In the Know N E W S & N O T E S
E A C H Y E A R , teachers recommend books for all grade levels for
CTA's California Reads, which promotes literacy in the classroom
and beyond. Many selections touch on timely societal issues.
Below are several of the 2020-21 books; for the full list, go to
cta.org/californiareads.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (grades 9-12),
by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, is a remix of the
National Book Award-winning Stamped From the Beginning,
by Kendi. It takes readers on a race journey from America's
beginning to now, and shows them why we feel how we
feel and why the poison of racism lingers. It proves that
while racist ideas are easy to fabricate and distribute, they
can also be discredited. An educator 's guide is available.
All Are Welcome (pre-K , kindergarten), by Alexandra
Penfold and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman, is a
picture book about a school where all children have
a place and are loved and appreciated — and where
students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate
each other 's traditions.
When a black snake threatens to destroy Earth and poison
her people's water, a young girl takes a stand. We Are Water
Protectors (grades 1-2), by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated
by Michaela Goade, is inspired by the many Indigenous-led
movements across North America.
Efrén Divided (grades 3-5), by Ernesto Cisneros, a teacher
and Santa Ana Educators Association member, tells the
tale of 12-year-old, American-born Efrén Nava, whose
undocumented parents work hard to raise him and younger
siblings Max, who has special needs, and Mía. One day
Efrén's mother is deported to Tijuana. His father takes on two
jobs while Efrén must care for and try to reunite his family.
The U.S. may have put the first man on the moon, but
the Soviet space program put the first woman in space.
Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier (grades 6-8), a
graphic novel by Jim Ottaviani and illustrated by Maris Wicks, shows
how it took years for America to catch up, get past entrenched sexism,
and let NASA's first female astronauts make history of their own.
Be sure to check out NEA's Read Across America website
(readacrossamerica.org), which now offers a monthly calendar of
suggested books related to current and awareness events.
Read On!
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cta.org