#pb10for10 10 Pictures Books for the First Weeks of School

August 10 has become one of my favorite days of the year--one of my favorite holidays. And this year, with the pandemic and closed libraries and no book gatherings with friends, I feel like I have not been able to keep up on picture books like I usually do. So, I am especially looking forward to #pb10for10 today. Thanks so much to Mandy Robek and Cathy Mere for hosting this fabulous event each year.  This year, lists are posted on Mandy's blog at Reflect and Refine. I can't wait to see all of the lists!

This year, I've been thinking of how important the beginning of the year is, and how books help us anchor community and literacy early in the school year.  Intentional book choice is always so important during those first weeks and months of school and with remote or hybrid learning, the books we share will be even more important.

I choose books that invite starting conversations that will extend through the whole school year. I want my students to know the joy of readings, the power of rereading, the connections that help you understand yourself and those that help you better understand others. I want them to see that in our intellectual community, their contribution matters.  The books I choose to share early in the year let me get to know my students and my choices also let my students envision what our community might become. 

This year's list is a list of 10 picture books I'd share early in the school year--not necessarily during the first day or weeks, but sometime over the first 6 weeks of school, I'd be sure to fit these in.

Below I've included links to the books as well as a downloadable/printable pdf of the list that you can download if that's more convenient.

You Matter by Christian Robinson

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker

A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith

Spencer's New Pet by Jessie Sima

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Dictionary for a Better World by Irene Latham and Charles Waters

Brave Molly by Brooke Boynton-Hughes

Saturday by One Mora

Be a Friend by Salina Yoon

Lift by Minh Lê and Dan Santat 

(All books are linked to Bookshop. Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Check out their "About" page for more info.)

Endpapers That Reward Readers

In Which the Endpapers Explain What Endpapers Are

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf and Grandma

In Which the Endpapers Make You Laugh

Nanette's Baguette

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

Carnivores

In Which the Endpapers Make You Wonder

The Book of Mistakes

Professional Crocodile

Ninja Red Riding Hood

In Which the Endpapers Give Away the End of the Story

Rodzillla

XO, OX: A Love Story

In Which You Need the Endpapers 

In Order to Understand the Story

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole

#pb10for10--Books to Start Conversation about Kindness

Kindness is something that we talk about all year.  So many books invite conversations about what it means to Choose Kind.  And for young children, building understanding across time is key. I have always used books such as Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson to invite conversations about the importance of kindness.  This book is a powerful one that we read and reread several times during the year. But I want my students to see kindness play out in many ways.  I want them to see kindness played out in a variety of situations.  And I want them to see that it is always a choice. So I am keeping a list of books in which the characters Choose Kind (or not) in different ways. Some are more obvious than others but I think this list of books will be a great list to visit and revisit during the year. Some of the titles focus on being kind to family and friend,s while others focus on choosing to be kind to strangers. Some are big acts of kindness while others are small everyday situations.  Some are new books and some are older titles. These are the first 10 books on my list and I hope to grow it as the year goes on.

Bella and Bean by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham

The Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson

To the Sea by Cale Atkinson

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson

Little Elliot, Big Family by Mike Curato

Olive and the Embarrassing Gift by Tor Freeman

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee

Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long

Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley