Upper Elementary Book List

How Tía Lola Came to (Visit) Stay

by Julia Alvarez | Chapter Book

Themes: Family, Identity, Transitions, Divorce, Sports, Dominican Republic

Alvarez packs many themes into a well-paced story: Miguel deals with his parent's divorce and moving from an urban Latino neighborhood to an almost exclusively European American suburb. The book also narrates Miguel's first trip to the Dominican Republic, where his mother grew up. Presents variety and diversity in Latino communities and families, and includes some Spanish words from Dominican dialect—author explains regional differences in Spanish language. One of the few widely available chapter books for elementary grades that features a male Latino protagonist, an entertaining story but not likely to sweep kids away.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

by Ellen Coerr | Chapter Book

Themes: War, Loss, Organizing

A classic story of a girl’s life turned upside down by war (Sadako was a toddler when the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. At thirteen, she has leukemia that will end her life). Sadako is an organizer, rallying her friends in her quest to make 1000 cranes so that she may wish for peace. A wonderfully written, spare book with strong social justice themes.

Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Curtis | Chapter Book

Themes: Family, Courage, Great Depression, Jazz

A young boy who has experienced loss escapes from state custody to find the man who he believes to be his father, a jazz giant. Presents complexities of African American experience in North. A page-turner.

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folk Tale

by Demi | Picture Book

Themes: Challening Injustice, Strong Female, Mathematics, Trickster Tale

A populist, trickster tale that also introduces mathematical concepts (exponents)! A greedy ruler has stockpiled all the rice in the area, leaving his people starving. When offered a wish as a reward for an act of honesty, Rani asks the ruler for just one grain of rice, and asks that he double the amount each day for thirty days. Her stockpile grows exponentially until she has a billion grains of rice and redistributes the wealth among the people. Illustrations present very pale skinned characters in a type of Indian attire.

Bird

by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Sandra Strickland | Picture Book

Themes: City Life, Family, Addiction, Art

A heartbreaking, beautiful story written by Zetta Elliot, a Black Studies professor and poet, and illustrated by Shadra Stickland, award winning illustrator. Bird has won many awards and inspired rich discussion among educators. In this story, Mekhail, better known as Bird, notices changes in his beloved older brother Marcus’s behavior, and with the help of adults around him, Bird realizes his brother is abusing drugs. Bird copes through drawing, encouraged by Marcus even as Marcus loses himself to drugs. Strickland's gorgeous illustrations of contemporary city scenes immediately draw in young readers and adults. Uncle Son tries to help Bird understand Marcus's death: 'You can fix a broken wing with a splint,/ and a bird can fly again/ But you can't fix a broken soul.' This book can add tremendously not only to the lives of children of all colors and class whose family members struggle with addiction, but serves as a powerful testimony of the power of art.

The Birchbark House

by Louise Erdrich | Chapter Book

Themes: Indigenous Peoples (Ojibwa), Family, Ecology

Presents one year in the life of a seven-year girl, Omakayas, who lives on an island in Lake Superior in the 1836s. Erdrich, a member of the Ojibwa nation herself, lovingly presents Omakayas' family relationships, daily life, and struggles. A Broken Flute, a leading review of native experience in children's books commends The Birchbark House as "the single best book of its kind," for writing from within a native culture, rather than simply about it. The Birchbark House can add to a unit on indigenous peoples, North American history, or social studies units on ecology or geography.

When the Horses Ride By: Children in the Time of War

by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist | Picture Book

Themes: War, Poetry

A beautiful, multicultural collection of illustrated poems, written from children’s points of of view. A fantastic book for a children affected by or concerned about violence, and a great addition to any 3rd-4th grade classroom. Almost Forever by Maria Testa is a good companion text, presenting through poetry the experience of an American family during the Vietnam War.

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez

by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Yuyi Morales | Picture Book

Themes: Organizing, Labor, Chicano History

Gorgeous illustration and informative, thoughtful text introduce us to the world of migrant workers and Cesar Chavez. Krull positively depicts his family life and each childhood struggle she narrates can create a rich discussion—his family must move because of draught, he must wear a humiliating sign because he dared to speak Spanish in school, and he quits school after eighth grade. Krull does not mention the other leaders in the story of the United Farm Workers, nor the alliance between the Mexican-American and Filipino-American workers. An excellent starting point for a discussion on organizing. See also Krull’s Maria Molina and the Days of the Dead .

