In addition, we spent the past year in an ELA curriculum adoption cycle at my school. Throughout the process of selecting a knowledge building curriculum that still supports our literacy values I was reminded of something that is at the heart of my work: read alouds have a place in our schools and classrooms at every level. #ClassroomBookADay is not going away. One thing I know for sure is that a high volume of intentionally selected read alouds gives us an opportunity to create joyful experiences around text and provide so many more benefits. It evens the playing field for all kids by making text accessible. It allows us to connect more deeply to topics and themes and build background and content knowledge. It provides opportunities to bring in representation that might otherwise be missing from the rest of the curriculum. And that brings value to the time we dedicate to read aloud. Think back to your school experiences: what was most memorable to you? I’d be willing to bet there is a read aloud or two that made a strong enough impact on your developmental years that you still remember it to this day. And that still matters for today’s kids to have.

So, what am I doing with this post? Reminding myself, and all of you, of what matters. Reclaiming this space as a place for my personal reflection and learning through writing about education and librarianship and books. But also relieving myself of the pressure to *have* to post regularly. Having this space is important, and I hope you find value in the posts it contains, but I also need to find that balance more and more, so this is that disclaimer that when I have something to say, I will share it, and I hope you stick around for those periodic times.

This has always been a space for me to recommend books – and with the Caldecott Committee year, that has to be on a hiatus – but it will be back next year. And goodness am I excited to tell you about some of the 2025 picture books that have blown me away! But that will have to wait until after the announcements of the winners and honors in January.

In the meantime I am continuing to deepen my understanding of art in children’s literature and growing more detailed in my critical analysis skills. And we have a long way to go yet – it’s only June! That has been one of the most unanticipated aspects of this experience so far, for which I am so grateful: I hadn’t realized being part of the committee is also like taking a college course about children’s literature! It has been fantastic to do that reading alongside so very many picture books.

There are parts of the award committee process that we are required to keep confidential forever to provide a safe environment in which to have deep and honest discussions throughout the reading year and deliberation discussions. That said, I am able to share my personal opinions about any books after the committee part is completed and announced. And I can’t wait for that, so please stick around for the book recommendations to come when that time arrives!

To that aim, I decided to test out a format for my new idea with an AANHPI resource. And I am offering it for half off for this sneak peek release! Even though we are halfway through May, these books are still good for reading and sharing any time of the year. This particular list ended up with 330 titles you could choose from!!

There are two parts to the resource, both available as editable Google files on my ko-fi shop:
One is a Doc file with all of the cover images for the picture books I recommend for that month – easy to just copy and paste into your printing template for your cbad display. The other is a Sheets file with the basic information for all of the tiles: author, illustrator, publication year, series, fiction or nonfiction, awards, & themes/topics in BISAC Subject Headings. Plus checkboxes for own, favorite (pre-filled with my favs to narrow down the list), and tracking which ones you’ve read. The spreadsheets can be added on to month after month as a whole file or separate tabs to best meet your organization preferences.;)

Each monthly list will be offered as individual files ($4 for covers, $5 for database) or $7 for the bundle of both. There will be 12 for a whole year’s worth of recommendations.

And you can pre-buy a membership subscription – with the files emailed throughout the 2024-25 school year – for 1/2 price bundles!

Building a Year of #ClassroomBookADay Lists

August: Back-to-School & Community Building
September: Hispanic Heritage Month
October: Spooky Season & Elections/Voting
November: Native American Heritage Month
December: Family & SEL
January: Disability / Neurodivergence / Mental Health
February: Black History Month
March: Women’s History Month
April: Arab American Heritage Month & Earth Day
May: Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage & Jewish American Heritage Month
June: Pride Month
July: Holidays Throughout the Year

Be sure to check out my ko-fi shop for all my #ClassroomBookADay resources, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

There will never be one specific list to read because #ClassroomBookADay is intended to be responsive to your classroom/school community’s needs. But I have shared so many recommendation lists of titles in many places, and I recognize that accessing the recommendations means going to various spots and they are not always easily searchable. And, yes, the book covers will always take time to find and format.

This summer I decided to take some time to try to centralize this information to make it as easy as possible for you to incorporate #ClassroomBookADay into your teaching! By getting recommendations all together into one searchable document, you’ll be able to find things more quickly and easily and having the covers ready to go makes things much faster. That being said, this was A LOT of time and effort (pretty much full time work for almost a month of my summer) as it was compiling 9 years worth of recommendations in various places, so they are not free resources. At the same time, if they aren’t what you need, you can still freely access any of the information I’ve shared in the same places it has always been!

And you will now be able to access all of the specific, consolidated resources available for purchase on my Ko-Fi shop page at any time!

The new things you will now find available:

1. Digital Display Grid you can edit to make your own with yearly, semester, quarterly, biweekly, and weekly slides.
2. #ClassroomBookADay Official Logo Signage for your display.
3. Google Slideshow (in 2 parts) with pre-sized covers of all the picture books I have recommended in the first 9 years of #ClassroomBookADay in alphabetical sections (1500+ titles!!). Also included is a template for printing one week at a time that you can copy/paste the covers from the slides into. You will get a force copy link upon purchasing from my ko-fi shop. A searchable resource to easily find the book covers you need that you can edit/add to for yourself and your own collection.
4. Google Spreadsheet with the title of all the picture books I have recommended in my curated lists during the first 9 years of #ClassroomBookADay (1500+ titles!!) Includes author/illustrator, nonfiction, SEL, diversity, ownvoice, spotlights, thematic lists, calendar connections, awards and honors, topics, and checkboxes for own/read/fav. A sortable and searchable resource that you will get a copy of to sort, edit, and make your own.
5. #ClassroomBookADay BUNDLE: Includes both the Slide & Sheet resources in one bundle for a lower cost.

Things you might find in the future:

1. Thematic Lists/Cover Images in the same formats that you can easily download and copy/paste into the two main resources above.
2. Yearly updates in June for any titles I recommended during the previous school year. Will include both the Sheets database & Slides covers.
3. A #ClassroomBookADay Start Pack with resources and lots of tips.

If you have any questions about the resources, don’t hesitate to reach out! I hope these are helpful and supportive of your efforts to include this powerful element with your classroom community. I’m always open to feedback on what’s working well or requests for future resources!

Three years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, I started curating monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. I called it #cbadSpotlight. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year as you work to be inclusive and thoughtful with your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org
to support indie bookstores + my work.

April 2023 #cbadSpotlight Titles

Harold the Iceberg Melts Down

Accompanied by Rebecca Syracuse’s bold, whimsical artwork, Lisa Wyzlic’s debut picture book Harold the Iceberg Melts Down is all about the importance of friendship and self-care, perfect for any young reader worried about their planet’s future.
Harold is an iceberg… lettuce. (But he doesn’t realize the “lettuce” part because part of his sticker has ripped off.) So one day when he sees a documentary about how the icebergs are melting, Harold starts to worry, thinking that he’s melting too.
As his anxiety grows and grows, and he tries to find a way to stop melting, his fellow food friends try to help him cool down in a different way.

To Change a Planet

One person.
Small, quiet,
insignificant.
But when one person,
and one person,
and one person
become many,
they can change
a planet.
Spare, poetic text and breathtaking pictures invite readers on a stirring journey that gently illuminates the causes of climate change as well as how our individual and collective actions can make the world better.
With calm, truthfulness, and beauty, To Change a Planet demonstrates the importance of caring for our planet. Eye popping explosions of color on every page create a stunning visual narrative that invites readers to find and follow the same characters through their daily lives and ultimately to a climate march on Washington, where their storylines converge.
Clear endnotes vetted by a climate expert answer a myriad of questions in simple language. Meticulously researched and brimming with hope and hands-on solutions that will edify and empower even the youngest readers, To Change a Planet is a loving ode to our only home and vital for every child, classroom, and family.

If You’re a Kid Like Gavin

A celebratory and empowering story from young trans activist Gavin Grimm, two-time Stonewall Award-winning and Newbery Honor-winning author Kyle Lukoff, and illustrator J Yang follows the true story of how a young boy stood up for himself–and made history along the way. A Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Best Book of the Year!
When you’re a kid like Gavin Grimm, you know yourself best. And Gavin knew that he was a boy–even if others saw him as a girl. But when his school took away his right to something as simple as using the boy’s restroom, Gavin knew he had a big decision to make.
Because there are always more choices than the ones others give you. Gavin chose to correct others when they got his pronouns wrong. He asked to be respected. He stood up for himself. Gavin proved that his school had violated his constitutional rights and had the Supreme Court uphold his case–bringing about a historic win for trans rights. There are many kids out there, some just like Gavin Grimm, and they might even be you.
What choices will you make?

