Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability: By Pat Thomas

 This book talks about how some people may be different in different ways, but how we should not make assumptions based only on looks.  It talks about how assumptions can make people feel left out, and how everyone is different in some way.  Everyone has things that are hard for them to do and things that are east.  It talks about how some people have special tools that help them.  

I would definitely use this book in my classroom.  It shows how everyone should be included, and how everyone is different in some way.  I think it could be used for any elementary student.  

Pop-up Peekaboo! Tractor: By Dawn Sirett

 This book takes place on a farm. Things keep getting lost, and the book prompts the reader to open a flap and find what was lost in a fun pop-up.  

This book would be a good book for kindergarten or maybe even pre-school.  I really like this book.  It is very fun and has a lot of sound effects.  It would be good for getting readers interested in reading and also to be fun with the pop-up effects.  

When the Shadbush Blooms: By Carla Messinger and Susan Katz

 This story is about children. They live in the same place their great grandparents lived.  They live off the land and work for their food.  This book tells of their lives throughout all the different seasons.  This book is about the Lenni Lenape.  

I think I would use this book in my classroom.  It would go well with a history lesson or a science lesson.  I think this would be good for around 3rd or 4th grade.  

Two White Rabbits: By Jairo Buitrago

 This is a book about a little girl traveling with her father.  She counts everything she sees.  There are many pages with only pictures, no words, showing what the girl is going to count.  She meets another boy who can not count very well.  

I am not sure if I would use this in my classroom.  I think it is a very cute book, but I am not sure what it would go with. I think it would be good for around 2nd or 3rd grade.  

Juna's Jar: By Jane Bahk

 This book is about the adventures Juna goes on after her friend Hector moves away.  She puts a fish, a plant, and a cricket into her jar.  Each of these takes her on an adventure, but she still misses Hector.  With the cricket, she goes to visit Hector.  He looks happy so she says goodbye to him.  In the end, she meets a new friend who finds a worm to put in her jar. 

I think I would use this in my classroom. It shows how Juna uses her jar to go on an adventure, but also how she finds a new friend.  I think this would be good for around 2nd-4th grade.  I would use is along with a science lesson probably about the different things outside like what Juna finds.  

My Name is Bilal: By Asma Mobin-Uddin

This book is about a boy named Bilal. He has just moved to a new school where he does not feel he belongs.  He is a Muslim and he is the only one in his class.  His teacher is also Muslim and knows his father.  He asks Bilal why he is trying to fit in and changing things about himself to make the other students like him.  Mr. Ali, his teacher, teaches him about the importance of his name, and where it came from.  He learns about his background and the background of his religion.  Bilal comes to accept who he is and stands up for his sister.  He tells everyone he is a Muslim.  He makes friends with the other boys and learns that another boy is also Muslim.  

I think this book was very interesting and a perspective I had never heard before. I think it would be appropriate for any elementary school student.  I think using this book in my classroom would depend on where I was teaching and the background of my students.  

The Day You Begin: By Jacqueline Woodson

 This book is about a little girl who is beginning at a new school.  She feels like she does not belong.  As each of her classmates share about their summer, her summer was completely different.  At the end of the story, she finally feels as though she belongs and likes her new school.  

I would use this book in my classroom. Everyone has either been the new kid
or had a new kid in their class.  I think almost any student can relate to this, and it is an important perspective for students who have not experienced this.  

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin: By Duncan Tonatiuh

 This book is about two cousins who write letters to each other.  One cousin lives in Mexico, and one lives in a big city in America.  They talk about things that they share in common, like a love of sports, and they also talk about the differences like the area they live in.  

I would definitely use this book in my classroom. I think it is a good book for any student to read.  I feel like it shows a very important relationship and also how to interact with others who are not from the same place or are not like you. For younger kids, it would pair well with just talking about which place is more similar to where they live.  For older kids, I think it could go well with maybe a writing assignment on writing letters or maybe even a pen pal assignment.  

Shiloh: By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

 Shiloh is a story about an abused dog named Shiloh and what happens when Marty Preston tries to save him.  Marty must keep Shiloh a secret so his family does not find out and also so his previous owner, Judd, does not find him.  

I don't know that I would use this book.  I think it could be a good story for older students, but it is too high of a reading level and maturity level for what I plan to teach.