Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1535219
In the first of three books in the Out of My Mind series (by Sharon M. Draper; 9+ years), 11-year-old Melody can't walk, talk or write, all because she has cerebral palsy. But she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She's the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Her teachers, doc- tors and classmates dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can't tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. She's determined to let everyone know it…somehow. The second and third books (Out of My Heart, Out of My Dreams) continue Melody 's journey as she learns to — literally — speak for herself and advocate for others. I Will Always Write Back (by Martin Ganda and Caitlin Alifirenka; grade 7+) is the true story of an American girl, a boy from Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives. Caitlin had never heard of Zimbabwe when a class assignment had her writing a letter to an unknown student in a dis- tant place. Martin had never heard of Pennsylvania when he read Caitlin's letter. He wrote her back, starting a correspondence that spanned six years. In this compelling dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends — and better people — through their long-distance exchange. When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better, wondering: What does it mean to be kind? Be Kind (by Pat Zietlow Miller, author, and Jen Hill, Illustrator; Pre-K/TK/ Kindergarten) explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference or at least help a friend. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this story shows how two simple words can change the world. Change World the " O N E B O O K , O N E P E N , one child and one teacher can change the world," said activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. Get your students primed for a summer of reading with some good books. Here are a few suggestions from CTA's 2025 California Reads, an annual list of teacher- vetted books for all age levels. Visit cta.org/careads for the full list and past years' selections. 9 M AY 2 0 2 5 I