Yoshi and the Ocean

Lindsay Moore chronicles the remarkable true story of Yoshi, a loggerhead sea turtle who traveled an astounding 25,000 miles after being released from the aquarium that rehabilitated her. Informational and awe-inspiring, Yoshi and the Ocean is a gorgeous picture book about patience, perseverance, the ocean, and finding your way home. A transformative story about the incredible journeys animals make and the interconnectedness of the natural world.
In 1997, a young loggerhead sea turtle was rescued from the ocean after an injury to her shell. The fishermen who rescued her named her Yoshi and took her to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. She was rehabilitated there and grew stronger–and larger!–every day. She also became one of the most popular exhibits at the aquarium. After twenty years in captivity, Yoshi was released back into the ocean and traveled more than 25,000 miles in 1,003 days to find her way home. A tracking device on her shell transmitted data about her journey to marine biologists and turtle enthusiasts of all ages around the world.
Lindsay Moore’s gorgeous watercolor paintings enrich her moving, lyrical, and informative text. This picture book touches on topics such as conservation, oceanography, natural selection, the food chain, currents, and geography, making Yoshi and the Ocean an ideal choice for parents, teachers, librarians, and anyone interested in nature and the ocean. Includes a map of Yoshi’s journey, information about sea turtles and how you can help them, and additional resources.

May 2023 #cbadSpotlight Titles

The Carpet

This poignant story, about an Afghan refugee child and the family carpet that connects them to home, inspires readers to live and learn in love, not fear
We sip our tea and talk together,
Ruby cushions of goose feather.
The carpet is for sitting.
The Carpet follows a day in the life of an Afghan refugee child, where every moment revolves around love, family, and the carpet that connects them to home. The carpet is the centerpiece of family life, where meals, stories, laughs, and memories are shared. This moving story, inspired by the author’s life, celebrates what makes a home–no matter where you are.

You Will Do Great Things

From Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and book club founder Amerie, You Will Do Great Things is a lyrical, magical picture book about the great possibilities that lie ahead for our little ones, featuring illustrations by Raissa Figueroa.
A young boy’s imagination takes off as he gazes at family photos, whisking him off on a fantastical journey. Along the way, the boy tries exciting and bold new things, ventures into unexplored worlds, and forms deep connections with his multicultural heritage and the ancestors who imbue him with the strength and courage to make a difference.
Amerie has written a moving, sweeping, and deeply loving story that is inspired by her own family. It is a celebration of everything our little ones have yet to do: the great, the amazing, the strange, and the new. It’s also a lasting reminder that the loved ones in our lives will always be right there beside us–and in our hearts–cheering us on. An absolutely perfect gift for special moments from baby showers and new baby celebrations, to graduations, and everything in between.

My Powerful Hair

From the award-winning and bestselling author of We Are Water Protectors comes an empowering picture book about family history, self-expression, and reclaiming your identity
Our ancestors say our hair is our memories,
our source of strength and power,
a celebration of our lives.
Mom never had long hair–she was told it was too wild. Grandma couldn’t have long hair–hers was taken from her. But one young girl can’t wait to grow her hair long: for herself, for her family, for her connection to her culture and the Earth, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her.
From Carole Lindstrom, author of the New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner We Are Water Protectors, and debut illustrator Steph Littlebird comes an empowering and healing celebration of hair and its significance across Indigenous cultures.

Tomatoes for Neela

Padma Lakshmi, bestselling author and host of Bravo’s Top Chef and Hulu’s Taste the Nation, and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal team up in this celebration of food and family.
“Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of cooking with the women in my family. It is the foundation for all I have spent my life working on.” -Padma Lakshmi
Neela loves cooking with her amma and writing down the recipes in her notebook. It makes her feel closer to her paati who lives far away in India. On Saturdays, Neela and Amma go to the green market and today they are buying tomatoes to make Paati’s famous sauce. But first, Neela needs to learn about all the different kinds of tomatoes they can pick from. And as Neela and Amma cook together, they find a way for Paati to share in both the love and the flavors of the day.
Bestselling author and host of Bravo’s Top Chef and Hulu’s Taste the Nation Padma Lakshmi takes young readers on an intergenerational journey full of delicious flavors and fun food facts that celebrates a family’s treasured recipes. And Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal brings this circle of women to life with vivid detail and warmth. Tomatoes for Neela lovingly affirms how we can connect to other cultures, as well as to our own, through food.

Catch up on prior month’s #cbadSpotlight selections

If you missed any of the 2019-2022 selections, be sure to check them out!

Three years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, I started curating monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. I called it #cbadSpotlight. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year as you work to be inclusive and thoughtful with your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org
to support indie bookstores + my work.

