Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Books that promote kindness, social justice, and care for our planet
BOOKS THAT MATTER
ABOUT ME
I graduated from William Paterson University in 1962 where I earned my B.A. in Elementary Education. In 1969, I received my Masters in Language Arts Education and became certified in School Administration. I taught at the elementary and middle school levels and classes for the gifted. I was also employed as a reading consultant and principal of a K-8 public school. I concluded my career as a supervisor of student teachers at Montclair State University.
My primary interest has always been children's literature. I have held thousands of book talks and have given presentations on developing interest in reading.
CONTACT: kidslit.mustreads@gmail.com
BOB BLUMENTHAL
BOOKS THAT MATTER
ECOLOGY
JUSTICE
ACCEPTANCE
ACCEPTANCE
PEACE
CRITICAL THINKING
ACCEPTANCE
CRITICAL THINKING
CRITICAL THINKING
CRITICAL THINKING
ACTS OF KINDNESS
CRITICAL THINKING
CRITICAL THINKING
RELATIONSHIPS
APPRECIATING NATURE
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
APPRECIATING NATURE
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
APPRECIATING NATURE
APPRECIATING NATURE
DEALING WITH ADVERSITY
DEALING WITH ADVERSITY
DEALING WITH ADVERSITY
HISTORY/ HISTORICAL FICTION
HISTORY/ HISTORICAL FICTION
CIVIL RIGHTS
HISTORY/ HISTORICAL FICTION
BOOKS THAT MATTER
POETRY
SLAVERY
BIOGRAPHY/ AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY/ AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BOOKS THAT MATTER
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
GRADES - PRE - 3
SEE BELOW
For page numbers see More at the top of this page or scroll down to bottom
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
GRADES 7-9
CLICK GRADES
For page numbers see More at the top of this page or scroll down to bottom
PHYLISS WHEATLEY BOOK AWARD - NONFICTION WINNER
BORN ON THE WATER
AUTHOR - NIKOLE HANNAH JONES AND RENEE WATSON
GRADES - 2 - 5
😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪
HONORS/AWARDS👍👍
PHYLISS WHEATLEY BOOK AWARD - NONFICTION WINNER👍
given to the best book written about slavery in the past five years
CYBILS- 👍
seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 0 2021
A TIME MAGAZINE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2021
A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKS OF 2021
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS 2021
BARNES AND NOBLE BEST PICTURE BOOK - 2021
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF 2021
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - HOPE, SURVIVAL, UNDERSTANDING
A young black girl is asked to trace her roots as part of a school assignment. She doesn’t know anything about her family tree. She seeks help from her grandmother and learns about the lives her ancestors led before they were kidnapped and taken to America. Young readers will discover the hardships endured by slaves and how they kept the faith over many years in their struggle to be free. If you are searching for a way to explain “Why Black Lives Matter,” this book is a good way to begin your presentation.
GENRES - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, AMERICAN HISTORY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. If you were kidnapped and taken to another country, what would be your
biggest concern?
2. What do you think Black Lives Matter means?
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR
FREEDOM SUMMER
AUTHOR - DEBORAH WILES
GRADES - 2-4
😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿👍🏿
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR👍🏿
The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
ONCE UPON A WORLD CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 👍🏿
This award was established by Sonia Levitin and her family to “support and perpetuate the values and mandate of the Simon Wiesenthal Center & Museum of Tolerance by honoring children’s books … which deal with issues of tolerance, diversity, human understanding and social justice, thus inspiring a young reader to promote positive change in the world.”
EZRA JACK KEATS - NEW WRITER AWARD
EZRA JACK KEATS NEW ILLUSTRATOR AWARD
THEMES - INJUSTICE, RACISM, FRIENDSHIP
When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, it had dramatic effects across the South. In this story, the author presents Joe and John Henry, two boys who are best friends. Although one boy is white and the other is black, this does not present a problem for them as it does to the adults in their community. They swim together at a creek because the town pool is for whites only. When the new law mandates that the pool must be open for everyone, the boys rejoice. However, when they arrive at the pool, they learn that laws do not change attitudes. Wiles deals with the subject of racism in a manner that allows young readers to understand it.
GENRES -HISTORICAL FICTION - CIVIL RIGHTS
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Who got punished when the people of the town filled in the pool?
Everyone - Now it cannot be used by anyone.
2. Who was more disappointed? - Joe or John Henry? Explain.
John Henry - He had never used the pool before.
3. At the end of the story, you see Joe and John Henry entering the store to get
ice pops. What do you think will happen when they get inside?
Answers will vary. The store owner might not serve John Henry and tell
him to leave. The owner might also decide to obey the law.
4. How do you know that Joe was a good friend?
He bought ice pops for John Henry. He went swimming with him at the
creek. He has his arm around John Henry as they walk into the store.
