A few books authored by Black writers that I’m looking forward to reading this February, including a most anticipated book (James) that will be published March 19, 2024.
1. The Trees: A Novel by Percival Everett —I’m reading this now. A tough opening of a book that tells of a series of brutal murders that take place in Money Mississippi. At each crime scene there is a second body of a man who resembles Emmett Till.
Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize Winner of the 2022 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Finalist for the 2022 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Finalist for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award Longlisted for the 2022 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
2. James by Percival Everett (published in March, 2024)— Oh what I would have given to have this book all those years ago when I taught Huck Finn. This is an insightful retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — all told through the eyes of Jim, an enslaved man making a bid for freedom on the Mississippi alongside Mark Twain’s Huck. I always thought Jim was the moral center of the novel.
A most anticipated book of 2024.
3. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward — What now feels like a few years ago, one of my book groups went on a reading spree of Ward’s books. Her fiction is often brutal and somehow at the same time compelling—connecting the past to the present. Her novels are intriguing and so language-rich. This is a story of enslavement as told by a teenage girl, Annis.
4. Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adejei-Brenyah —a debut story collection about growing up Black in the USA.
5. Survival Math: Notes on an All America Family by Mitchell S. Jackson—This summer I spent nearly a week in Portland, Oregon and this account of what Jackson terms, the Other America, surely resonates. The title of the work comes from the calculations Jackson and his family made to survive.
6. Spectral Evidence: Poems by Gregory Pardo — One aspect of this book of poems that caught my interest was the poetic focus on MOVE, the militant separatist group that was bombed by Philadelphia government in 1985. Last year, a painting of mine was selected to be the cover to a memoir by one of the few survivors of that bombing. The narrative biography, Osage Avenue: Coming of Age in the Summer of MOVE by Tony Gervasi was riveting, tragic, especially given the immense loss he suffers. I’m curious as to how this history translates to poetry.
I am in the process of designing four units of study with a group of public school teachers who work in the Bronx. One question I am asked (and was asked) is: How do you find so many great books? I decided to put together a response that they and you can access of resources and book companies I often use. Websites for Reviews of Children's Books
Favorite Independent Book Publishers of Children's Literature
Annick Press: Annick Press publishing children’s book for ages 6 months to young adult. They are “committed to publishing Canadian authors. You can find submission guidelines on their site. I have bought The Streets are Free and When I Was Eight. Both titles I would recommend.
Chronicle Books The masthead to their site reads, "see things differently." I think that summarizes well the books they produce. They do help me to see the world differently. Brendan Wenzel's Hello Hello is stunning.
Cinco Puntos PressLast purchase was All Around Us. I’m still puzzling over it—a good thing. I have purchased from them for a good amount of time.
Enchanted Lion Books I like everything about this book publisher. I love their books. Their site is under construction. This is A Poem that Heals Fish was great. I think they publish some of the finest children’s books. Visually amazing books.
Fifth House They are a bilingual publishing house often producing books in English/Cree. Dragonfly Kites is my latest purchase.
Orca Book Publishers If I remember right it was my search for Julie Flett books that first led me to Orca Book Publishers. They have quirky titles that fill in collection well. City Kids is a favorite.
Pajama Press - They published recently one of my favorite books, My Beautiful Birds. They are new to me.
Tara Books Their books are not ordinary. I like to browse these books as they are artful. For example, the fold out book - A VILLAGE IS A BUSY PLACE! is a great example of form and content mixing.
Tilbury House I am never disappointed with purchases of their published books. They are always stunning, artful, compelling works. Rogério Coelho's Boat of Dreams is one example. Wow.
Tradewind Books I love Julie Flett's books (authored and illustrated) and purchase all her books. Last purchase, A Day with Yayah. This has become one of my favorite publishing houses. They have an eye for choosing authentic and compelling books.
Text sets are collections of resources designed to support learning. Focusing on a concept or topic, a text-set collection often includes multiple genres such as books, e-resources, infographics, charts and maps, poetry, film, and songs, photographs, non-fiction texts, and other types of text. In this post I outline a few possibilities for grade 1.
Big Book
Galdone, Paul. (2014). The Three Bears. Boston, MA: HMH Books for Young Readers. Call and Response Texts
Guiberson, Brenda Z. (2010). Moon Bear. Illustrated by Ed Young. New York: Henry Holt and Co.
Hanson, Sony. Basketball. Illustrated by David Macri. Pembina, ND: Blueberry Hill Books. Level C/3
Harrison, Pat. Bear and Monkey. Illustrated by David Macri. Pembina, ND: Blueberry Hill Books. Level C/3
Martin, Bill. (2010). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Illustrated by Eric Carle. New York: Henry Holt. Level C/3.