March 2023 #cbadSpotlight Titles

In My Mosque

Don’t miss out on this beautiful celebration of Islam and mosques as spaces for spiritual gathering!
Step in and discover all the rituals and wonder of the mosque in this lyrical debut picture book from M. O. Yuksel, with gorgeous artwork from New York Times bestselling illustrator Hatem Aly. A great conversation starter in the home or classroom, this book is perfect for fans of All Are Welcome and The Proudest Blue.
No matter who you are or where you’re from, everyone is welcome here. From grandmothers reading lines of the Qur’an and the imam telling stories of living as one, to meeting new friends and learning to help others, mosques are centers for friendship, community, and love.
M. O. Yuksel’s beautiful text celebrates the joys and traditions found in every mosque around the world and is brought to life with stunning artwork by New York Times bestselling illustrator Hatem Aly.

Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place, the Nation’s First Shelter for Women

Before Kip Tiernan came along, the US had no shelters for women. Here is the inspirational story of a singular woman and what her vision and compassion have brought to life.
“Justice is not three hots and a cot. Justice is having your own key.” –Kip Tiernan
When Kip Tiernan was growing up during the Great Depression, she’d help her granny feed the men who came to their door asking for help. As Kip grew older, and as she continued to serve food to hungry people, she noticed something peculiar: huddled at the back of serving lines were women dressed as men. At the time, it was believed that there were no women experiencing homelessness. And yet Kip would see women sleeping on park benches and searching for food in trash cans. Kip decided to open the first shelter for women–a shelter with no questions asked, no required chores, just good meals and warm beds. With persistence, Kip took on the city of Boston in her quest to open Rosie’s Place, our nation’s first shelter for women.
Christine McDonnell, a former educator at Rosie’s Place, and illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov bring warmth to Kip Tiernan’s story of humanity and tenacity, showing readers how one person’s dream can make a huge difference, and small acts of kindness can lead to great things.

The Astronaut With a Song for the Stars

If you have a mission, a dream to explore, but no one like you has achieved it before…
Meet Dr. Ellen Ochoa-a determined space pioneer with a stellar symphony of talents.
Growing up in a family of immigrants, Ellen dreamed of becoming a professional flutist, but all of that changed when she discovered engineering in college. Though she was told that field of study wasn’t for girls, the bright young scientist refused to give up-ultimately becoming a NASA astronaut who shattered barriers and rocketed to success!
The Astronaut With a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa is the fourth book in a riveting educational series about the inspiring lives of amazing scientists. In addition to the illustrated rhyming tale, you’ll find a complete biography, fun facts, a colorful timeline of events, and even a note from Dr. Ochoa herself!

Some Bodies

Our bodies! Our amazing, astounding, and all-around awesome bodies! Bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and can do extraordinary things. Our bodies are uniquely our own yet they connect us to the world around us in so many ways. Through playful rhymes and colorful engaging artwork, all the things that make our bodies special–from the texture of our hair to the color of our eyes–are celebrated. This sweet and inclusive book encourages young readers to acknowledge and accept differences, and offers the perfect opportunity to open up conversations about body acceptance. Every body is different and all bodies are good. Back matter includes tips and conversation starters for parents and educators to use with children.

Catch up on prior month’s #cbadSpotlight selections

If you missed any of the 2019-2022 selections, be sure to check them out!

Three years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, I started curating monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. I called it #cbadSpotlight. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year as you work to be inclusive and thoughtful with your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org
to support indie bookstores + my work.

Though we should, of course, read books about Black history, characters, experiences, and joy all year long, for Black History Month I wanted to put a specific focus on several newer books that will add a valuable perspective to your read aloud rotations.

A few other posts I’ve shared in recent years with more book recommendations honoring and celebrating Black lives and characters & using/discussing them in the classroom:
*Books to Pair – A Text Set Celebrating / Honoring / Uplifting Blackness (January 2023)
*#ClassroomBookADay Recommendations: Black Joy & Excellence (February 2022)
*100 Picture Books Including Black People and Communities & Why You Need Them (May/June 2020)
*Updated – Honoring Black Lives: A Virtual Picture Book Library (June 2020/January 2022)
*Is it offensive to say Black? Conversations We Can’t Avoid in the Classroom (February 2018)

February 2023 #cbadSpotlight Titles

An American Story

#1 New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author of The Undefeated, Kwame Alexander, pens a powerful picture book that tells the story of American slavery through the voice of a teacher struggling to help her students understand its harrowing history.
From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people’s struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament to the resilience of the African American community, this book honors what has been and envisions what is to be.
With stunning mixed-media illustrations by newcomer Dare Coulter, this is a potent book for those who want to speak the truth. Perfect for family sharing, the classroom, and homeschooling.

Because Claudette

From NYT bestselling author Tracey Baptiste comes a singular picture book that is both a biography about Claudette Colvin, the teen whose activism launched the Montgomery bus boycott, and a celebration of collective action.
When fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin boarded a segregated bus on March 2, 1955, she had no idea she was about to make history. At school she was learning about abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, which helped inspire her decision to refuse to give up her seat to a white woman, which led to her arrest, which began a crucial chain of events: Rosa Park’s sit-in nine months later, the organization of the Montgomery bus boycott by activists like Professor Jo Ann Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Supreme Court decision that Alabama’s bus segregation was unconstitutional–a major triumph for the civil rights movement.
Because of Claudette’s brave stand against injustice, history was transformed. Now it’s time for young readers to learn about this living legend, her pivotal role in the civil rights movement, and the power of one person reaching out to another in the fight for change.

The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale

In his author-illustrator debut, Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe-and Africana Book Award-winning illustrator Charly Palmer spins a tall tale about a neighborhood basketball hero.
Have you ever heard of Gravity? No, not gravity, the centrifugal force pulling us to the Earth. I’m talking about Gravity–the greatest ball player to ever lace up a pair of sneakers.
Gravity is the new kid on the Hillside Projects basketball team, the Eagles. He once jumped so high that his teammates went out for ice cream before he came back down. With Gravity on their side, the Eagles feel unstoppable. They’re ready to win “The Best of the Best,” Milwaukee’s biggest and baddest pick-up basketball tournament. But when they face-off with the Flyers in the final round, the winningest team in the whole city, they realize that it may take a little more than Gravity to bring them to victory.
Here is a clever, energetic story about the unsung superstars walking among us, complete with vivid art and heartfelt themes of teamwork, loyalty, friendship, and fun.

My Red, White, and Blue

A powerful story about the mixture of pride and pain that one Black family finds in the American flag, and an invitation for each of us to choose how we relate to America, its history, and the flag that means so many things to so many people.
What does the American flag mean to you?
For some, it’s a vision of hope and opportunity. For others, it represents pain and loss. And for many, it’s more complicated than that–a symbol of a nation where the basic ideas of freedom and equality are still up for debate.
From slavery and segregation through Rosa Parks and Barack Obama, the history of Black people in America is a mixture of pride and pain. And while the flag might mean different things to different people, with some choosing to kneel and others to salute, ultimately, it is up to each of us to decide: the American flag is ours to see and relate to as we choose.
In this powerfully validating story that showcases many facets of Black American history through the eyes of a young Black boy in conversation with his grandfather, we are all invited to choose how to relate to America, and to the flag that means so many things to so many people.

Catch up on prior month’s #cbadSpotlight selections

If you missed any of the 2019-2022 selections, be sure to check them out!

Three years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, I started curating monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. I called it #cbadSpotlight. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year as you work to be inclusive and thoughtful with your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org
to support indie bookstores + my work.

January 2023 #cbadSpotlight Titles

Dragon Dancer (for Lunar New Year Jan. 22)

It is the eve of Chinese New Year. Lanterns are hung in the shopping malls of Singapore and Yao is preparing to wake the ancient sky dragon, Shen Long, from his year-long sleep. From the moment Shen Long opens his great amber eyes and unfurls his silver-blue tail, Yao will be propelled on a magical journey through the skies of Singapore to battle the bad luck of the previous year and usher in the good. Will he succeed? Will his grandfather watch over him and protect him from harm? A beautiful story of a Chinese festival and its symbolism for Chinese communities everywhere, told from the perspective of Yao, the dragon dancer.

I Hope

Poignant words from award-winning Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith about all the hopes adults have for the young people in their lives.
The hopes we have for the children in our lives are endless. We want our young people to thrive and experience all that life has to offer, but we also feel protective of them. Using simple but powerful statements, Monique Gray Smith delivers a touching message about loving, nurturing and wishing the best for our children. Paired with Gabrielle Grimard’s warm and enchanting illustrations, the message in I Hope will resonate with all parents, grandparents and caregivers.

Bravo Anjali!

For Anjali, playing the tabla is something that comes naturally. She loves the feel of the drum beneath her fingers and getting lost in the music. But when the boys in her class give her a hard time for being better than them, she messes up on purpose.
When her teacher announces a contest where the winner will get to perform with him at his next concert, Anjali is distraught. Winning the contest would be a dream for Anjali. But it seems like the better she gets, the meaner some of the kids are.
In this follow-up to Always Anjali, Anjali realizes that she should never let anyone make her feel bad for being good at something. An important story for all children to remember to never dim their light.