Landed

by Milly Lee, illustrated by Yangsook Choi | Picture Book

Themes: Chinese-American History, Immigration

Landed tells the story of Sun, a young Chinese man who emigrates to America during the age of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Lee bases the story on that of her father in law, and provides informative historical background at the end. Stark illustrations of young men detained in immigration facilities, looking through chain link fences, recall current immigration policy concerning the U.S.-Mexican border. This text can add to a unit on Chinese-American or immigrant history and also provide a comparison study for a lesson on current immigration policy.

Catch a Tiger By the Toe

by Ellen Levine | Chapter Book

Themes: American History, Economic Justice, Free Speech, Family, Fitting In

Ellen Levine, author of Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Story, tells us a gripping story of a young girl whose parents lose their jobs during McCarthyism. Jamie Morse wants to be normal and wants to be liked, and worries about what will happen if her classmates find out that her parents participate in actions toward racial and economic justice. Jamie even finds herself joining in when her classmates tease a boy caught with a copy of the "Daily Worker" at school. The story presents a great deal of historical information, with touches of humor . Jamie finds her courage over the course of the story and stands up for herself and her family's social justice values. The text also address universal themes like fitting in, bullying, standing up for oneself.
      Catch a Tiger By the Toe is an essential addition to a unit on American history, historical fiction, or politics for sophisticated fifth graders on up and a great book for children of organizers and activists. In many contexts it is may be more appropriate for middle school students--it mentions an instance where white racists use the N-word. Author includes bibliography of sources on McCarthyism, including many for young people. Triumphantly displays and affirms the use of peaceful resistance to anti-democratic policies.

Say Something

by Peggy Moss, illustrated by Lea Lyon

Themes: Bullying, Differences, Standing Up for Oneself

We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

by Kadir Nelson | Picture Book

Themes: U.S. History, African-American History, Sports

Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, this substantial picture and text-rich book is one for children to return to again and again, both as a terrific story and reference guide. The language in this book is appealing and accessible to elementary age readers but includes a rich vocabulary to challenge and inspire. (Opening line: “Seems like we've been playing baseball for a mighty long time. At least as long as we've been free. It's a beautifully designed game that requires a quick wit, a strong body, and a cool head.”) This book is not only a rich historical archive, it comments on how history is made ("they say baseball was invented ...in Cooperstown New York back in the mid 1800s, but that is just another tall tale, 'cause no one really knows for sure"). This book is a great scaffold for readers who need some encouragement to take on more advanced reading. It can add to a unit on sports, African-American history, or American history. The varied sentence structure and informal tone make this book a great model for high school teachers talking about when it is appropriate to break conventions of writing purposefully and profitably.

Journey to Jo'burg

by Beverly Naidoo| Chapter Book

Themes: Black-White Relations (Apartheid), Family, Youth Movements

A terrific, moving account of life in South Africa under apartheid, with a fast-paced story that will draw students in. Many students will relate to issues raised—caring for siblings, families struggling to pay for medical care, inequality among schools. It also deals with labor issues (domestic work and mining), contrast between rural and city life in South Africa, and student movements. Author is a white South African woman who was exiled for her resistance to apartheid—adding complexity to us versus them narrative. An excellent addition to a classroom and for a comparison to U.S. history. With pace and tone of adventure book, invigorating and energizing read.

Taneesha Never Disparaging

by M. Lavora Perry| Chapter Book

Simply superb. Perry has given us a snappy, funny text and a story that includes diverse characters, friendship between children across ethnicities, diverse body types and children with disabilities. Taneesha, our narrator and heroine, is an eleven year old African American girl who is black and Buddhist. She comes from an educated, working class family: her mother is a nurse and her father owns a struggling small business. Taneesha worries about what will happen if her classmates learn she is different (Buddhist).

