugh outloud.
4. Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb Every time I read this book, I think of another way to discuss it’s theme.  Wrapped up in a simple love story it is a great book to discuss perspective and the lens with which we view the world.
5. My Teacher is a Monster – No, I Am Not by Peter Brown From the title to the illustrations, think of the discussion this book will elicit.  I loved the message, but also the nuance with which it is presented, and let’s face it; many students think their teachers are not quite human and this is a great book to discuss just that.
6. This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris The first time I read this book, I didn’t love it as much as I do now.  I thought it was fun but I didn’t stop to think about what it was really trying to say.  Then Thea and I started to talk about it and her 5 year old perspective really made me think.  This book is about being allowed to be whoever you want to be, no matter what others think; what a great message to send to kids.
7. That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems We often think we know the whole story but through the storytelling of the magical Mo Willems, we find can discover how wrong we are.  Even after you know the twist, this is still such a great book to hand to students as they write their own stories.
8. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson What an incredible history lesson wrapped up in the pages of this book.  My former librarian Deb told me to get it and boy does she know me well.  Students will marvel at this true story of one person’s character.
9. Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dreams for Me by Daniel Beaty So often we need books that mirror the harsh realities some of our students face, this book is one of those books.  Hauntingly written, this is sure to start a discussion on how the boy views his own life.
10. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce This book is beautiful, magical, and oh so on point for what books do for us.  And even better; there is an Oscar winning short cartoon of it as well.

There you have it, a few new ones I cannot wait to share.  However, did you know there is a picture book coming out about the story of Ivan?  I am counting down the days to read this to my students; Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate