Building Community in Primary Grades: 15 New Must Have Books for this Fall

from  Salsa: Un poema para cocinar / A Cooking Poem (Bilingual Cooking Poems). 

Argueta, Jorge. (2015). Salsa: Un poema para cocinar / A Cooking Poem (Bilingual Cooking Poems). Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. Translated by Elisa Amado. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.

I love this series of books that Jorge Argueta has created. This is sure to be a favorite with the children. An ultimate how-to book. You and your students will love making this salsa recipe.

from Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox.

from Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox.

Daniel, Danielle. (Metis)  (2015). Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.

Time to make masks and emulate the text! An introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals, told through 12 brief speakers who explain their chosen mask, such as deer, moose, beaver. 

from How the Sun Got to Coco's House

Graham, Bob. (2015). How the Sun Got to Coco's House. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

A book to read aloud to start the day.

from The Little Gardner

Hughes, Emily. (2015). The Little Gardner. London, UK: Flying Eye Books.
An original tale to delight over and images to savor.  After reading this, make art with the kids. Bold colors.

from A Fine Desert Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat.

Jenkins, Emily. (2015). A Fine Desert Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. New York: Schwartz & Wade.
Now this is a history book children will beg to hear again and again.  Make the recipe that traveled across four centuries.

from Bright Sky, Starry City

Krishnaswami, Uma. (2015). Bright Sky, Starry City.  Illustrated by Aimee Sicuro. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
What I love about this book is the mixture of story (a little girl and her dad want to see the night sky in the city) and science (afterwards) wrapped up in child-like illustrations.

Kulling, Monica. (2015). Grant and Tillie Go Walking. Illustrated by Sydney Smith. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
Based in part on the life of artist, Grant Wood, mixed with a bit of fiction.  Grant and his cow go for a walk.

from Sidewalk Flowers

Lawson, JonArno. (2015). Sidewalk Flowers.  Illustrated by Sydney Smith. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
A wordless book to dwell on. Small things, small gestures often yield big feelings. A treasure.

Messner, Kate. (2015). How to Read a Story. Illustrated by Mark Siegel. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
10 easy steps.  Step 1: Find a story. Step 2: Find a reading buddy and so on...A delightful romp through reading.  You'll read this one over and over again.

from Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle

Paul, Miranda. (2015). Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle. Illustrated by Jason Chin. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
A book to wonder about, together. Told through poetry. Oh my. Jason Chin's art is lush.

from The Tea Party in the Woods

Miyakshi, Akiko. (2015). The Tea Party in the Woods. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press.
An original fairy tale to read aloud. A study in minimal color.

from What James Saw

Rosenberg, Liz. (2015). What James Saw. Illustrated by Matthew Myers. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
A book about misunderstandings, art, and friendship.

from Beautiful Birds.

Roussen, Jean. (2015). Beautiful Birds. Illustrated by Emmanuelle Walker. London, UK: Flying Eye Books.
An ABC book to read and reread.

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. (2015). I Used to Be Afraid. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
Another book for students to emulate. I can imagine a wall story being made by young children borrowing the structure of this text.

from How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz.

Winter, Jonah. (2015). How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz. Illustrated by Keith Mallett. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
This demands to be read out loud!  Introduce the children to language that riffs and Jelly Roll Morton.