Category: picture books

Wherever I go I seem to bring the love of picture books with me.  In fact, whenever I travel, I try to pick up at least one new picture book from wherever I am as a way to remember the adventure.   I have lost count of the picture books in my own house.  In fact, we have long ago run out of shelf space at home and some now reside to my dismay in boxes instead of out in the open.  Our picture book collection in our classroom has surpassed 200, with displays wherever there is a ledge, with piles on the tables, and special books waiting to be shared. Being a picture book aficionado comes at a wonderful, cluttered, price.

I have written before of why I use picture books with my middle school students, the changes it has created for us as we build our community of readers.  I have shared lists upon lists of our favorite books as well, hoping to help others find the very best value in the books they bring in, hoping to inspire others to make them an integral part of their classroom.  This is not a post on the why, but instead on the how.

I often get asked how I use picture books as a teaching tool.  What does that actual process look like, so hopefully this will clear up some of those questions.

Which book I choose to share depends on the lesson.  I treat it much like a short story in what I want students to get out of it so it has to suit the very purpose we are trying to understand. I introduce the concept by sharing a story  and then I ask my students to come as close as they can to the rocking chair in our corner.  Once settled, whether on the floor, on balls or on chairs, I  read it aloud.  We stop and talk throughout as needed but not on every page, it should not take more than 10 minutes at most to get through an average size picture book.  If it is a brand new concept I may just have students listen, while other times they might engage in a turn-and-talk.   I have an easel right next to me and at times we write our thoughts on that.  Sometimes we make an anchor chart, it really just depends on the purpose of the lesson.  Often a picture book is used as one type of media on a topic and we can then branch into excepts from text, video, or audio that relates to the topic.

Because I teach the same class 5 times in a row, I often switch out the picture books I use with the different classes.  There are some that you can still love reading after 4 times, while others get to be a bit tedious, so I adjust as needed.  This is why having a lot of great picture books to choose from is something I am committed to.

I do not have multiple copies of really any picture books, I don’t see it as needed.  Instead, I pick the picture book to read aloud and then find “companion books,” other picture books that share the same concept, for example easily identifiable themes. These are spread out on tables, waiting for the students to select them. This way, when I ask students to work with them they are truly testing out the skill and not just whether they can spot the same things that we just practiced together.  Often times, students can choose to work with a partner as they explore their self-selected books.

Some times students write after reading the picture books, other times they do not.  Sometimes we use them as mentor texts where we mimic the way language is used or how a story is set up.  I use them a lot as a way to do a quick check-in to see if students need re-teaching or are on the right path.  If students write about them it tends to be just one paragraph or so.

We do use some of the same picture books again and again as a way to practice close reading but also as a way to see different aspects of the same story. Once students have heard or read it to discover the story, we can focus on other things  such  as language use or author’s craft as we rediscover it.

Picture books tend to stay in the classroom because they get lost really easily, however, students may ask if they can borrow one to take home.  Usually I say yes as long as they bring it back the very next day.

Picture books are shelved together in our classroom but not organized by theme or author.  I simply do not have room for splitting up the groups, so I try to display the picture books by theme in our classroom instead.  For example, whenever it is a new month or after a break, our display is always changed out.  I want students to want to read them as much as possible and a fresh new display helps entice them.

When a new picture book enters our classroom, it has already been read by me and I may even book talk it to students.  I should keep a list of which picture books would be great for what, I guess my lists of picture books to use kind of counts as that, but I do not have a personal list.  This is on purpose because it offers me chance to reread books I may have forgotten and browse my own collection with fresh eyes when I search for that perfect book.

I am amazed at the sheer usage I get out of the picture books in our room from a teaching stand point, but also so  grateful for the reading experience they provide for my students.  Picture books may just be a key to helping students fall in love with reading again.

If you like what you read here, consider reading my book Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students.  Also, if you are wondering where I will be in the coming year or would like to have me speak, please see this page.

I was going to simply update my original post on teaching theme through picture books, but then realized that I had so many new picture books to add to it that it deserved its own post.  It is a great time to be a lover of picture books.  So behold, even more amazing picture books to teach theme and please feel free to add your own suggestions as well.