Jack Knight’s Brave Flight

High-flying history is brought to life in this suspenseful story of an unknown and daring pilot named Jack Knight, who in 1921 flew his biplane straight into a blizzard over America’s heartland and saved the US Air Mail Service in the process.
When Jack Knight takes off in his biplane from North Platte, Nebraska, in 1921, hundreds of people crowd the airstrip. Is Jack transporting a famous passenger? Is he ferrying medicine for a sick child? Nope–Jack has six sacks of mail.
For the past few years, biplanes like Jack’s have been flying the mail only during daylight hours. Flying after dark is risky and crashes are too common, so lawmakers decide to cut funding for the US Air Mail Service. Outraged officials and pilots want to prove that flying the mail is best, so they concoct a plan–a coast-to-coast race.
But when a crash, exhaustion, and a snowstorm ground three of the planes, Jack Knight becomes the race’s only hope. All he has to do is fly all night long, leaning out of the plane to see, and navigate a blizzard over land he’s never covered with an empty fuel tank. Will Jack pull it off and save the Air Mail Service?

Catch up on prior month’s #cbadSpotlight selections

If you missed any of the 2019-2022 selections, be sure to check them out!

This past month got away from me, and I just realized I hadn’t yet posted my #cbadSpotlight selection for December. But there’s still time to request these from your library and share for your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds this month!

Three years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, I started curating monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. I called it #cbadSpotlight. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year as you work to be inclusive and thoughtful with your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org
to support indie bookstores + my work.

December 2022 #cbadSpotlight Titles
Dad Bakes

Dad wakes early every morning before the sun, heading off to work at the bakery. He kneads, rolls, and bakes, and as the sun rises and the world starts its day, Dad heads home to his young daughter. Together they play, read, garden, and—most importantly—they bake.

This lovely, resonant picture book was inspired by muralist Katie Yamasaki’s work with formerly incarcerated people. With subtle, uncluttered storytelling amplified by her monumental and heartfelt paintings, she has created a powerful story of love, of family, and of reclaiming a life with joy.

The Little Things: A Story About Acts of Kindness

One girl’s simple act of kindness causes ripples in her community in this story about paying it forward

The day after a mighty storm, a little girl finds a sea star that has washed up on shore, and she returns it to the ocean. Seeing her small act of kindness, an old man heads to an animal shelter with his grandson to pick a dog in need of a home. His grandson feels inspired to help an elderly woman clean up her yard, which inspires a teenager to pack an extra lunch for someone in need, and on and on until each small gesture builds toward a magnificent conclusion.

Red and Green and Blue and White

Inspired by a true story, this is a tale of a community that banded together to spread light.

It’s a holiday season that both Isaac, whose family is Jewish, and Teresa, whose family is Christian, have looked forward to for months! They’ve been counting the days, playing in the snow, making cookies, drawing (Teresa) and writing poems (Isaac). They enjoy all the things they share, as well as the things that make them different.

But when Isaac’s window is smashed in the middle of the night, it seems like maybe not everyone appreciates “difference.”

The Field (in honor of the World Cup happening now)

“Vini! Come! The field calls!” cries a girl as she and her younger brother rouse their community—family, friends, and the local fruit vendor—for a pickup soccer (futbol) game. Boys and girls, young and old, players and spectators come running—bearing balls, shoes, goals, and a love of the sport.
 
“Friends versus friends” teams are formed, the field is cleared of cows, and the game begins! But will a tropical rainstorm threaten their plans?

Catch up on prior month’s #cbadSpotlight selections

If you missed any of the 2019-2022 selections, be sure to check them out!

{Links to previous year’s back-to-school recommendation lists 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018}

This year, as I attempted to narrow down the list, I realized just how many “old” favorites I wouldn’t have space for. So I decided to share a list of newer choices as well as a second list of perennial favorites that many educators doing #ClassroomBookADay have found successful in varying circumstances and communities so they aren’t forgotten. And it was still SO difficult to have to condense these lists!

I still ended up with 50(!!) titles on the Favorites list! We are incredibly lucky to have a wealth of high-quality, inclusive, engaging, impactful picture books available to use in recent years. So get your hold requests ready as we head back-to-school soon (or maybe you already have – starting in a new district this year I was much later in getting this post done than I anticipated)!!