The story focuses on two main plots: first, Taneesha's adoring best friend, Carli, has nominated Taneesha to run for class president, pittng her against one of the most popular boys in the class. Taneesha doesn't want to run but can't bring herself to tell Carli or her teacher, Mr. Alvarez. Secondly, neither Carli nor Taneesha's parents can pick them up from their magnet school in North Cleveland, so the girls must walk through a street patrolled by a big, older girl who teases Carli because she is white ("Hey, white girl!") and because she wears a leg brace. Carli and Taneesha debate whether to tell their parents what's happening--but Taneesha is tired of getting her parents involved because she feels like they never follow through. Throughout the book, Taneesha battles her inner evil twin, "Evella"--that voice inside that says "you can't" or "you're just not good enough." Includes debate over issues like youth violence: Taneesha’s mother says:“we need better police.” Taneesha’s father responds: “we need better parents.” Also includes characters with diabetes. Eleven year old Taneesha begins identifying more with her peers than her loving and nurturing parents—a true to life depiction of growing up. A must-read.

Pink and Say

by Patricia Polacco

Themes:Civil War, Black-White Relations, Storytelling

The story of the friendship between a wounded white Union soldier from the Ohio 24th Unit and the formerly enslaved Union soldier in the 48th Colored Unit. Polacco treats the complexities of race and class with tremendous grace--Say, when he is wounded and is found by Pink, reflects that he "had never seen a man like him so close before. His skin was the color of polished mahogany. He was flyin' Union colors, like me." The fact that Pink, who has been enslaved, can read while Say cannot provides a counterexample to the narrative of white people teaching African-Americans to read. Say's use of late nineteenth century, rural diction ("a powerful long way," "it were near Washington") provides a springboard for discussion on dialects and how language becomes "standardized." Pink and Say can anchor lessons on segregation, the Civil War, military history, and oral/family history. Also see Chicken Sunday and other titles by Polacco.

Nobody Gonna Turn Me 'Round

by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Shane W. Evans| Picture Book

At once a reference book and a story to be read over and over, Nobody Gonna Turn Me 'Round weaves together stories and songs of the Civil Rights Movement. Rappaport foregrounds lesser known figures, such as eight year old Sheyan Webb, and in each vignette, emphasizes collective action and passionate, intellectual resistance. See other titles in the same series: No More: Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance and Free at Last: Stories and Songs of Emancipation.

It doesn't have to be this way/ No tiene que ser así: A Barrio Story

by Luis Rodriguez| Bilingual

Themes: Gangs, Growing Up, Youth Violence

An incredibly powerful story written by a former gang member and narrated by a nine-year old boy, Monchi,who enters gang initiation on his tenth birthday. He feels more powerful as teachers, friends, and females start to look at him differently. His cousin, Dreamer, begs him not to join. In trying to stop him, she enters the fray of violence. With the support of his family, Monchi makes a change in his life and his neighborhood. The title of the book, "It doesn't have to be this way/ No tiene que ser así" can spark a discussion of or action towards alternatives to violence. Phenomenal illustrations present realistic people.

Mama's Window

by Lynn Rubright | Chapter Book

Rubright transports us to a early twentieth-century African-American community along the Mississipi River, where James Earle (Sugar) moves to live in the backcountry with his uncle after his mother dies. Shows diversity of African-American voices--the church ladies look down on Sugar's uncle who lives in the back country. James struggles to organize support when he learns that the money his mother saved for a new stained glass window will be dedicated to a new roof for the church instead. In the end, Sugar's uncle comes to his aid, but teachers might talk about other ways of winning. In the afterword, the author provides the perfect opportunity to discuss organizing--we learn that Sugar represents Owen Whitfield, an African-American sharecropper who went onto become a minister and labor leader in Arkansas. A gorgeous, fast-paced text. See author's lesson plans.