If you would like just a list without images and theme suggestion,please go here. 

I cried the first time I read Ida, Always by Caron Lewis and Charles Santoso.  I cried the second time I read it as well.  With its story of love surpassing death, it is a must add to any classroom.

Yard Sale written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Lauren Castillo is a fantastic book to discuss what it means to have a home and a family.  This is another book that made me cry.

We discuss needing diverse books in our classrooms and Jacob’s New Dress is most definitely a book we need.  Written by Sarah and Ian Hoffman for their own son, my students had wonderful discussions about what it means to fit the mold that society gives us.

The Night Gardener by the Fan Brothers is beautiful not only in its illustrations, but also in its message about what one person can do for a community.

Be A Friend by Salina Yoon is a wonderful addition to any classroom collection.  Its simple story allows for a rich discussion about friendship and finding our place in the world.

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers (Global Read Aloud contender) is a masterful book for students in discovering theme.  Love, loss, death, acceptance and rediscovery were all themes my students fund in the book.

The Wildest Race Ever:  The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon by Megan McCarthy is a great addition to our theme collection.  I love when non-fiction picture books can be used to discuss theme.

I have several of Pat Zietlow Miller’s picture books in our classroom and find them all to be incredible additions.  Sophie’s Squash always makes me laugh.  Pat’s latest picture book The Quickest Kid in Clarksville illustrated by Frank Morrison was an instant hit with my students and the theme only brought further conversation.

Another non-fiction picture book, Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Raul Colon has made its way into our classroom, not only teaching us about the incredible life of Marie Tharp but also about perseverance, having dreams, and the power of curiosity.

Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be In This Book) written by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Tim Miller is a sure hit with kids and adults alike.  Funny and with a great message of friendship, my students have read this one multiple times.

I am an unabashedly major fan of Bob Shea and his books show up on many of my lists.  The second installment of his Ballet Cat series is already a favorite in our classroom as well as with my own children.  In Dance! Dance! Underpants! we can find the themes of friendships, judgment, and also how to succeed while getting another great laugh.

I love wordless picture books for discussing theme because it lets readers look at just the illustrations without wondering about the words.  Skunk on a String by Thao Lam is a great conversation starter for perseverance and creativity.

Using picture books to teach theme to my middle schoolers has been one of the best decisions I ever made.  The illustrations pull them in but the stories are what keeps us coming back.

If you would like to see more of our favorite books, please go here.

Have I convinced you yet that there is a picture book for every occasion?  Whether it is to build empathy, spark creativity, or in this case build courage, picture books are my go to text for almost anything.  These picture books are the ones I pull out when we need a little bit of boost, when we need to remember that we can change the world, when we need just a boost of courage as we try to navigate what it means to be a middle schooler.

Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two Stories of Bravery by Jeanette Winter.  I have used this book on many different occasions but having courage in the face of danger is major topic for social advocacy.  I love this book so much. 

Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman, illustrated by Chris Case.  being yourself can be hard when you society will judge you but this book is a must add for any classroom.  When we speak about needing diverse books we need books that not only a provide a mirror for our students but also a window to quote Jacqueline Woodson.  While we may have no students that we think need this book, all of our students really need it.

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg and illustrated by Judy Love.  Sometimes kids think that adults have no fears but this book reminds them that we get scared too.  A lighthearted read that is sure to be a great conversation starter.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown.  Staying true to yourself takes courage and Mr. Tiger is a good teacher of that.

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle and Rafael Lopez  A beautiful book from this prolific author that is all about following your own dreams and not letting others box you in.

Nightsong by Ari Berk and illustrated by Loren Long.  Venturing out on your own is never easy especially when the night is dark.

I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton.  How many of us have tried to break our own fears?  This is a laugh out-loud book that will make us think about the fears we need to work through.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gerstein.  This has been my chosen read aloud for many years on 9/11 because ti allows us to open up a hard conversation by remembering something beautiful.  Now with the movie The Walk out, students know this story even better.

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers.  This book is beautiful and the message that it carries of not being afraid to love is one that will resonate with may readers.

I am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos  I could have picked any of the books in this series, they all have wonderful message sof staying true to yourself and finding your own courage.