PERENNIAL #ClassroomBookADay FAVORITES to Kick Off the Year

The Rabbit Listened
Allie All Along
Not Quite Narwhal
Strictly No Elephants
Jabari Jumps
There Might Be Lobsters
Mixed: A Colorful Story
Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Can I Give You a Squish?
The Field
I’m Trying to Love Spiders
Always Anjali
After the Fall
It’s Not All Rainbows
Where Oliver Fits
My Teacher is a Monster! No, I Am Not.
When Aidan Became a Brother
The Name Jar
When We Are Kind
Our Skin
My Friend Maggie
I Walk With Vanessa
The Perfect Seat
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
Prince & Knight
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh
Drawn Together
The Day You Begin
Your Name Is a Song
All Are Welcome
Be a Friend
Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse
Be Kind
The Big Umbrella
Under My Hijab
Wild About Us
Bernice Gets Carried Away
Flight School
Pardon Me!
Meet My Family! Animal Babies and their Families
A Friend For Henry
One
Explorers of the Wild
Stick & Stone
Too Tall Houses
Bluebird
Claymates
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
Don’t Touch My Hair!

You can shop this list & many more for your personal or classroom collection at my Bookshop page!

One of the questions I often get about #ClassroomBookADay is how the teacher can keep track of all the books. One participant suggested using a Google Sheet that populates from a Google Form as a way to easily keep track of cbad books with themes & ideas they support. So I started a very quick, basic Google Form you can copy & use for your own – this link will force a copy when you click it. You can preview a live example below! (please don’t fill it out from here, though. It will not go anywhere you would be able to access.) It shows the format & start of options (I didn’t go very far with themes) so you can see what it will look like.

Feel free to adjust response options and add sections as needed for yourself, but this is at least a general starting point.

To use the Form to auto-populate a spreadsheet, once you’re in the Form, click on the Responses tab at the top, then click on the Sheets icon. It will create a new spreadsheet and you will see the column headings ready to go.

I hope this is helpful for keeping your #ClassroomBookADay digitally organized and useful!

Three years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, I started curating monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. I called it #cbadSpotlight. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

In order to be able to be more responsive, I release titles three months at a time. I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year as you work to be inclusive and thoughtful with your #ClassroomBookADay read alouds! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org to support indie bookstores + my work.

September 2022 (Back-to-School!)
This Is a School (back-to-school)
My Name is Saajin Singh (honoring identities & getting names right)
A Case of the Zaps (anxiety)
A Small Kindness

October 2022 (continuing Hispanic Heritage Month)
I’m Sorry
Leila the Perfect Witch (Latinx author/illustrator & Halloween)
Jacob’s Room to Choose
The Starkeeper

November 2022 (Native American Heritage Month)
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field (World Cup starts 11/20!)
Powwow Day {See my interview with them!}
Be a Good Ancestor
Show the World!

If you missed any of the 2019-2022 selections, be sure to check them out!

Register at https://heisereads.ticketleap.com/

#ClassroomBookADay 101
Tuesday, July 19^th @ 11:00–12:30

Selecting Inclusive Texts through a Critical Lens for #ClassroomBookADay
Thursday, July 21^st @ 2:00–3:30

All times Central!
Cost:  $22 for 1 session, $36 for both sessions
Recording:  Available for registrants through July 25^th
Qs? Contact Jillian… heisereads@gmail.com or @heisereads

#ClassroomBookADay Summer Virtual Learning

#ClassroomBookADay 101
Tuesday, July 19^th @ 11:00–12:30

Selecting Inclusive Texts through aCritical Lens for #ClassroomBookADay
Thursday, July 21^st @ 2:00–3:30

All times Central!
Cost:  $22 for 1 session, $36 for both sessions
Registration:  Links forthcoming at heisereads.com
Recording:  Available for registrants through July 25^th
Qs? Contact Jillian… heisereads@gmail.com or @heisereads

Two years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, the concept evolved a bit to include curated monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. And #cbadSpotlight was born. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

In order to be able to be responsive and thougtful, I now release titles three months at a time. I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org to support indie bookstores + my work.

March 2022 (Women’s History Month)
Sharice’s Big Voice
An Equal Shot: How the Law Title IX Changed America
The Year We Learned to Fly
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything

April 2022 (Poetry Month)
Mario and the Hole in the Sky (Earth Day 4/22)
The Me I Choose to Be
Amira’s Picture Day (Ramadan 4/2-5/2)
Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail (Passover 4/15)

May 2022
What the Road Said
Ten Beautiful Things
This Is How I Know
The World Belonged to Us (pre-order for 5/10 publication)

December 2021 – February 2022 Selections

September – November 2021 Selections

If you missed the 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 selections, be sure to check them out!

Two years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, the concept evolved a bit to include curated monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. And #cbadSpotlight was born. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

In order to be able to be responsive and thougtful, I now release titles three months at a time. I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org to support indie bookstores + my work.

