Becoming Critically Literate

  Description from the publisher: " Meet Raye Montague―the hidden mastermind who made waves in the U.S. Navy! After touring a German submarine in the early 1940s, young Raye set her sights on becoming an engineer. Little did she know sexism and racial inequality would challenge that dream every step of the way, even keeping her greatest career accomplishment a secret for decades. Through it all, the gifted mathematician persisted―finally gaining her well-deserved title in history: a pioneer who changed the course of ship design forever. The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague  is the third book in a riveting educational series about the inspiring lives of amazing scientists. In addition to the illustrated rhyming tale, you'll find a complete biography, fun facts, a colorful timeline of events, and even a note from Montague herself!" Text Features:  Narrative nonfiction (biography) picture book written in rhyming verse. Keywords (nouns and adjectives) are...

  Description from the publisher: " One Wish is a picture book biography about Fatima al-Fihri, a 9th-century woman who pioneered the oldest university in the world in Fez, Morocco. Illustrated by Mariam Quraishi.  "Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors. As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatima’s one wish—her school—served students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today! ​ With lyrical text by M. O. Yuksel and stunning illustrations by Mariam Quraishi, this life portrait of an extraordinary Muslim woman shows the importance of never gi...

  Description from the publisher: " The first ever picture book addressing how a disabled child might want to be spoken to. What happened to you?  Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off? Every time Joe goes out the questions are the same . . . what happened to his leg? But is this even a question Joe has to answer? A ground-breaking, funny story that helps children understand what it might feel like to be seen as different." Text Features:  Picture book Letter to adults from the author on how to speak to children about disabilities and other differences Critical Literacy Suggestions: Read & Discuss:   BEFORE reading: read the title, explore the cover illustration, and discuss predictions for what the book might be about; then read the blurb and expand predictions; maybe ask children if they have seen someone with a visible disability before and if/how they responded DURING reading: pay attention to the main character's responses, discuss why he might ...

  Description from the publisher: " Bestselling author Rachel Williams and illustrator Freya Hartas invite children to  Slow Down  and watch 50 nature stories that command calm and foster mindfulness. All around us, nature is working wonders. Every day, hour by hour, magical transformations happen right in front of you. But it’s not always easy to see them . . . In this beautifully illustrated collection, 50 moments in nature are paused for you to watch them in detail. Then you should go outside and explore and see what you find when you take the time to slow down. Gorgeously illustrated, this charming collection celebrates the small wonders happening all around us every day." Text Features:  Informational picture book Select poems about nature Table of Contents Two-page spread for each mindful moment story Critical Literacy Suggestions: Read & Discuss:   BEFORE reading: Read the blurb. Ask children what they think a "mindful moment" is? What are some other ...

  Description from the publisher (Picture Window Books):  " Deciduous forest ecosystems can be found on nearly every continent. Countless animals and plants live in them. So what difference could the loss of one animal species make? Follow the chain reaction, and discover how important gray wolves are." Text Features:  Nonfiction picture book "It's Critical" word boxes with additional explanation of keywords Diagram of a Temperate Forest Ecosystem Glossary, Learn More and Index sections Critical Literacy Suggestions: Read & Discuss:   BEFORE reading discussion ideas: Why might a whole book have been written exploring the title question?  What's an ecosystem? What's a temperate forest ecosystem? (After reading the blurb) What do think a chain reaction is? Ask children if they have ever seen a domino 'chain reaction' – this might help them infer the term's meaning! (if not, revisit this question after reading the book) AFTER reading discus...

  Description from the publisher (Reycraft Books):  " An orange horse is desperate to find his long-lost brother, but the only clue he has is one half of an old photo. The horse decides to advertise, but the answers he gets leave him feeling hopeless. Then, one day, the orange horse meets a brown horse and they immediately become good friends. Coincidentally, the brown horse also has one half of an old photo. Could he be the long-lost brother the orange horse has been searching for?" Text Features:  Fictional picture book Some bolded keywords (salient nouns and emotional vocabulary) Explores an expansive concept of family (and is great for introducing the concept of "chosen/found" family and what it means to really belong) Critical Literacy Suggestions: Read & Discuss:   BEFORE reading discussion ideas: What do you think the Orange Horse's family might look like? Why do you think that? Do you look like the people in your family? Why or why not? Why might som...