Esperanza Rising

by Pam Muñoz Ryan| Chapter Book

Themes: Chicano History, American History, Labor & Organizing

Winner of the Pura Belpre Award and the Jane Addams Peace Award, Esperanza Rising is a beautifully written story of changes in Esperanza’s life, as she must leave her leisure class life in Mexico due to corruption in her community. As a migrant worker,Esperanza encounters prejudice, and reflects “Americans see us as one big brown group who are good only for manual labor.” Esperanza faces a difficult decision as her peers begin to organize a union for better working conditions: Esperanza hopes the organizers and the cause will just go away, because she is focused solely on supporting her ill mother and her siblings. A great text for a unit on Chicano history, American history, or labor struggles—especially if teachers can push the discussion, what would you have done, if you were in Esperanza's position regarding the organizing drive?
        Some aspects of the text are counterproductive: Author’s note at the beginning, that the number of Mexicans deported was greater than Native American removals seems to pit one people's struggle against another. In the cover art, Esperanza has an unrealistic body type (think Disney princess). Esperanza Rising provides a great starting point for discussing movements, and might be paired with with texts about United Farm Workers leaders, such as Gary Soto's Jessie de La Cruz: Profile of a United Farm Worker.

Home to Medicine Mountain

by Chiori Santiago, illustrated by Judith Lowry | Picture Book

This book chronicles Judith Lowry's father and uncles experience at a boarding school they were forced to attend to unlearn their Indian ways to live like settlers. Presents an often overlooked chapter of American history and can add to units on Native American history or ethnic history in the United States, with its discussion of forced assimilation. Like Pocolo's Pink and Say, Rubright's Mama's Window , Munoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising and Lee's Landed , Home to Medicine Mountain derives from the authors' family history, and can introduce or anchor a unit on oral/family history.

The Carpet Boy's Gift

by Pegi Deitz Shea illustrated by Leane Moria| Picture Book

An excellent introduction to child labor and organizing. Nadeem, the story’s protagonist, shares a leadership role with female lead Amina, in plotting an escape from bonded labor. Fictional Nadeem and Amina are inspired by the efforts of Iqbal Mashih, a boy who worked in a factory in Pakistan and then helped free thousands of his peers (a true story). Author's Lesson Plan Ideas

The Composition

by Antonio Skarmeta, illustrated by Alfonso Ruano| Picture Book

Winner of both the Americas Award and the Jane Addams Award, The Composition traces a nine year old boy's emerging awareness of politics and dictatorship in his (unspecified) country. Pedro's childhood concerns are ones children can relate to: he asked for a soccer ball for his birthday, and his parents give him one but it is the wrong kind. Other boys pick on Pedro because he is so small. While Pedro navigates these childhood concerns, his parents listen to the radio at night for news and socialize with political activists. Pedro’s parents tell him that children can't be for or against dictatorship, because they are just children, but when a general enters his classroom and demands students write a composition on what their families do at night, Pedro can no longer stand on the sidelines. This text speaks to universal themes of dictatorship, military rule, and struggles for freedom.The Composition can add to a unit on politics, courage, or growing up. It can help children whose families have not been tested through political conflict understand what it might be like. A good companion text is Levine's Catch a Tiger by the Toe.

Creativity

by John Steptoe, illustrated by EB Lewis | Picture Book

Charlie is surprised when a new boy in his class, Hector, speaks Spanish even though his skin is dark like Charlie's. As Charlie talks with his teachers, parents, and Hector, he learns, in language a pre-teen can understand, about the legacy of the slave trade and imperialism and how everybody is "the result of different people mixing up together," an important message especially in classrooms where some students have the label "biracial" and others who look like them don't. It also draws out themes of creativity in language, as Charlie's parents praise how he "says what he means in his own special way” in reference to his non-standardized speech style. The moments in which Hector is teased for wearing "float boat" plain white sneakers in a neighborhood in which sneakers are very important can introduce classroom discussion on bullying and teasing. Charlie's solution to the problem, giving Hector a pair of his old sneakers, emphasizes generosity and friendship, and even still, a parent or teacher might ask questions about other possible solutions. Lewis's illustrations are simply unparalleled in their stunningly real depictions of children. The book features Black American, Afro-Caribbean/Latino, and white protaganists. Some of Charlie's classmates have Asian American features and varying body types.

See more upper elementary titles in our themed lists.