A Must Have, Must Read! Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook

 Everything You Need To Ace Etnglish Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook

