Book of the Week Archive
Re-visit our books of the week any time!
Each week on The Morning Bell, we share reading recommendations for students of all ages to enjoy. While these books often fit a particular theme, they're great to enjoy throughout the whole year. Check out these books—and thousands more—on Sora, our citywide Digital Library which provides free access to hundreds of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students.
June 2024
Caribbean American Heritage Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa, by Veronica Chambers; illustrated by Julie Maren
- Malaika's Costume, by Nadia L. Hohn; illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
- Starting Over in Sunset Park, by José Pelaez and Lynn McGee; illustrated by Bianca Diaz
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Eight Days: A Story of Haiti, by Edwidge Danticat; illustrated by Alix Delinois
- The Jumbies, by Tracey Baptiste
- Marti's Song for Freedom, by Emma Otheguy; illustrated by Beatriz Vidal
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Josephine Against the Sea, by Shakirah Bourne
- Rooting for Raphael Rosales by Kurtis Scaletta
- When Life Gives You Mangos, by Kereen Getten
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- A Girl's Guide to Love and Magic, by Debbie Rigaud
- Hurricane Summer, by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
- Where the Rhythm Takes You, by Sarah Dass
Climate Action Day and National Oceans Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs, by Kate Messner; illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
- Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle, by Claire A. Nivola
- Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Ocean's Biggest Secret, by Jess Keating; illustrated by Katie Hickey
- Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story About an Amazing Swimmer, by Lynne Cox; illustrated by Richard Jones
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Bayou Magic, by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, by Barbara Dee
- Water is Water, by Miranda Paul; illustrated by Jason Chin
- We are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom; illustrated by Michaela Goade
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- The Line Tender, by Kate Allen
- Oceans of Plastic: Understanding and Solving a Pollution Problem, by Tracey Gray
- The Wild Robot Protects, by Peter Brown
- World Without Fish, by Mark Kurlansky; illustrated by Frank Stockton
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Don't Call Me A Hurricane, by Ellen Hagan
- Dry, by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
- Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan Fought for their LIves and Warned the Nation, by Candy J. Cooper with Marc Aronson
- Whale Quest: Working Together to Save Endangered Species, by Karen Romano Young
National Immigrant Heritage Month and World Refugee Day
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story, by Areli Morales; illustrated by Luisa Aribe
- The Cot in the Living Room, by Hilda Eunice Burgos; illustrated by Gaby D'Alessandro
- Dreamers, by Yuyi Morales
- Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story, by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Amy June Bates
- Home is in Between, by Mitali Perkins; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
- Maribel's Year, by Michelle Sterling; illustrated by Sarah Gonzales
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Becoming Kid Quixote: A True Story of Belonging in America (A Young Readers' Companion), by Sarah Sierra and Stephen Haff
- First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great, by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace; illustrated by Agata Nowicka
- Front Desk, by Kelly Yang
- Land of the Cranes, by Aida Salazar
- Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, by Julie Leung; illustrated by Chris Sasaki
- Sugar in Milk, by Thrity Umrigar; illustrated by Khoa Le
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Dear America: The Story of an Undocumented Citizen (Young Readers' Edition), by Jose Antonio Vargas
- Efrén Divided, by Ernesto Cisneros
- Everything Sad is Untrue, by Daniel Nayeri
- In the Beautiful Country, by Jane Kuo
- Santiago's Road Home, by Alexandra Diaz
- When Clouds Touch Us, by Thanhhà Lại
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Almost American Girl, by Robin Ha
- Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card, by Sara Saedi
- Come On In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Finding Home, edited by Adi Alsaid
- Dream Country, by Shannon Gibney
- Sanctuary, by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher
- Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything, by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Pride Month and Stonewall 55th Anniversary
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring, by Matthew Burgess; illustrated by Josh Cochran
- Kind Like Marsha: Learning from LGBTQ+ Leaders, by Sarah Prager; illustrated by Cheryl Thuesday
- Phoenix Gets Greater, by Marty Wilson-Trudeau, with Phoenix Wilson; illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith
- Ritu Weds Chandni, by Ameya Narvankar
- A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, The Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington, by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders; illustrated by Byron McCray
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Answers in the Pages, by David Levithan
- A High Five for Glenn Burke, by Phil Bildner
- Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, by Ashley Herring Blake
- This is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us, edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby
- Twelfth, by Janet Key
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Alice Austen Lived Here, by Alex Gino
- In the Key of Us, by Mariama J. Lockington
- The Insiders, by Mark Oshiro
- Nikhil Out Loud, by Maulik Pancholy
- A Queer History of the United States for Young People, by Michael Bronski; adapted by Richie Chevat
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- All Boys Aren’t Blue, by George M. Johnson
- Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo
- Songs of Irie, by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
- Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights, by Ann Bausum
May 2024
Teacher Appreciation Week
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- A Letter to My Teacher, by Deborah Hopkinson; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
- Dear Teacher: A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us, by Paris Rosenthal; illustrated by Holly Hatam
- Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and her Secret School, by Janet Halfmann; illustrated by London Ladd
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball, by John Coy; illustrated by Joe Morse
- The Teacher’s March! How Selma’s Teachers Changed History, by Sandra Neil Wallace, Rich Wallace
- Thank You, Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea
- Love That Dog,by Sharon Creech
- Sahara Special, by Esme Raji Cordell
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Between the Lines, by Nikki Grimes
- Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey, Akiko Higashimura
- Rolling Warrior: The Incredible, Sometimes Awkward True Story of a Rebel Girl on Wheels who Helped Spark a Revolution, by Judith Heumann with Kristen Joiner
Mental Health Awareness Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective, by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett; illustrated by Marissa Valdez
- Out of a Jar, by Deborah Marcero
- The Princess and the Fog, by Anthony Lloyd Jones
- The Worry Balloon, by Mónica Mancillas; illustrated by Betty C. Tang
- When Sadness is At Your Door, by Eva Eland
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- A Mind Like Mine, by Rachael Davis; illustrated by Islenia Mil
- Five Things About Ava Andrews, by Margaret Dilloway
- Just Roll with It, by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie
- Moonflower, by Kacen Callender
- The Grip, by Marcus Stroman with Samantha Thornhill
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Good Enough, by Jen Petro-Roy
- How to Become a Planet, by Nicole Melleby
- Mirror to Mirror, by Rajani LaRocca
- OCDaniel, by Wesley King
- The Summer of June, by Jamie Sumner
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation on Mental Health, edited by Kelly Jensen
- Hungry Ghost, by Victoria Ying
- The Memory of Light, by Francisco X. Stork
- Turtles All the Way Down, by John Green
- Who Put This Song On?, by Morgan Parker
National Physical Fitness Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Billie Jean! How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports, by Mara Rockcliff; illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
- Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles, by Michelle Meadows; illustrated by Ebony Glenn
- Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path, by Joseph Bruchac; illustrated by S.D. Nelson
- Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio, by Rob Skead; illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- 42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero, by Doreen Rappaport
- Barbed Wire Baseball: How One Man Brought Hope to the Japanese Internment Camps of WWII, by Marissa Moss; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
- Breaking the Ice: The True Story of the First Woman to Play in the National Hockey League, by Angie Bullaro; illustrated by C.F. Payne
- A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttman Created the Paralympic Games, by Lori Alexander; illustrated by Allan Drummond
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Becoming Kareem: Growing Up on and Off the Court, by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
- Fast Pitch, by Nic Stone
- Taking Up Space, by Alyson Gerber
- One Life: Young Reader’s Edition, by Megan Rapinoe
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Furia, by Yamile Saied Méndez
- Here to Stay, by Sara Farizan
- Rez Ball, by Byron Graves
- Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke, the First Openly Gay MLB Player and Inventor of the High-Five, by Andrew Maraniss
Haitian American Heritage Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Goodnight Goat/Bonnwit Kabrit, by Elizabeth Turnbull; illustrated by Erin Vaganos
- Haiti A to Z: A Bilingual ABC Book About the Pearl of the Antilles, by M.J. Fievre; illustrated by Anastasia Khmelevska
- Sélavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope, by Youme Landowne
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings, by Francie Latour; illustrated by Ken Daley
- My Day with the Panye, by Tami Charles; illustrated by Sara Palacios
- Open the Door to Liberty: A Biography of Toussaint L’Ouverture, by Anne Rockwell; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Behind the Mountains, by Edwidge Danticat
- Serafina’s Promise, by Ann E. Burg
- The Year I Flew Away, by Marie Arnold
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- American Street, by Ibi Zoboi
- Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, by Maika and Maritza Moulite
- Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go: A Novel of Haiti, by Laura Rose Wagner
April 2024
Sustainability and Earth Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Hike, by Pete Oswald
- In the Garden with Dr. Carver, by Susan Grigsby; illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
- Our Green City, by Tanya Lloyd Kyi; illustrated by Colleen Larmour
- She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey, Pioneering Nature Activist, by Andrea D’Aquino
- Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating; illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
- Zonia's Rainforest, by Juana Martinez-Neal
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- A Green Place to Be: The Creating of Central Park, by Ashley Benham Yazdani
- Elsie Mae Has Something to Say, by Nancy J. Cavanaugh
- Greta’s Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to Save the Planet, by Valentina Camerini
- Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, by Barbara Dee
- The Last Bear, by Hannah Gold
- The Last Beekeeper, by Pablo Cartaya
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson, by Ann E. Burg; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
- Me and Marvin Gardens, by Amy Sarig King
- One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet, by Anuradha Rao
- Paradise on Fire, by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- The Story of Seeds, by Nancy F. Castaldo
- World Without Fish, by Mark Kurlansky; illustrated by Frank Stockton
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- The Carbon Diaries 2015, by Saci Lloyd
- Don’t Call Me A Hurricane, by Ellen Hagan
- Girls Who Green the World: Thirty-Four Rebel Women Out to Save the Planet, by Diana Kapp; illustrated by Ana Jarén
- How to Change Everything: The Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other, by Naomi Klein
- It’s Getting Hot in Here: The Past, Present, and Future of Climate Change, by Bridget Heos
- The Line Tender, by Kate Allen>
Financial Literacy Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Spend It!, by Cinders McLeod
- Little Daymond Learns to Earn, by Daymond John
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Get To Know: Money, by Kalpana Fitzpatrick
- Sam the Incredible Inventor, by Alan Trussell-Cullen
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid, by Mikaila Ulmer
- How to Turn $100 Into $1,000,000, by James McKenna and Jeannine Glista; with Matt Fontaine
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Cash is Queen, by Davinia Tomlinson; illustrated by Andrea Oerter
- Undecided: Navigating Life and Learning After High School, by Genevieve Morgan
National Poetry Month
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, by Amanda Gorman; illustrated by Loren Long
- How to Write a Poem, by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
- Kiyoshi’s Walk, by Mark Karlins; illustrated by Nicole Wong
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- The Color of My Words, by Lynn Joseph
- Land of the Cranes, by Aida Salazar
- Words With Wings, by Nikki Grimes
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- All He Knew, by Helen Frost
- Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson
- Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science, by Jeannine Atkins
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- An Appetite for Miracles, by Laekan Zea Kemp
- The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners, by Naomi Shihab Nye