5. Near the end of the story, Joe wants to see the town through John Henry's
eyes. What does that mean? He wants to feel what John Henry feels.
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 👍
HONORS/AWARDS 👍
ENDORSED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL👍
THEME - PEACE
A pigeon spreads the message of peace by delivering olive branches to other birds. While the illustrations match up perfectly with the lyrics, listeners will need some explanation. The last page shows all different birds being embraced by a larger bird next to the lyric - “and the world will live as one."
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Discuss the text and the illustration on page 9.
The pigeon is bringing an olive branch to the arguing seagulls.
2. Discuss the text and the illustration at the end of the book.
HENRY BERGH AWARD👍
BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW
AUTHOR - JOYCE SIDMAN
GRADES - 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿👍🏿
CYBILS AWARD FOR POETRY- 👍🏿
seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens.
HENRY BERGH AWARD- 👍🏿
For a person or organization who has made a unique, significant, and measurable impact on animal welfare
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S 100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING
THEME - APPRECIATION OF NATURE
How do you get children to appreciate nature? One way is to share Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. Outstanding illustrations and beautiful poetry produce the most vivid scenes nature has to offer. What makes this book so exceptional are the questions that appear following the poems, as listeners are asked to name the subject being described. Sometimes the answer is hidden in the picture; sometimes it is obvious. The pages after each two poems contain text which provides additional information about the subjects. You just couldn’t ask for a better read-aloud.
GENRES - POETRY, LIFE SCIENCE
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Would you rather be a deer or a tree? Explain
2. What is your favorite poem in this book? Why?
CHRISTOPHER AWARD ☮️
DOT, THE
AUTHOR - PETER H. REYNOLDS
GRADES - GRADES 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS 👍
CHRISTOPHER AWARD - 👍
given to authors that affirm the values of the human spirit by making a positive difference in the world.
CHAPMAN AWARD - for best classroom read alouds
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - SELF DISCOVERY, ENCOURAGING OTHERS, KINDNESS
If I were a school superintendent, I would ask my librarians to share this story with their children. The author challenges the creativity in all of us by focusing on a young girl who tells her art teacher that she cannot draw. The teacher responds by telling her to make a mark on a piece of paper. Then he asks her to sign it. The next time the girl enters the art room, she sees her art framed and hanging on the wall. She thinks she could do better, and her creative talents explode. The girl passes on this lesson to another child. This story of self-discovery has no age limit. While the book appears to be geared to primary readers, I would definitely share it with upper elementary students.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Why do you think the teacher framed Vashti’s dot?
He wanted to give her credit for trying. He also hoped she would build on her
success.
2. What do you think Vashti will do after she asks the boy to sign the paper?
3. Can a person be very creative and not know it? Explain.
PURA BELPRE ILLUSTRATION - HONOR
MY PAPI HAS A MOTORCYCLE
AUTHOR -ISABEL QUINTERO
GRADES - 1-3
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿👍🏿
PURA BELPRE ILLUSTRATION - HONOR - 👍🏿
The award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF 2019
PURA BELPRE ILLUSTRATION - HONOR👍🏿
BANK STREET CHILDREN'S BOOK COMMITTEE - BEST SPANISH LANGUAGE PICTURE BOOK AWARD
PARENTS MAGAZINE - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2019
NEW YORK TIMES - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2019
THEME -RELATIONSHIPS
A young girl bonds with her father as she goes on a motorcycle ride through her neighborhood. What a beautiful book.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. If you could do something special with a family member, what would it be?
2. Besides racing, what do you think the girl enjoyed the most about riding with
her dad?
NEWBERY MEDAL - WINNER
ONE AND ONLY, IVAN, THE
AUTHOR -KATHERINE APPLEGATE
GRADES - 3-6
HONORS/AWARDS
NEWBERY MEDAL -WINNER -
given to the author for the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.
NEW YORK TIMES - BESTSELLER
BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS - STARRED REVIEW YOUNG READERS' CHOICE AWARD - OLDEST AWARD CHOSEN BY CHILDREN
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
THEMES - ANIMAL RIGHTS, CARING
Based on a true story, Ivan, a silverback gorilla, was captured in Africa and taken to a mall in the United States where he lived for twenty-seven years. During that time, he never saw a live gorilla. He led a rather lonely life. After a public outcry, he was placed in the Atlanta Zoo.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S REALISTIC FICTION
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What do you think was the worst thing that happened to Ivan?
Answers will vary. Perhaps the death of Stella or the death of his parents 2. At the end of the story, Ivan was happy living in a zoo. Is a zoo a good place
for wild animals?
3. What did you like best about this story?
MO WILLEMS
MO WILLEMS
If your child is between the ages 2-7 and you haven’t introduced him/her to Mo Willems, you have a big treat in store for you and your child. Mo has a knack for capturing attention through his illustrations and his story lines. In addition, his characters follow a moral compass that fit the intent of this website.
