Required Reading #2

Alexander, K (2019). The crossover. Graphic novel. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Twin boys, Josh and Jordan play basketball under their father's skillful eye. Typical adolescent experiences get in the way for these brothers and their friendship. They also experience a tragedy that no family ever wants to experience.

Bishop, N. (2020). Joey: a baby koala and his mother. Scholastic Press

A beautifully photographed book follows the interaction between a baby koala and his mother, along with facts about their habitat.

Engle, M. (2019). Soaring earth. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

A companion memoir to Margarita Engle's Enchanted Air, Engles takes us through her trials and tribulations as a young teen moving into her college years. Amid the Vietnam War, she longs for travel and places she cannot reach. Many life lessons are made, but she soon finds peace in her studies and love, followed by hope.

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over broadway : The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

This is a true story about Tony Sarg. He first invented the helium balloons that have been made famous through the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This story captures Tony in his youth and how he grew up loving puppets!

Willems, M., & Ren, A. (2019). Because. New York: Hyperion Books For Children.

A cause and effect story that leads to the events of a lifetime for a little girl and her music.

Draper, S. M. (2018). Blended. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Isabella's parents are divorced, and she begins to feel the effects of being half black and half white. Every week, she has to be a new person, and people only see her with either her white mom or black dad, so they are very intrigued by her appearance. Her parents are always fighting and soon become engaged to different people at the same time. Nothing is bringing unity in this estranged family until Isabella and her brother are stopped by the police and an all too real interrogation begins.

Reynolds, J. (2017). Long way down. New York: Atheneum.

Will's brother was shot and killed on the streets. There are three rules for this kind of thing. Don't cry, don't snitch, and get revenge. Author Jason Reynolds takes you on a 60-second elevator ride with Will and seven ghosts who knew the boys. Will he get off the elevator and break the cycle, or will he follow the rules?

Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

Set in the times of the great depression, Bud is an orphan that sets off to follow the clues left by his mother to find his father. Lots of different emotions play a part in this telling story of a young boy and his hardships.

Garza, C. L., Rohmer, H., Schecter, D., & Alarcón, F. X. (1996). In my family. San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

Written in bilingual text, the author describes what it is like growing up in a Hispanic community and all the different traditions in her family. This book has clear illustrations and would be a wonderful addition to any library!

Scieszka, J. (2020). The water planet. Chronicle Books

A humorous adventure of four unlikely friends as they go on a search for plantet that is fit for humans after Earth has become unlivable.

Chin, J. (2020). Your place in the universe. Holiday House

This is a unique book with amazing illustrations that depict the size of things around us in the universe. Size, scale, and distance become a bit more understandable through these illustrations in this book.

Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: The unimaginary friend. Little, Brown and Company

After waiting long enough to become a child's imaginary friend, Beekle sets off to find the perfect friend. He travels far and wide and finally meets a little girl that has been looking for him as much as he has been looking for her!

Grimes, N. (2017). Bronx masquerade. Speak.

High school students are given the floor by their English teacher to tell the bits and pieces of their lives that would have otherwise gone unknown to their classmates. They are vulnerable and honest as they discuss their families, parents, becoming a parent, fears, body image, etc.

Hamilton, V., Dillon, L., & Dillon, D. (1993). The people could fly : American Black folktales. New York

The storytelling of 24 black folktales along with the stories behind them. This book is divided into four sections that show tales of animals, supernatural, freedom, and fantasy.

Myers, W. D., & Myers, C. A. (2001). Monster. New York: HarperTempest.

Steve is a film student with big aspirations. He is arrested and charged with murder and tells the story as if it were written in film. He recalls evenings when he can hear other jail mates being raped and beaten. Splashes of a film script and personal diary entries are filtered within the text of the story.

Carle, E. (2011). The artist who painted a blue horse. NY: Philomel Books.

A young artist paints animals in vibrant, imaginative colors.

Keats, E. J. (2011). The snowy day. New York: Viking Press

Peter wakes up to a snowy day in the city. He ventures off and makes tracks and angels in the snow!

Ringgold, F. (2016). We came to America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

It is a story of how people and families came to America with different races, religions, and backgrounds.

Lin, G. (2018). A big mooncake for little star. New York: Little, Brown

Mother and daughter make a big mooncake. Little Star is told to wait to eat the cake but nibbles at it each night. The story takes us through the phases of the moon!

Yang, K. (2018). Front desk. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic.

Immigrants from China soon find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Desperate for work and money, this small family finds themselves running a motel with a horrible owner that refuses to pay them fairly or keep them safe. Unlikely friendships begin to unfold, and having the trust and love of the community ultimately pays off!