Books Like Me
James loves playing games! He doesn't know when to stop. His choices have consequences though, and James must learn a valuable life lesson about his power to choose!
James is a fun-loving child whose desire to have fun causes disruptions and hinders his classmates' learning. One day, a new girl joins their class and asks him a powerful question that gets James thinking about his behaviors and its impact on others. James learns a valuable lesson about balancing work and play and also about harnessing his own power to make positive choices.
James Plays Too Many Games is an amazing and powerful story that teaches children to consider their actions and also has layered messaging around global impact, being a good friend, working hard, earning trust and being a good citizen.
A Children's Book Council Summer 2024 Showcase: Imagination Celebration! Pick A young girl aspires to dance despite her disability
. Welcome to Sametown where everyone and everything is...well...the same. Except Mara! She's a little different. She's bright. She's sunny. And, unlike her classmates who are all planning on performing a similar magic show act at the school talent show, she is going to dance, dance, dance! One problem: everyone in Sametown - her classmates, her teacher-they all think she shouldn't do it. And it's not just (it seems) because dancing isn't the status quo in Sametown...It's because they just don't believe in Mara. Mara won't let their dissuading and even their heckling rock her spirit, though. She's Mighty Mara, and she's about to shake she some new life into her muted town. In the most surprising and beautiful of ways.
A boy has some unexpected encounters in his neighborhood in this wordless book about celebrating differences and building bridges.
In this wordless picture book, a Deaf boy and his mother enjoy a walk through their community. Together, they greet their neighbors, stop by the playground, spy a bird's nest in a tree and buy cookies at the grocery store. Later, they visit their new neighbors, a woman and her daughter, who have only recently immigrated from another country. Although the girl is shy, and the two kids speak different languages -- American Sign Language (ASL) and Arabic -- find a way to communicate and become fast friends.
This sweet story by critically acclaimed author Deborah Kerbel explores the art of appreciating the world and the people around us and finding points of connection. Deaf illustrator Isaac Liang lends his lived experience to the visual story, choosing details and perspectives that reveal the world as it's experienced by the boy. At the heart of the story is a timely message about breaking down barriers and finding common ground, no matter our differences. Wordless picture books engage children's attention to detail as they follow the narrative of the story in the pictures, building their visual literacy and critical thinking skills. This book has curriculum connections to social studies lessons on community building and immigration, as well as to the character education values of empathy and kindness. It also models the practice of welcoming newcomers to our communities. A few ASL signs are demonstrated and translated within the story.
Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Middle Grade
From the acclaimed actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author of The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy, comes a new middle grade novel about a gay Indian American boy who learns the power of using his voice. For fans of Merci Suárez Changes Gears and Better Nate Than Ever.
Thirteen-year-old Nikhil Shah is the beloved voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space. But when his mom temporarily moves them to the small town in Ohio where she grew up to take care of Nikhil's sick grandfather, Nikhil feels as out of orbit as his character.
Nikhil's fame lands him the lead in the school musical, but he's terrified that everyone will realize he's a fraud once they find out he has stage fright. And when a group of angry parents start to protest having an openly gay actor in the starring role, Nikhil feels like his life would be easier if only he could be Raj Reddy full-time.
Then Nikhil wakes up one morning and hears a crack in his voice, which means his job playing Raj will have to come to an end. Life on earth is way more complicated than life on television. And some mysteries--like new friendships or a sick grandparent or finding the courage to speak out--don't wrap up neatly between commercial breaks.
A Stonewall Book Award Honor Book
"The warmth of everyday gender euphoria is burnished to brilliant radiance" (BCCB, starred review) in this joyous picture book about a day in the life of a non-binary child. A child gets ready for a wonderful day. They gleefully get dressed, hug their parents, go to school, and play with friends. All the while, unapologetically reminding themselves that they are and can only be themselves. The non-binary experience is brightly illustrated as we follow our main character through their typical day. The story's bouncy and fun refrain reminds all readers of gender neutral pronouns and affirms the identities of non-binary children--encouraging readers to practice empathy for themselves and others.
"Did you know that constellations are ancient maps that help adventurers find their way?"
Rajiv has feelings for everything. He can feel confident. He can feel happy. He can feel silly. But today, he feels angry, and he doesn't know why. With the help of his father, he sets out on a journey to make sense of his feelings. It is a journey that will take him to a park, then up into the branches of a tree, and from there all the way to the stars . . .
Beautifully told and stunningly illustrated, this extraordinary story will help children everywhere explore the complex emotions we all feel but cannot always name.
A touching story of self-acceptance, Simply Skye is a great starting point for discussions of diversity and understanding others and building SEL skills.
"I advise you to tell no one about the gift unless you trust them implicitly."
Ever since Solimar was a little girl, she has gone to the ouamel forest bordering her kingdom to observe the monarch butterflies during their migration, but always from a safe distance. Now, on the brink of her quinceañera and her official coronation, Solimar crosses the dangerous creek to sit among the butterflies. There, a mysterious event gives her a gift and a burden--the responsibility to protect the young and weak butterflies with her magical rebozo, or silk shawl. Solimar is committed to fulfilling her role, and has a plan that might have worked. But when her father, the king, and her brother, the prince, leave on an expedition, a neighboring king overthrows the kingdom and holds everyone left in the village hostage. It takes all of Solimar's courage to escape and then embark on a dangerous journey to save her kingdom, but she's not alone. Her pet bird, Lázaro, the butterflies she protects, and a magical rag doll, Zarita, are with her. Then, at a precarious moment, she meets a river boy who knows the rapids. Even with help, can Solimar save her family, the kingdom, and the future of the monarchs from a greedy king? Middle-grade fans of Pam Muñoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising, will find a new Mexican heroine to love in Solimar and a fresh, magical story!