#pb10for10 – Heise Reads & Recommends

#pb10for10 2021 – Remembering 9/11 20 Years Later

Jillian — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:20:33 +0000

With it being 20 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks this year, there are several new picture books out. Those in addition to some still in print from the last 20 years provide options for ways to enter into conversations about the events with students who were not yet born to experience that day and the following months to understand the historical impact of those events.

Beyond just sharing the picture books, it also offers an opportunity to start discussions of bias & hate through the anti-Muslim attacks that were perpetrated by those who were not looking out for the best interests of American communities. Why is this a default? Why do some hate others? Who gets blamed? Whose fault is it really? Why can’t they judge people for their character instead of their beliefs or skin or country?

Do not shy away from these conversations, and use them as an opportunity to connect to current Anti-Asian hate during the global pandemic we are living now. When we help kids, even our youngest learners, to start to see patterns of non-white people & citizens being blamed and attacked for things that are not their fault, it is a valuable lesson for helping build community & cultivate better citizens in this increasingly global world.

Available Now:
30,000 STITCHES: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag (Davis & Comport)
FIREBOAT: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey (Kalman)
SEVEN AND A HALF TONS OF STEEL (Nolan & Gonzalez)
14 COWS FOR AMERICA (Naiyomah, Deedy & Gonzalez)
THE SURVIVOR TREE (Aubin & Harrington)
SURVIVOR TREE (Colleen & Becker)
BRANCHES OF HOPE: The 9/11 Survivor Tree (Magee & Wong)
THIS VERY TREE: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth (Rubin)
THE MAN IN THE RED BANDANNA (Crowther Fagan & Crowther)
SAVED BY THE BOATS: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 (Gassman & Moors)

Out of Print:
SEPTEMBER ROSES (Winter)
THE LITTLE CHAPEL THAT STOOD (Curtiss & Golino)
SEPTEMBER 12TH: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right (H Byron Masterson Elementary)

Additional Reading:
AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell (Brown)

I appreciate participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event celebrating picture books and providing many fabulous #ClassroomBookADay choices every year. I inevitably end up with a longer wish list and shopping cart and a maxed out hold list at my library after reading all of the posts. So be sure to go check out other educators’ lists today at Reflect & Refine !

You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists at these links
2020 Ten Picture Books For This Time
2019 Ten Picture Books Honoring Family
2018 My Favorite Female Illustrated Picture Books of 2018
2017 Picture Books I Can’t Wait to Share with My Students as a Librarian
2016 Ten Picture Books to Build Classroom Community
2015 Ten of My New Favorite Picture Books I Am Most Excited to Share
2014 My Ten Favorite Picture Books of 2014 (so far)
2013 Ten Picture Books I Love the Most

#pb10for10 2020 | Ten Picture Books for This Time

Jillian Heise — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 17:00:00 +0000

This August is unlike any August before, but if there is one thing I know about picture books, it’s that they help us connect, empathize, and grow community with students in ways that go deeper than many other activities we do in classrooms. Because of that, and the unique situations educators are finding themselves in this year, I wanted to continue participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event celebrating picture books and providing many fabulous #classroombookaday choices. I inevitably end up with a longer wish list and shopping cart and a maxed out hold list at my library after reading all of the posts. So get ready, and then go check out other educators’ lists today at Enjoy and Embrace Learning!

I am often asked what books I recommend for that first week back with students. This year, it seems even more important to hit the right note from the start, after the uncertainty of the last five months and looking ahead to living within this pandemic schooling uncertainty for awhile yet. I already shared my #BuildYourStack lists of Ten Must-Share Picture Books of 2020 and I posted a list of 37 Back-to-School 2020 Recommendations recently. But beyond that, I wanted to focus this year’s Picture Book 10 for 10 on titles that I think are going to be especially needed and important for this time right now as we head back to school in a variety of ways.

So with this year’s Picture Book 10 for 10 list,
I chose titles that will welcome students back and support them in looking ahead, along with showing them they are cared for and have a place in the community being built. These are my recommendations for Ten Picture Books for Right Now that I hope will meet the unique needs of classrooms at this time and build a base for the future.

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

Ten Picture Books for Right Now

The Many Colors or Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar & Alea Marley

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow & Luisa Uribe

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes & Gordon C. James

Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Nielson

Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore & Xindi Yan

The Forever Sky by Thomas Peacock & Annette S. Lee

You Matter by Christian Robinson

Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall

I’m Worried Michael Ian Black & Debbie Ridpath Ohi

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Bonus Nonfiction Book: A Kids Books About Covid-19 is available as a free digital download!

These series of books are done so well with no illustrations but a focus on graphic design and lettering/layout. I appreciate having a straight-foward book to discuss the details of COVID-19 in an age appropriate way.