September – November 2021 Selections

If you missed the 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 selections, be sure to check them out!

Two years ago, for the 5 year anniversary of #ClassroomBookADay, the concept evolved a bit to include curated monthly recommendations to provide deeper book knowledge, support of a broader range of book creators, and create a way to have common books for participating educators to discuss. And #cbadSpotlight was born. Each month, September-May, I share four titles that I think deserve special attention and a place in your classroom read aloud rotation.

In order to be able to be responsive and thougtful, I now release titles three months at a time. I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this school year! 

Shop for your #cbadSpotlight books at bookshop.org to support indie bookstores + my work.

If you missed the 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 selections, be sure to check them out!

*In order to be able to be responsive and sensitive to the times we are in, this year I released titles three months at a time.* I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this fall! 

Here are the next three months of the 2020-2021 #cbadSpotlight selections!

March 2021: The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story Standing on Her Shoulders: A Celebration of Women Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars She Was the First: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm.

April 2021: The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals You Are Home Zonia’s Rain Forest

May 2021: Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away LIFT I Got Next I Am the Storm

You can shop this list at Bookshop to support independent bookstores + my work.

February 2021: Black is a Rainbow Color M is for Melanin Eyes that Kiss in the Corners My Rainbow

January 2021: Freedom Soup I Can Write the World Fauja Singh Keeps Going I Talk Like a River

December 2020: Can I Give You a Squish? When We Are Kind What Is Given From the Heart The Paper Kingdom

November 2020: We Are Water Protectors Binny’s Diwali The Arabic Quilt Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala

October 2020: I Am Every Good Thing What Riley Wore The Next President Gustavo the Shy Ghost

September 2020: You Matter A Friend for Henry Your Name is a Song Danbi Leads the School Parade

September 2019: The King of Kindergarten, Alma and How She Got Her Name, The Day You Begin October 2019: Let Me Finish!, Mixed A Colorful Story, The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh November 2019: Bilal Cooks Daal, The Field, Fry Bread December 2019: Don’t Touch My Hair!, Saturday, The Patchwork Bike January 2020: I Will Be Fierce!, A Big Bed for Little Snow, When Aidan Became a Brother February 2020: My Papi Has a Motorcycle, The Roots of Rap, The Proudest Blue March 2020: At the Mountain’s Base, Festival of Colors, Astro Girl April 2020: Prince & Knight, I Wonder, Where Are You From? May 2020: Under My Hijab, The One Day House, Our Favorite Day

*In order to be able to be responsive and sensitive to the times we are in, this year I will be releasing titles three months at a time.* I hope you find titles you are excited about, some new to you, and ones that will support your efforts with your students this fall! 

Here are the next three months of the 2020-2021 #cbadSpotlight selections!

You can shop my lists at Bookshop to support independent bookstores + my work.

If you missed any of my sessions during the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Virtual Convention, you have 60 days to access them through the platform if you were registered. 

My sessions are listed below along with links to slides or videos of my portion if possible to share now.

Native Voices: Bringing Indigenous #OwnVoices
Into Your Classroom {moderated panel}

How Words and Pictures Come Together {roundtables}

#BuildYourStack:
Unapologetically Me: Characters Confidently,
Courageously, and Proudly Themselves

To kick off the new school year, I partnered with Penguin Classroom to do a #ClassroomBookADay Facebook Live celebrating DANBI LEADS THE SCHOOL PARADE
by chatting with author/illustrator Anna Kim
about her absolutely gorgeous and touching debut picture book. 

I completely adored Danbi the instant I read her story, so much so that I chose it as a #cbadSpotlight pick for September 2020. It is a perfect back-to-school book since it takes place on Danbi’s first day at a new school in America, but it is also a universal story about being accepted as the new kid, especially one learning a new culture. 

If you have not yet read it, don’t wait to order your copy at Bookshop to support independent bookstores! Enjoy this video of my chat the gracious Anna.

Danbi ClassroomBookaDay Event from Penguin Classroom on Vimeo.

Back in the first month of staying at home, before we all had Zoom fatigue, I had the honor of talking with
Minh Lê & Dan Santat about their newest collaboration, LIFT. 

This is an author & illustrator pair who are not only amazing at their work, but also a lot of fun to chat with. And LIFT is a beautifully done picture book about the ways we see the world, family, and the power of imagination.

If you have not yet read it, don’t wait to order your copy through Bookshop to support independent bookstores! And enjoy this video of my chat with Minh & Dan. 

Minh Lê, Dan Santat, & Jillian Heise discuss LIFT from LB School on Vimeo.