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Early Elementary Book List
These texts tell a great story while empowering young people to create positive change. Many of these stories for young learners speak to themes like fitting in, making friends and allies, and standing up for oneself or one's friends and family.
Click on a book or scroll down for full list:
by Alma Flor Ada, illustrations by K. Dyble Thompson
Themes: Language, Identity
A young girl starting at a new school struggles when her teacher insists on calling her “Mary” instead of "María." María Isabel is a charming, bright Latina protagonist who, in talking to her teacher about her true name, shows a great act of courage. Includes some Spanish phrases, positively depicts a working class family. Because María seems fairly young, more likely to appeal to 1st-3rd graders than older grades.
by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Themes: Fitting In, Friendship, Working Class Families
A moving text about wants and needs. Jeremy, a young Black boy in a diverse school, dreams about getting a pair of black sneakers with two stripes like his classmates wear, but when his grandmother, who has been saving up, sees the price, "she sits down heavy." Jeremy tries wearing the too-small pair they find at a resale shop, and spends a few days with his "too big feet shuffling around in my too-small shoes," whistfully saying, "sometimes shoes stretch." Eventually, though, he finds a better owner for these shoes--Antonio, whose shoes are taped up and who is the only boy who didn't laugh at the shoes Jeremy had to borrow from the principal. A refreshing story told by the kid who gets old things from the principal's office, instead of about him. Cartoonish illustrations are delightfully fun and present kids with varying body types.
One Green Apple
by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ted Lewin
Themes: Language, Immigration, Muslim Americans
Farrah leads the reader through her second day at a new school in the United States--she has just moved from an unspecified Muslim country, whose name she hears mentioned by the other children, "but not fondly." Farrah is a bright and quick but senses that her new classmates think she is alien and slow because she does not speak English and because she is different. This book can anchor a lesson on differences and compassion. Can also be paired with other immigrant stories such as Milly Lee's Landed.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat
edited by Nikki Giovanni
Themes: Poetry, Music, Family, Identity, and More
Giovanni, author of Rosa brings us a collection of poems by writers such as Eloise Greenfield, Jacqueline Woodson, Langston Hughes, Sugarhill Gang, Tupac Shakur and Lauryn Hill. These poems affirm dignity, hope, love, spirituality, and striving, through rhyming beats. Hip Hop Speaks to Children includes a CD recording of performances by the original artists. A fantastic edition to any classroom, it is great both for read-alouds, writing exercises, and for small group or independent reading.
by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Themes: Family, Friendship, Art
Meet Danitra Brown is the tribute of one Black American girl, Zuri, to her best friend Danitra. Through thirteen rhyming poems, Grimes introduces themes of friendship, loyalty and sticking up for oneself. Danitra helps Zuri feel pride in her single-parent family: " 'You've got it good,' Danitra says when I am sad. 'Your mama loves you twice as much. Is that so bad?'" Danitra develops some of her own rhyme schemes, so that this book can help young writers acquire tools for powerful self-expression. Beautiful illustrations present everyday moments in an African-American community.
by Isaac Millman
Themes: American Sign Language
Moses Goes to School is the third book in Isaac Millman’s illustrated series about Moses, a deaf boy who attends a New York City public school for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Millman includes diagrams that allow readers to learn to sign parts of the story. Moses, the main character, is white, as is his teacher, Mr. Samuels. Moses’ classmates and other teachers are multiethnic and the illustrations present delightfully realistic classrooms that children will recognize and relate to. In Moses Sees a Play, Moses befriends a hearing boy who speaks only Spanish. There are many links for teachers to talk about differences and diversity, and children will enjoy mastering some sign language phrases. Kindergartners through middle elementary grades alike.