You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists at these links
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

#pb10for10 2019 | Ten New Picture Books Honoring Family

Jillian Heise — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 12:00:00 +0000

I always love participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event celebrating picture books and providing many fabulous #classroombookaday choices! I inevitably end up with a longer wish list and shopping cart and a maxed out hold list at my library. So get ready, and then go check out other educators lists today back at Reflect & Refine!

I’ve been thinking a lot about family this summer. With everything going on at the border and kids being separated from their families when seeking asylum, to kids who have been tragically lost in mass shootings or suicides, to some reflections around the reading about students of color and kids in poverty and trauma and the impact on families… they all have me thinking about my attitude toward, and assumptions I may make about, those who love those precious little lives in our buildings.

So with this year’s Picture Book 10 for 10 list,
I wanted to celebrate the sense of family in new & upcoming picture books,

in honor of the little humans I have the privilege to work with at school,

and those who love them and leave them in our charge each day.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illus by Juana Martinez-Neal
Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illus by Anoosha Syed
The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad & S.K. Ali, illus by Hatem Aly
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, illus by Zeke Peña
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, illus by Kaylani Juanita
Saturday by Oge Mora
At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorell, illus by Weshoyot Alvitre
First Laugh Welcome Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe & Nancy Bo Flood, illus by Jonathan Nelson
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illus by Daniel Minter
One Hug by Katrina Moore, illus by Julia Woolf

Seven of these titles are also ones I selected as

#cbadspotlight choices for the 2019-20 school year!

You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists at these links
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

#pb10for10 | My Favorite Female Illustrated Picture Books of 2018

Jillian Heise — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0000

My choice of theme this year was inspired by some of the conversation happening around #kidlitwomen & gender inequity in children’s literature. Especially the disparity in female winners/honors from the Caldecott award. The day after that post, #kidlitwomen posted this chart on the contemporary disparities courtesy of Jeanette Bradley.

This year for my picture book 10 for 10 list, I’m choosing to highlight & celebrate my favorite female-illustrated picture books of 2018.

And, yes, I had creative numbering again. LOL! I couldn’t decide between the two horse books and the two nonfiction books were both illustrated by the same person and I couldn’t choose between them, so I considered those two tied and included both.

(I mean, it wouldn’t be a top ten list of mine if I didn’t fudge the counting a little bit!)

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse illustrated by Corinna Luyken +

If I Had a Horse written & illustrated by Gianna Marino

ALMA and How She Got Her Name written & illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Festival of Colors illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Pearl written & illustrated by Molly Idle

Dreamers written & illustrated by Yuyi Morales

The Field illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara

All Around Us illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia

Friends Stick Together written & illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison

Mommy’s Khimar illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers AND Fur, Feather, Fin: All of Us are Kin

both illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists by clicking on the year:
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

2017 #pb10for10 (Picture Book 10 for 10)

Jillian Heise — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

I always love participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event to celebrate picture books that are must haves for my classroom to share with students and seeing what picture books everyone else shares. These would all be fabulous #classroombookaday choices also! I inevitably end up with a longer wish list and shopping cart and a maxed out hold list at my library. So get ready, and then go check out other educators lists today!

The thing is, I have such a hard time limiting things to just 10, so as you know if you’ve seen my posts before, I always get a bit creative with my numbering. And this year is even more special because I have a new job!

I’m transitioning from being out of the classroom as a literacy consultant into a new role as a K-5 school library media specialist.
I am beyond excited, especially to be back sharing books with kids again, and I approached this year’s list a bit differently because I’ve been thinking so much about the picture books I’m eager to share with students once we get back to school, but I also know the books I might choose to read with my K-2 kids might be different from what I choose for my 3-5 kids.
So with all of that in mind, I’m sharing my 10 books for K-2 AND my 10 books for K-5, PLUS my 5 I’ll for sure share with both grade level groups, so there’s another 10 when shared twice (I told you it was creative counting this year!). I know Cathy will call me out on this (I know, I know, I make it my own, but I love the concept!), but that’s ok, because it’s more love for picture books, which is always a good thing!

AND LAST YEAR’S POST…

2016 #pb10for10: I am a huge proponent of picture books in every grade, and used a picture book read aloud every day of the school year with my 7th & 8th graders when I was teaching, which led to #classroombookaday. When I heard about #pb10for10, Cathy Mere & Mandy Robek’s initiative to have teachers share a collection of ten picture books great for the classroom every year on August 10th, I knew I wanted to participate. I’ve participated every year since 2013 (2014 & 2015 lists), and although traveling and presenting PD this week made me a couple days late, I didn’t want to miss the chance to share some great picture book read aloud options.

I have many favorite picture books to share with students, but these are ten that were published this year or last that would be great choices to help build classroom community at the start of the school year.

You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists by clicking on the year:
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

2015 #pb10for10 (Picture Book 10 for 10)

Jillian Heise — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 12:30:00 +0000

For the past couple of years, I’ve been participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event to celebrate picture books that are must haves for my classroom to share with students. Plus, I love seeing what books everyone else has on their lists-I always find new books to check out.

