I still love getting a new batch of picture books to delight in. I spent some time looking at the "best of 2023" lists on various sites and placed an order for a few of them. There are always a few that I look at and wonder why they were chosen. And then there are books like these four that are so amazing that I want to take them to each classroom and read them to students immediately.
Do You Know Them? Families Lost and Found After the Civil War by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman- Lettie was sold before slavery was abolished and wants to find her family. This picture book shows how many black people tried to find their families by placing ads in newspapers- something they had to scrimp and save for.
Small Shoes, Great Strides: How Three Brave Girls Opened Doors to School Equality by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by Alex Bostic - students know about Ruby Bridges, but most don't seem to know about the other children who helped desegregate schools. This picture book is an excellent addition to learning about black history - and realizing that there were many people who helped fight for equality.
What Rosa Brought by Jacob Sager Weinstein, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler - this is a beautiful and heartbreaking picture book. Rosa and her family are Jewish and their lives change when the Nazis come. Through resourcefulness they work to leave their country behind, saying goodbye to people and places they love.
The Bees of Notre Dame by Meghan Browne and E.B. Goodale - a few years ago there was a fire in Notre Dame, but until now I have not seen anything written about it for kids. The story is focused on the bees that lived in this cathedral, but I think the end notes make this story. Lots of great information about Notre Dame is shared along with a few photos.
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