It's #PB10for10 - Books Showing Kindness

Hurrah!
         It's the tenth year of PictureBook10for10 (#PB10for10) where many share ten picture books that are Must-Haves! Cathy Mere of Reflect and Refine: Building a Learning Community and Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning host this wonderful tradition. You can find everyone's posts shared on Mandy's blog this year, HERE. Thank you Mandy and Cathy for continuing this special tradition! 
          And, best wishes to all for starting this school year. However you are beginning, I hope you enjoy being with your students and stay safe and well.
Here are my previous posts for 
  2011     2012     2013     2014     2015    2016     2017     2018 and 2019! 

My favorite books mostly from this past year and a few older give us ways to share about taking care of others and self! There are many kinds of actions! Here are favorites that I hope you can use in your classrooms, your lives. I've given a hint of my reviews and a link to each one on Goodreads.

Antonio wants someone to read a book with him. He moves around the neighborhood but everyone is TOO busy. One "extra" person listening to Antonio is an older blind man from the neighborhood sitting outside in a folding chair. He shares his own secret with Antonio, that few people have time for him either, invites Antonio for a chat and a story. It's a warm story that gives a fine opportunity for people to talk about including everyone.

Read more here!

A young child is on the way--somewhere. At first, I thought she might be homeless, but she is dressed too well. The cover itself opens the story. Where is that child, "small" on a bus, going? In his nearly wordless picture book, Smith used the outlining of black, effective here because it feels cold and unpleasant, and that day with the child moving in the city, we know something is wrong! When you read it, you will be immersed in the questions, and finally, you will discover exactly who is "small in the city." This traveler has taken time to rescue someone.

Read more here!

Many have written during this pandemic time that nature helps children (and adults) feel better. will help to introduce the healing idea of being present. One of my favorite parts says: There's a quiet place/in my head like an egg hidden/ in a nest. A place/I go when the world is loud./A moss-green forest with birds."

Read more here!

Being kind, listening well, how to treat oneself and others are the threads that tie it together. The whimsey of the simple sketches, mostly black and white, but sometimes gorgeous color and a tiny note from Mackesy works beautifully.

Read more here! 

Words by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrations by Mehrdokht Amini create a book for every.single.age. As it says on the cover there are poems, quotes, and anecdotes from A to Z. This will be a beautiful addition to every classroom/household! 



Read more here!

An innkeeper appears to love his work. He helps his guests and tells about his village. But then he dreams of traveling to some of those places he has only learned about. By plane or bicycle or car, he goes to the beach, visits with former guests in a picnic, and views a beautiful rainbow. He says he will remember, but then he wakes and finds himself "still here". The ending will be good for discussion. What will he do?

Read more here!

A special note by Alaa himself begins the story, another by Irene Latham, and written in Arabic as well as English. War in Syria caused many people to leave the city of Aleppo, but not Alaa. He stayed but misses his family and friends, stays to serve as an ambulance driver to help the wounded get medical help. He begins to notice the cats, strays now, but once pets that had been left behind. He begins to feed them as well as he can. More cats come and somehow his story is told and aid comes from the locals, then from all over the world. 

Read more here!

It's a collection of poems by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Olivia Gatwood sharing their special words that show the goodness of the fight for social justice.
There are beautifully creative and emotional illustrations by Theodore Taylor, an intro by Jason Reynolds, what it means to be 'woke' by Mahogany Browne, and poems that include today's world for young people, for all of us! 


Read more here!

      Out just last month! There is always an opportunity to do something for others. Sweetest book!




Read more here!

It's wordless, filled with so beautiful a story you will want to look and look, then start all over again. The multi-page intro before the title page starts the journey. Don't miss Henry Cole's note at the end. I'm just sad that everyone is not at their schools now. You will know what I mean when you read this story. Perhaps you are going back to teach with students, but if not, perhaps you can find a way to share and have your students do this at home? 

Read more here!