This past school year, inspired by Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday for teachers during breaks, I decided to start a #classroombookaday daily picture book read aloud with my 7th & 8th graders. I introduced it on my teaching blog, and then presented on it at #nErDcampMI. I’m super excited that so many teachers are joining in committing to reading aloud a picture book to their students each day of the school year!

My #pb10for10 list this year is ten of

my new favorite picture books that I am most excited to share

with my classes when we get back to school in September.

BEYOND THE POND by Joseph Kuefler

I finished reading the F&G of this at ALA at actually wished I was still in school to read to kids.

MARILYN’S MONSTER by Michelle Knudsen, ill. Matt Phelan

Thank you, Franki, for introducing this book to me! Another one I was wishing I had middle schoolers around to read it to right away. Pair with Beekle.

WILD ABOUT US by Karen Beaumont, ill. Janet Stevens

I think this one will be my first day of school read aloud this year to talk about being ourselves and being accepting of others’ differences and why it makes them special.

THE BEAR ATE YOUR SANDWICH by Julia Sarcone-Roach

If they don’t understand unreliable narrator after this…

FLOAT by Daniel Miyares

Loved PARDON ME last year, & Miyares’ new wordless book is oh, so lovely!

THIS IS SADIE by Sara O’Leary

Some students might need this story.

I’M TRYING TO LOVE SPIDERS by Bethany Barton

A great example of fun voice in informational writing + it’s hilarious!

THE DAY THE CRAYONS CAME HOME by Drew Daywalt, ill. Oliver Jeffers

My students love the crayons, and I so loved this new one!

NINJA BUNNY by Jennifer Gray Olson

Last year’s NINJA! by Aree Chung made my students’ top 10, so this will be a hit.

WELCOME HOME, BEAR: A BOOK OF ANIMAL HABITATS by Il Sung Na

I adore the look of this book & am eager to discuss the grass isn’t always greener theme with my students.

And a bonus book..

because I already read it to my students last year, but it’s a new favorite (for my students and me), so I want to make sure people know about it!

TO THE SEA by Cale Atkinson

2014 Picture Book 10 for 10

Jillian Heise — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:24:00 +0000

I have been making a concerted effort to read more picture books in the last year, and with my work on the Wisconsin State Reading Association’s (WSRA) Children’s Literature Committee, it has given me even more reason to. And then, when I found out I would have an additional 10 minutes for each class period this coming year, I decided I would do a picture book #bookaday read aloud each of the 178 days that I see my students this coming school year. That’s a lot of picture books I need to know. Even more reason to share in my #pb10for10 post. Last year, since it was my first year participating, I chose to make the list my favorites. This year, I decided to think back on all the books I’ve read this year that are 2014 releases and do a list of my Top 10 Favorite Picture Books of 2014 (so far).

My #pb10for10 Favorite Picture Books of 2014 (so far)

Flight School by Lita Judge

Pardon Me! by Daniel Miyares

Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curato

My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee (wordless)

Hunters of the Great Forest by Dennis Nolan (wordless)

Froodle by Antoinette Portis

Pirate, Viking & Scientist by Jared Chapman

Over There (a Pixar Animation Studios Showcase) by Steve Pilcher

This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris

Picture Book 10 for 10

Jillian Heise — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 13:00:00 +0000

It’s the 4th Annual Picture Book 10 for 10, hosted by Cathy Mere & Mandy Roebek, and I’m so glad Cathy invited me to participate because I’ve been making it a priority to focus on reading picture books this summer, and am excited to share some that I love the most.

This was really hard to narrow down to a top 10 (as it always seems to be for me with books of any kind) and these are in no particular order. Some are old favorites I’ve used with students, and some are new favorites I’m looking forward to sharing with my students this year, and all make me smile and touch on themes I want my middle schoolers to think about and discuss.

ONE by Kathryn Otoshi

THE DOT & ISH by Peter H. Reynolds

I WANT MY HAT BACK & THIS IS NOT MY HAT by Jon Klassen

HOW ROCKET LEARNED TO READ & ROCKET WRITES A STORY by Tad Hills

THE WAR BETWEEN THE VOWELS AND THE CONSONANTS by Priscilla Turner

CREEPY CARROTS by Aaron Reynolds

PRUDENCE WANTS A PET by Cathleen Daly

ART & MAX by David Wiesner

THE STORY OF FISH & SNAIL by Deborah Freedman

WE ARE IN A BOOK by Mo Willems

+ 1 Non-Fiction Extra (Yes, I cheated a bit, but hey, it’s my blog and my list, & this is a beautiful book that I discovered this summer that I hope others discover, too.)

ON A BEAM OF LIGHT: THE STORY OF ALBERT EINSTEIN by Jennifer Berne