Dragon Rider

Don’t miss out on the absolutely fantastic audio performance! Available at Audible Content Qualities Author: Cornelia Funke Genre: Fantasy Interest Age Range: 7 – 13 Optimal for Grades: 3 – 7 Guided Reading Level: V Questionable Content: (e.g. Profanity, Violence, Sex, Drugs)  Mild violence: some men try to grab a boy to remove him from a… Read more Dragon Rider

Top 3 Children’s Books for Teaching Kids to Embrace Diversity

Introduction It has often been said by philosophers, scholars, and educators alike, that our differences, amid human similarity, are what makes us strong as a family, a community, a nation, and a world.  But for the child, full of curiosity about the world around them, nowhere is this fundamental truth more tangible than in that special… Read more Top 3 Children’s Books for Teaching Kids to Embrace Diversity

A Visit to William Blake’s Inn

Annotation: Inspired by William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, this delightful collection of poetry for children brings to life Blake’s imaginary inn and its unusual guests. Check out the FREE ebook of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience at Project Gutenberg! Content Qualities 1982 Newbery Medal Winner Author: Nancy Willard Illustrators:… Read more A Visit to William Blake’s Inn

The Story of Louis Braille

“Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power.” (Louis Braille) Content Qualities Author: Russell Freedman Illustrator: Kate Kiesler Genre: Biographical Age Interest Range: 5+ (ANYONE) Optimal for Grades: 3 – 6 Guided Reading Level: S Lexile Level: 1000 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Overall Tone: Inspiring; Hopeful; Motivational Scariness: 0 Note: Sensitive children may be upset by the… Read more The Story of Louis Braille

Fish in a Tree

“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.” (Lynda Hunt) Content Qualities Overview Author: Lynda Hunt Genre: Contemporary Fiction Theme: Disability Awareness Interest Age Range: 11 – 15 Optimal for Grades: 5 – 8 Guided… Read more Fish in a Tree

The Eternity Elixir

Content Overview Author: Frank L. Cole Series: Potion Masters Book 1 Genre: Fantasy  Interest Age Range: 9 – 13 Optimal for Grades: 4 – 8 Questionable Content: (e.g. Profanity, Violence, Sex, Drugs)  Some violence, primarily involving fantastic, unrealistic elements such as mummies, skeletons, and magic potions. Adults try to hold tweens captive for brief periods of… Read more The Eternity Elixir

A Birthday for Frances

“Your birthday is always the one that is not now.” Content Qualities Overview Author: Russell Hoban Illustrator: Lillian Hoban Type: Picture Book I Can Read! Level 2: High-Interest stories for developing readers Interest Age Range: 4 – 9 Optimal for Grades: PreK – 3 Guided Reading Level: K Questionable Content: (e.g. Profanity, Violence, Sex, Drugs) Not Present Scariness:… Read more A Birthday for Frances

Haben Girma

“Society frames people with disabilities as incapable of contributing. And yet, these kids treat me like someone with gifts to share and lessons to teach.”  ― Haben Girma, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law In 2013, Haben Girma became the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, earning a Doctor of Law Degree.… Read more Haben Girma

The Secret Lake

Content Qualities Overview Author: Karen Inglis Genre: Mystery, Time Travel Adventure Interest Age Range: 8 to 12  Optimal for Grades: 4 to 6 Questionable Content: (e.g. Profanity, Violence, Sex, Drugs) Some violence, hinted at more than described Scariness: 2 Key: 0 = virtually none 1 = very mild, some parts may be slightly frightening to the youngest… Read more The Secret Lake