Mitchell, Sara. Sleepy Bear. New York: Scholastic. Level C/3
Smith, Annette. (1997).Little Teddy and Monkey. Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. Rigby PM Stars. Level C/3
Lewis, Rose. Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Illustrated by Michelle Morse. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level C/4
Randell, Beverly. (2004). A Home for Little Teddy. Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. Rigby PM Reader. Level C/4
Early
from Baby Bear Goes Fishing.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Ben's Teddy Bear. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level D/5.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Father Bear Goes Fishing. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level D/5
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Teddy Bears' Picnic. Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. Rigby PM Reader. Level D/5.
McPhail, David. (2004). Rick is Sick. Boston, MA: HMH Books. D/6
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Blackberries. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. LevelD/6
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear Goes Fishing. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level E/7
Berenstain, Stan & Jan. (1968). Inside, Outside, Upside Down. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers. Level E/8
Randell, Beverly. (2004).Mother Bear' Scarf. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level E/8.
McPhail, David. (2007). Jack and Rick. Boston, MA: HMH Books. E/8
Maris, Ron. (1986). Are You There, Bear? New York: Puffin. Level F/9
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear's Present. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/9
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Honey for Baby Bear.Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/9
Asch, Fran. (2015). Just Like Daddy. New York: Scholastic. Level F/10
McPhail, David. (2007).Big Brown Bear/El gran oso pardo. Boston, MA: HMH Books. Level F/10
McPhail, David. (1998). A Bug, A Bear, and a Boy. New York: Scholastic. Level F/10
McPhail, David. (1993). Emma's Pet.New York: Puffin. Level F/10
McPhail, David. (2005). The Teddy Bear. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Level F/10
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear' Climbs a Tree.Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/10
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Eggs and Dandelions.Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level F/10
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear's Hiding Place. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/10
Dickey, Laurel. The Three Bears. Illustrated by Tracey La Rue Hohn. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level G/11
Dufresene, Michele. The Fishing Adventure. Illustrated by Cula Carmen Elena. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level G/11.
Mack, Stan. (2012). 10 Bears in My Bed. New York: Random House. Level G/11.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Mushrooms for Dinner.Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level G/11
Mattison, Ruth. The Story of the Three Bears. Illustrated by Max Stasiuk. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level G/12.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). The Bears and the Magpie. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level G/12
Randell, Beverly. (2004). House Hunting. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level G
Rendall, Jennie. When Goldilocks Went to the House of the Bears. New York: Mondo Press, Level G/12
Carlstrom, Nancy White. (1996). Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Illustrated by Bruce Degen. New York: Aladdin. Level H/14
McPhail, David. (1993). Lost!New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Level H/14
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Father Bear's Surprise. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level H/14
Nellie, Elsie. (2014). Why Bears Have Short Tails. Illustrated by Dale Newman. Rigby PM Stars. Level H/14
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). A Kiss for Little Bear. New York: Harper Collins. Level H/14.
Carlstrom, Nancy White. (1996). Guess Who's Coming, Jesse Bear. Illustrated by Bruce Degen. New York: Aladdin. Level I/16
Harrison, Pat. Sleeping Under the Stars. Illustrated by M. Wheeler. Pembina, ND: Blueberry Hill Books. Level I/16
McLeod, Emilie Warren. (1986). The Bear's Bicycle. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Level I/16
McPhail, David. (1992). Fix-It. New York: Puffin. Level I/16
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1978). Father Bear Comes Home. New York: Harper Collins. Level I/16
Rueda, Claudia. My Little Polar Bear. New York: Scholastic, Level I/16.
Stuart, Melissa. (2002). Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Illustrated by Marc Mongeau. New York: Scholastic. Level I/16
Wood. Audrey. (1984). The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear. Illustrated by Don Wood. Child's Play. Level I/16
Transitional
Asch, Frank. (1991). Bear's Bargain. New York: Scholastic. Level J/17
Asch, Frank. (2001). Goodbye House. New York: Scholastic. Level J/17
Asch, Frank. (2001). Good Night, Baby Bear. New York: Scholastic. Level J/17
Asch, Frank. (1999). Moonbear's Shadow. New York: Aladdin. Level J/17
Flack, Marjorie. (1971). Ask Mr. Bear. New York: Aladdin. Level J/17
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear. New York: Harper Collins. Level J/17.
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear's Friend.New York: Harper Collins. Level J/17.
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear's Visit. New York: Harper Collins. Level J/17.
from Bear Has a Story to Tell, Illustrated by Erin Stead
McPhail, David. (2000). Drawing Lessons from a Bear. New York: Little, Brown. Level K/18
Wilson, Karma. (2002). Bear Snores On. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. Level K/18
Stead, Philip C. (2012). Bear Has a Story to Tell. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press. Level K/18
At the beginning of the year I posted, Raising Activists: 100+ Books to Read in K-12. Since then some new books have been or will be published that I wanted to add. Here's a continuation...
