Lori Sabo
These are proof that picture books are for everybody. See if any of these 20 titles look perfect for your classroom library.
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson
This is an award-worthy story made even more powerful by the incredible art of Nikkolas Smith.
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
This stunning picture book will give our upper-grade students a sense of the historical and cultural significance of something they take for granted every day: the color blue.
Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular by Polly Owen
Darwin is widely known for his Origin of Species book, but I didn’t know he was fascinated by worms and how his obsession led to some important knowledge for us today.
The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story by Emma Bland Smith
This is a lovely story. Be sure to read the back matter.
Glitter Everywhere! by Chris Barton
This is a fascinating look at the history and future of this iridescent stuff and why we love it.
Home Is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly by Katherine Pryor
This is a beautiful telling of the wondrous and miraculous journey of the monarch butterfly.
How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford
A gorgeous, sad, and triumphant story.
Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams
Students who have never heard of Zora Neale Hurston will be compelled and inspired by her story in these pages.
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan
Exquisite illustrations and a wonderful parallel storyline of human and spider.
Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel
This book is so well done, and students will be entertained while learning to tell what is true from what is not.
Life-Size Animals: An Illustrated Safari by Rita Mabel Schiavo
It is oversized, but if you have a place for it, your students will love the life-size color illustrations and the informative, entertaining content.
Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers
An amusing, informative, architecture adventure.
The Phone Book: Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand by Jessica Speer
This well-done book will help young people understand the complexities of our handheld devices.
Piece by Piece: Ernestine’s Gift for President Roosevelt by Lupe Ruiz-Flores
This wonderful biography will engage students and illustrate that even though they are young, they can do amazing things.
Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight by Melissa Stewart
Lovely illustrations and lyrical text teach us about the moon and the animals who rely on it.https://amzn.to/4bmli3C
There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds
Jason, Jason, Jason. What a brilliant writer. And the art by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey strikes all the right notes.
Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart
This is a fascinating book about how a whale body becomes an energy-rich food source for organisms living in the deepest part of the sea. I appreciated the back matter that answered my How do they know all this!?! wonder.
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan by Chris Barton
This is a fabulous, informative, and inspiring story.
What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon? And Other Questions About Moths & Butterflies by Rachel Ignotofsky
I loved being able to compare and contrast butterflies and moths in the same book.
The World’s Loneliest Elephant: Based on the True Story of Kaavan and His Rescue by Ralph Fletcher
Another wonderful example of how people can work together to do something amazing.
If it would be helpful to know the level of a title you are considering for your classroom, there are websites and apps available. Ask your librarian or reading specialist what they like or check out Lexile and Scholastic.
*If you click on the image of any of the books above, you will be redirected to an Amazon page to learn more about the book. We may earn a small comission if a purhase is made from that link.