These featured books are from our Books Matter collection that teach about bias, promote respect for diversity and encourage social action. To help educators and parent/family members expand upon children’s learning from the book, each Book of the Month has an Educator Discussion Guide and a Parent/Family Discussion Guide, which provides discussion questions, activities, talking points and additional resources.
April 2018: Amazing Places
This collection of original poems brings together fourteen selections that celebrate through poetic imagery some of the amazingly diverse people and places in our nation. The poems as a whole take readers on an exciting multiethnic travelogue around the United States and encourage a positive appreciation of our country’s historical, environmental and cultural heritage. The inspiring and insightful poems were created by some of the best-known authors writing for children.
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Poems Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins; Chris Soentpiet and Christy Hale (Illustrators)
AGE GROUP: 7-10
She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World (March 2018)
Throughout U.S. history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what's right, even when they have to fight to be heard. She Persisted celebrates thirteen notable women who helped shape our country through their tenacity in their fight for social justice.
The Hate U Give (February 2018)
The uneasy balance between two worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer.
I Walk With Vanessa (January 2018)
This simple yet powerful wordless picture book tells the story of one girl who inspires a community to stand up to bullying.
Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles (December 2017)
Jacob has an autistic brother, Nathan, whose unusual behaviors get on Jacob's nerves but when his new friend Steven makes fun of Nathan, Jacob comes to his brother's defense.