To the Stars!  The First American Woman to Walk in Space by Carmella Van Vleet and Dr. Kathy Sullivan, illustrated by Nicole Wong.  What is your dream adn how will you achieve it?  Sometimes you have to dream bigger than the rest of the world wants you to.

Walk On!  A Guide for Babies of All Ages by Marla Frazee.  Even babies need courage.  We all take so many things for granted that took a lot of work to do, this book is a great reminder of how far we have all come.

The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Henri Soerensen.  While the story is not completely true it does speak to how one person can inspire courage for many.

I know there are many others out there, which picture books do you gravitate toward when you need students to find some courage?

To see the list of more of our favorite picture books, go here.

It never fails, there always seems to be that moment where we with heavy hearts turn to our book shelves to find the perfect book to talk about loneliness.  When we search for a book that will say the words that we seem unable to find ourselves.  Teaching children means that there is a constant stream of friendships, both good and bad, and the heartaches that can sometimes come with growing up.   So I scoured my bookshelves looking for some of our favorite books to talk about friendship, loneliness, and what it means to find your place in the world.  Here are some of our favorites in room 235D.

The Seeds of Friendship by Michael Foreman is a new book to our room that tells the story of how coming together around a common purpose can inspire community.

I do not hide the fact that I think Meg Medina is a writing genius and her latest picture book, Mango, Abuela, and Me illustrated by Angela Dominguez is a must add toy our collection.  I loved that the story centered on the loneliness we can feel when we do not know how to connect with others different than us, even when they are supposed to be alike.

I do not know how many lists of picture books I have placed The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig illustrated by Patrice Barton on, but I am sure it is many.  I have used this book with several different age groups and they all get it, they can all connect, they have all felt invisible at some point.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was the 2015 choice for Global Read Aloud’s picture book author study and she was amazing.  Having 3 little girls means that unicorns are a regular topic of conversation and so when Uni the Unicorn illustrated by Brigetter Barrager came out it was a natural fit in our household.  But it is not just a book for little girls, but rather a book that can remind all of us of what it feels like to be longing for one thing you are certain is out there, even when no one believes you.

What happens when a book is not read anymore, the same as when a child feels lonely.  The Lonely Book by Kate Bernheimer and illustrated by Chris Sheban is a great conversation starter fora complex topic of loneliness and feeling forgotten.

What happens when a dog is unappreciated by those who own him; the dog names himself Sad.  Sad the Dog written by Sandy Fussell and illustrated by Tull Suwannakit is a great example of how we can find our place among friends even if we start off wrong.

The Only Child illustrated by Guojing shines a light on the deepest kind of loneliness where a child flies into their imagination to combat the hours where they are alone.  This is also a great wordless picture book to have students think of China’s one child policy which is the inspiration behind the story.

The Adventures of Beekle – the Unimaginary Friend the Caldecott medal winning book from 2015 by Dan Santat also speaks of loneliness and finding that one person that makes it all better.  This book has also shown up on many of our lists and with good reason.

Say Hello by Jack & Michael Foreman shows what can happen when a simple hello is said.  This is a great book for middle schoolers as they sometimes don’t see the world as it passes them by.

An Angel for Solomon Singer by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Peter Catalanotto is a must add for any picture book loving classroom.  The story about Solomon who lives in a shelter and the small interactions that change his perspective is one that invites further reading and discussion.

A Piece of Home written by Jeri Watts and illustrated by Hyewon Yum is not published just yet, but can be pre-ordered and it deserves to be.  The story of how a boy moves from his home country and tries to make new connections is one that many of our students can relate to and one that is sure to prompt students to share their won stories of feeling out of place.

Leo: A Ghost Story written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Christian Robinson is a book that I love as long as I don’t think about why Leo is a ghost.  Once again it speaks of loneliness and the lengths we go to to try to make a friend.

Be A Friend by Salina Yoon is at the top of my mock Caldecott list for 2017.  Through its sparse text and beautiful illustrations it tells a familiar tale of what can happen when we stay true to who we are.

There are so many picture books out in the world, which do you love for starting conversations about loneliness and friendship?

To see the list of more of our favorite picture books, go here.