Just a Minute and Just in Case
by Yuyi Morales
Themes: Spanish language, Mexican-American Culture, Academic Concepts
These award winning-titles introduce Spanish language and core academic concepts through Mexican-American trickster tales. Beautiful illustrations and repetition in sentence structures draw in young readers.
by Peggy Moss, illustrated by Lea Lyon
Themes: Bullying, Differences, Standing Up for Oneself
Say Something has become an anchor text for bullying prevention campaigns around the country. A young girl initially feels satisfied that she does not participate when she witnesses teasing. When the teasing turns on her, she decides she can no longer be a bystander. The final page of the story in which she talks to the girl who sits alone on the bus affirms small, every-day actions as part of social change. The illustrations in this book present children of many skin tones and body types--among the most beautifully illustrated and true to life portrayals of a diverse student body.
by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund, illustrated by Genevieve Cote
Themes: Class, Homelessness, Domestic Violence
A beautifully and humorous book that touches on serious issues. In seven year old Lily's class, each child brings in a new toy for show and tell. As Lily watches each presentation, she gets butterflies in her stomach that turn into grasshoppers, then bunny rabbits, then donkeys, etc. Lily and her mother have just left Lily's father, who had a "bad temper and sometimes hit her mom and hurt her," and they left behind all her toys. Lily's descriptions of life in the shelter are poignant and never rely on stereotypes. The ending, in which Lily's classmates embrace her presentation of her "magic beads" provides a model for children to follow. Features teacher and classmates with diverse names.
by Genevieve Petrillo, illustrated by Lea Lyon
Themes: Abilities, Sports, Friendship
Davey is new at school, and as his classmates learn, he's blind. In this moving text, Davey's classmates learn how much Davey can do on his own, and Davey learns that just like other kids, sometimes its okay to ask for help.
by Kathryn Otoshi
Themes: Organizing, Standing Up for Oneself, Empathy
One is a gorgeous book that renews the simple and powerful message of strength in numbers. It has wondrously broad appeal--it is appropriate for preschoolers (and reinforces concepts like colors and counting!) and early adolescents, as a metaphor through which they may discuss their social roles and relationships. We meet a small blue drop who sometimes wishes he could be more sunny like yellow, more bright like green, etc. Red is a hot-headed color who runs the other colors over and makes Blue feel bad about himself. One comes to town and helps the colors turn into numbers, adding up into a group that takes Red on--and even convinces Red to join them. One models and celebrates organizing and empathy. An essential text.
by Elinor Batezat Sisulu
Themes: Civics, Apartheid, Family
A young girl's family experiences joy and celebration as black South Africans win the right to vote. Informative, touching and jubilant. A wonderful text for a lesson on voting, democratic action, and as a comparison to social movements in the United States.
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James Lagarrigue
Themes: American History, Youth Movements, Civil Rights
A young girl tells the story of the Greensboro sit ins. Like Skarmeta in the The Composition, Weatherford does a fantastic job presenting political struggle through the eyes of a child—when Connie’s father says Dr. King is coming to town, Connie asks, "who’s sick?," confusing him for a medical doctor. When Dr. King preaches, "she likes his booming voice" but doesn’t understand all of his speech. The fact that Dr. King provides encouragement in this struggle, while Connie’s siblings and neighbors are actors, will help children understand social movements beyond heroes. Connie’s family is middle/professional class and—educators might discuss the unique role of students in social movements. This book is a great introduction to the Civil Rights Movement and also has notes of complexity—Connie’s aunt from New doesn’t have time for the "silly rules" of the South, and a white woman congratulates the A&T boys at the lunch counter. These figures allow for a discussion of complexities of geography and race. Weatherford offers accompanying lesson plans.
by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Themes: Identity, Friendship, Black-White Relations (U.S.)
A beautiful story told from the perspective of a young African American girl growing up in a rural area where adults tell black children and white children not to play together. Clover becomes curious about a lonely white girl who lives on the other side of her family's fence, and makes a bold move in deciding to join the girl on the fence. Clover becomes a leader, as her African-American friends who were hesitant decide to sit on the fence too, hoping that some day someone might knock it down. An excellent text for introducing the history of segregation or sparking discussion about leadership and seeking commonalities. Can be paired with other stories about inclusion, such as Moss's Say Something and Otoshi's One. Also see Woodson's Coming On Home Soon.
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