School and Community Winter 2024

Winter 2024 Book Recommendations

Pre-K/Early Elementary Problem Solved! by Jan Thomas Rabbit needs to clean her room so that she can go hippity-hoppity. Who better to help Rabbit than Pete, the problem solving porcupine? Readers will laugh out loud at Pete’s ideas for solving Rabbit’s problem. Pair this messy book with another humorous messy read, This Book is Perfect written by Ron Keres and illustrated by Arthur Lin. Book two of the Finn the Frog series (This Book is on Fire) was published by Buzzbook Press in 2023. A Story No One Has Ever Heard Before by Avi Steinberg Debut author Avi Steinberg walks his readers through a step-by-step storytelling process in this interactive picture book. Which of the three characters will the reader pick, and which problem will they solve in this story where anything can happen? Young authors learning the trade will also enjoy Ten-Word Tiny Tales: To Inspire and Unsettle by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by 21 different illustrators, and How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Big by Vashi Harrison This beautifully illustrated and moving picture book tells the story of a young girl that begins life with big dreams. As she grows, she has to endure harsh words that make her feel unworthy. She ultimately finds a way to love herself just the way she is. Big was named a 2023 National Book Award finalist and will surely win additional accolades throughout this winter.

Elementary Ali the Great by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Debby Rahmalia Ali Tahir is a Pakistani American second grader who learns that mistakes are an opportunity to grow. While things might not turn out as he originally expected, Ali’s creative problem-solving skills make this easy chapter book series enjoyable. Readers may be surprised to recognize Ali’s friend Yasmin (star of her own easy chapter book series by author Faruqi). What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon?: And Other Questions About Moths and Butterflies by Rachel Ignotofsky Brush up on your knowledge on the life cycles of both butterflies and moths in this nonfiction picture book. Abundant opportunities to compare and contrast both species are found throughout the short text blocks. Pair it with the Ready to-Read Graphics Level 1 fiction story Worm and Caterpillar are Friends written and illustrated by Kaz Windness. What’s Inside is a newer series that also includes the books What’s Inside a Flower?: And Other Questions About Science and Nature and What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest: And Other Questions about Nature and Life Cycles. She Kept Dancing: The True Story of a Professional Dancer with a Limb Difference by Sydney Mesher and Catherine Laudone, illustrated by Natelle Quick Sydney Mesher was born without a hand, but that didn’t stop her from her dream of becoming a professional dancer. In fact, this book tells of her journey to become the first Radio City Rockette with a visible disability.

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