Teaching with Books
Teaching with high-quality children’s literature matters. Constructivist teachers use authentic literature - all types of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and articles daily across the curriculum to engage students in learning.
Over 100 children’s literature titles are recommended in Constructivist Teaching by Heart. We use this page to share a wide variety of additional children’s books we love. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your own “very favorite book in the whole wide world!” (Look up this title by Malcolm Mitchell.) Spoiler: The main character couldn’t find a book he likes until he wrote it himself.
Check out this text set centered on: MAKING A DIfference
Each of these books depicts teachers who make a difference in children’s lives. Use this text set to teach your students how to analyze and compare characters, identify story elements, determine themes, and write school stories with a theme of making a difference (personal narrative, memoir, realistic fiction).
Using these books in professional learning sessions can help teachers develop read alouds, text sets, and writing lessons while relating the stories to their own lives as educators who can make a difference.
Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year
Andrea Beaty, author
David Roberts, illustrator
Harry Abrams (2023)
Synopsis:
In this beautifully written book, Lila is an anxious, worried child who moves to a new town in 2nd grade where she gets a firm yet kind and accepting teacher, Ms. Kern. Ms. Kern understands Lila’s social anxiety and asks for her help during recess until Lila is ready to try recess on her own. As Lila grows up, she continues to worry or feel lonely at times but is able to press on because of the experience she had with her 2nd grade teacher who helped her learn how to find friends and make her way in the world. This kindness stayed with Lila until she, herself, became Miss Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year.
Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year
Kevin Henkes, writer and illustrator
Greenwillow Books (2007)
Synopsis:
This classic children’s book has so many lessons for us all. In this story, Chrysanthemum’s parents name her after a flower because they think she is perfect, and it is the perfect name for her. She loves how her name sounds and looks when written down. Yet, when Chrysanthemum starts school, her classmates tease her about her name being like a flower, too long, too unusual, and she “wilts” a little more every time she is teased. A special teacher, Mrs Twinkle, whose first name is Petunia, helps Chrysanthemum understand how special her name, and all of our names, are special.
A Letter to my Teacher
Deborah Hopkinson, author
Nancy Carpenter, illustrator
Schwartz Wade Books (2017)
Synopsis:
This tribute to wonderful teachers begins with a woman about to start her first job writing a letter to her second grade teacher.
The story starts, “Dear Teacher, Whenever I had something to tell you, I tugged on your shirt and whispered in your ear. This time I'm writing a letter.”
She had been the student that showed up on the first day grouchy and soaking wet. The girl did who could not sit still and was not good at reading or writing. But this teacher had been understanding, kind, patient, and had made learning fun.
All these years later the story ends by the reader learning that the girl is about to start her first day as a teacher.
Each Kindness
Jacqueline Woodson, author
E.B. Lewis, illustrator
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012
Synopsis:
Each kindness makes the world a little better. Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.
CHECK OUT THIS TEXT SET* WITH THE CENTRAL THEME OF COURAGE
*Text sets are intentionally grouped sets of high-quality books, articles, or poems designed to support literary themes and content. Teaching with text sets can boost comprehension lessons by sharing a variety of connected texts. Books are read individually and then compared as a set.
BRAVO ANJALI! - by SHEETAL SHETH AND LUCIA SOTO
Synopsis:
Anjali is learning to play tabla despite it being an instrument that is typically played by boys. Her friend, Deepak, takes lessons with her, but he is suddenly being unkind, telling her she’s showing off and acting jealous. After an incident in the classroom with Deepak, Anjali has had enough. She storms to the bathroom and shouts out her frustrations, only to be overheard by a fifth grader who tells her, “Never dim your light, girl.” In the end, find out how Anjali uses this advice when it is time for the recital, and what happens regarding Deepak and Anjali’s friendship.
Key Questions:
Have you ever had trouble with a best friend? How did you solve it?
Themes:
courage, friendship, gender roles, dealing with conflict, forgiveness, and empowerment
imagine - by Juan Felipe Herrera and Lauren Castillo
Synopsis:
Juan Felipe Herrera writes his own experiences in poetic verse, sharing his life’s beloved events and transitions such as picking chamomile flowers in windy fields, letting tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek, and saying goodbye to his amiguitos each time his family moved to a new town. He went to school and taught himself to read and write English and filled paper pads with rivers of ink as he walked down the street after school. When he grew up, he became the United States Poet Laureate and read his poems aloud on the steps of the Library of Congress. The autobiographical ode ends with a plea to the reader to imagine their own lives’ possibilities.
Key Questions:
Have you ever imagined what you might be when you grow up?
Teach:
- Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song. Start with “If” and end with “imagine”.
- Find instances in the story requiring courage of Juan.
Jambari Jumps- by Gaia Cornwall
Synopsis:
Jabari has just learned to swim and has decided that he is ready to jump off the diving board. He tells his dad that it looks easy, and he is not scared at all. Jabari loses a bit of his confidence as he stands with his dad watching the other kids take their turns on jumping off the diving board. In a sign of encouragement, Jabari’s dad squeezes his hand, and Jabari squeezes back…will Jabari jump?
Key Questions:
Will Jabari Jump? How did Jabari’s dad help?
Teach:
- Address the comprehension skills of; identifying the author's purpose, understanding text structure, inferring,analyzing characters and making connections.
Lena's shoes are nervous - by Keith Calabrese and Juana Medi
Synopsis:
Young Lena is totally prepared, and excited to start kindergarten. She’s not nervous…but her shoes are. Lena enlists her headband who is “friends with everybody” and “a good listener” to talk to her shoes, and eventually, talking with her clothes help Lena work through her fears about starting school and everyone makes it to their first day of school.
Key Questions:
Why do you think Lena’s shoes are the most nervous items in her wardrobe?
How does Lena help herself work through her anxiety about school?
Teach:
Discuss how the author uses personification to tell the story. (Lena personifies her clothes by assigning different human characteristics to different clothing items.)