Big Stories, Little Book Lovers

Author: Rob Sanders | Illustrators: Hannah Abbo | Publisher: Beaning Books

An icebreaker and friend-maker, We Are a Class is an inclusive, aspirational story to be read aloud responsively, collectively, or as spoken-word performance. In rhyming verse, We Are a Class is a pledge, a commitment, a promise among the members of a single class and every class.

Perfect for the first day, the 100th day, the final day, and any day of school.

Purchase this book for MRP or yourself

Author: Andtwan Eady | Illustrators: Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey | Publisher: Penguin Random House

The Last Stand is an award-winning children’s picture book about family, community, and the legacy of Black farmers in the American South. It follows a young boy who helps his grandfather (Papa) run the last remaining farm stand at their local farmer’s market.

Every Saturday, the boy and his Papa harvest peppers, plums, pumpkins, and eggs, delivering them in sweetgrass baskets made by Granny. When Papa becomes too tired to work, the boy takes the initiative, hitching a red wagon to his bike to keep the stand open for their loyal customers.

Purchase this book for MRP or yourself

Author/Illustrator: Michael Hall | Publisher: Green Willow Books

Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon’s Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age!

Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let’s draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can’t be red, no matter how hard he tries!

Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He’s blue!

Purchase this book for MRP or yourself

Author/Illustrator: Mo Willems | Publisher: Union Square Kids

The Pigeon had better graduate! He did the work! He paid attention to the little details! He overcame some BIG obstacles! The Pigeon’s got this . . . Or does he? Grab your caps, don your gowns, and raise your hands for The Pigeon’s biggest adventure yet in this uplifting, hilarious, and inspirational graduation picture book from three-time Caldecott honoree Mo Willems. It’s a PhD* in fun!

Author/Illustrator: Michaela Goade | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth. Salmon from the stream, herring eggs from the ocean, and in the forest, a world of berries. Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Snowberry, Strawberry, Crowberry. Through the seasons, they sing to the land as the land sings to them. Brimming with joy and gratitude, in every step of their journey, they forge a deeper kinship with both the earth and the generations that came before, joining in the song that connects us all.

Authors: Lea Lyon and Alexandria LeFaye | Illustrator: Jessica Gibson | Publisher: HarperCollins

As a young girl, Sylvia wanted nothing more than to take ballet lessons. When that wasn’t possible, she used her community’s bookmobile to find books to teach herself how to dance. She even started teaching her friends! Eventually, she opened her own studio and credited her professional successes to the bookmobile.

This nonfiction book is such a fun and inspiring story, and really highlights the transformative power of books. It shows the incredible impact that the right books can have on kids and their life’s trajectories. The end notes include a history of bookmobiles through the ages, and Madison Reading Project is thrilled to be part of this exciting legacy with their Big Red Reading Bus!