Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1512793
A N E W Y E A R , a new list of CTA California Reads books. Because they 're vetted by teachers, you can't go wrong with any of the 2023-24 selections for your stu- dents and classrooms. For the full list, descriptions and links to buy — at a 20% member discount — visit cta.org/careads. Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem by Kwame Alexan- der (with illustrations by Kadir Nelson; intermediate school) is a love letter to Black life in America. It highlights the trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text contains references to words from Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks and others, offering insights into the accomplishments of the past while bringing attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. On Amazon. Every day, children in migration are detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. They are scared and often alone. Hear My Voice/Escucha Mi Voz (compiled by Warren Binford; middle school) shares the stories of 61 of these children — from Hondu- ras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador and Mexico, ranging from age five to 17 — in their own words from actual sworn testimonies. The book is in English on one side, Spanish on the other, and is illustrated by 17 Latinx artists. Hear My Voice includes information, questions and action points, and proceeds benefit Project Amplify, an organization that supports children in migration. On Amazon. Young children will love hearing the explanation of the phases of the moon in A Big Mooncake for Little Star (by Grace Lin; pre-K , TK and K). Little Star loves the delicious mooncake that she bakes with her mama, but what happens when she can't resist a nibble before it's the right time? On Amazon. Banned books for you & your students A Big Mooncake for Little Star is one of several CTA California Reads selections over the years that have been banned in other states. In this case, Little Star was banned for containing "political statements," but from what we can tell, it was only banned after it appeared on a list of children's books for teachers interested in sharing diverse characters with their students. Support this book and other banned books that have been California Reads selections: • Everywhere Babies, by Susan Meyers • All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson • This Book is Gay, by Juno Dawson • The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy • The Hate You Give, by Angie Thomas • George, by Alex Gino • Beyond Magenta, by Susan Kuklin • Gender Queer, Maia Kobabe • Stamped, by Jason Reynolds Art for the Mind 10 cta.org In the Know N E W S & N O T E S