I strongly urge the Knuffle Bunny books and the Elephant - Piggie series.
KNUFFFLE BUNNY
Mo’s art has been exhibited around the world, including major solo retrospectives at the High Museum (Atlanta) and the New-York Historical Society (NYC). Over the last decade, Willems has become the most produced playwright of Theater for Young Audiences in America, having written or co-written four musicals based on his books.
BIGGIE - VOLUME 1 ELEPHANT & PIGGIE SERIES
BIGGIE - VOLUME 1 ELEPHANT & PIGGIE SERIES
Author and illustrator Mo Willems has been awarded the American Library Association’s Caldecott Honor three times for his picture book illustration. Additionally, he is the recipient of two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors for his Elephant & Piggie early readers. Mo Willems is an American writer, animator, voice actor, and children's book author. His work includes creating the animated television series Sheep in the Big City for Cartoon Network, working on Sesame Street and The Off-Beats, and creating the popular children's book series Elephant and Piggie.
CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR
KNUFFLE BUNNY - A CAUTIONARY TALE
AUTHOR - MO WILLEMS
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS
CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR
IRMA AND JAMES BLACK AWARD - WINNER
Honoring outstanding books for young children in which text and illustrations are inseparable, each enhancing the other to produce a singular whole.
CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW AWARD - HONOR
The Charlotte Zolotow Award is an American literary award presented annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States during the preceding year.
HORN BOOK - FANFARE
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOK IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD
THEME - CARING
This is the first of the three Knuffle Bunny tales. Trixie, the baby leaves her bunny doll at the laundromat. Since she cannot talk, she cannot communicate with her father what just happened. Fortunately, Mom comes to the rescue and the crisis is over.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Did you ever lose a favorite toy? Did you feel like Trixie?
2. When Trixie started to cry, she went boneless. What does that mean?
CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR
KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO - CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
AUTHOR - MO WILLEMS
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS
COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER (CCBC)
A best of the year list of Pre-K-12 books created annually by librarians.
CALDECOTT MEDAL - HONOR
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION - NOTABLE BOOK FOR YOUNGER
CHILDREN
BOOK SENSE - CHILDREN’S PICKS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOKS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS
THEMES - CARING, UNDERSTANDING
This is the second of the three Knuffle Bunny tales. Two girls take their doll bunnies to preschool. Since the bunnies look alike, each girl takes the other one’s doll home. They discover their mistake at 3:30 in the morning and plead with their dads to get their bunnies back. The exchange was made and the next day two tired dads took their daughters to school. The girls, who were angry at each other at the beginning of the story, become best friends.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What would be a good reason to wake your parents up in the middle of the
night?
2. How do you think the girls knew they had the wrong bunnies?
CHRISTOPHER AWARD - WINNER☮️
KNUFFLE BUNNY FREE - AN UNEXPECTED DIVERSION
AUTHOR - MO WILLEMS
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS 👍
CHRISTOPHER AWARD - 👍
This award is presented to authors who "affirm the highest values of the human spirit by making a positive difference in the world." It is given by the Christophers, a Christian organization founded in 1945 by the Maryknoll priest James Keller.
COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER (CCBC)👍
A best of the year list of Pre-K-12 books created annually by librarians.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOKS
THEME - CARING
This is the third of the three Knuffle Bunny tales. A little girl leaves her favorite doll on a plane. For several days, she is grief-stricken. Then she feels better when she realizes that the doll might bring happiness to another child. On the return home, she finds the doll on the plane. She is overjoyed. Then she did something quite unexpected. She gave the doll to a baby who was crying. This made the baby happy as well as the other passengers.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
Do you have a favorite toy? Why do you like it
0NCE UPON A WORLD BOOK AWARD ☮️
THANK YOU, SARAH - The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving
AUTHOR - LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON
GRADES - 2-4
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿
ONCE UPON A WORLD - BOOK AWARD👍🏿
This award was established by Sonia Levitin and her family to “support and perpetuate the values and mandate of the Simon Wiesenthal Center & Museum of Tolerance by honoring children’s books … which deal with issues of tolerance, diversity, human understanding and social justice, thus inspiring a young reader to promote positive change in the world.”
OPPENHEIM TOY PORTFOLIO GOLD AWARD
THEME - PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
Share this book just before the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a most informative and interesting account of Sarah Hale and her quest to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. This determined woman persisted for over thirty years to accomplish her goal. She also supported schools for girls and argued against slavery.
GENRE - JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY, HISTORY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. If you could create a national holiday, what would it be?
2. There is a saying that "the pen is mightier than the sword."
How is that true in this story?