Good books have a soul, open our minds, our hearts and help guide our children. Good books are treasures. Included are coming-of-age stories to ponder, curiosity of others to contemplate and historical fiction for culture. Diverse characters and universal themes will resonate with all children at all levels of reading. Here is a list of a few, by grade levels that I can recommend.
Grades 1-3:
Call Me Tree / Llámame Arbol by Maya Christina Gonzalez
This story depicts the parallel journeys of a child growing up and a seed sprouting into a tree. It inspires young readers to be unique and respect their dreams.
Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk
Juna goes an an adventure to find her friend that moved away and she misses dearly. She finds herself making new friends along the way.
Little Melba And Her Big Trombone by Kathryn Russell-BrownLittle
Melba must overcome racial and gender bias through her hard work and talent as a trombone player.
Mama Panya’s Pancakes: A Village Tale From Kenya by Mary Chamberlin and Rich Chamberlin
This sweet story teaches the importance of sharing, even if there isn’t much to share. And includes a recipe for special pancakes.
If Kids Ran The World by Leo and Diane Dillon
Children from around the world come together to tackle and solve the problems of hunger, stress and world peace.
Grades 4-6:
Where the Mountain Meets The Moon by Grace Lin
Themes from Chinese folklore fuel this beautiful adventure through magical journeys and colorful characters to find answers to life questions.
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
One day 11 year old Jack disappears into the forest with a woman made of ice and the journey begins with Hazel’s quest to rescue him.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Great for sporty kid. A story about sports, school, race and a loving family.
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
Pre-teens spend a summer on the lake. This story touches on the sometimes awkward transitions of childhood to young adult.
Grades 7-8:
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
A poetic memoir and historical perspective of what it’s like to grow up during the civil rights era as the author sat at the back of the bus, learned about the death of Martin Luther King Jr., and watched the Black Panthers on television.
The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
The main character assembles a team to make sure that the school bully doesn’t win the election for student council president. It is clever and heroic.
Grades 9-12:
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
This High School senior experiences romance, religion, politics, feeling like an outsider, and a host of other real world issues in a whirlwind story.
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
A story to portray and give understanding to racial issues that plaque American neighborhoods everywhere.
I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
The beauty of twins and the loss that happens when they struggle with
coming-of-age and growing apart.
Yaqui Delgado Wants To Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
A latino teen character had to move to a new school and was faced with stereotyping and bullying. Because of it, she grew stronger and more secure.
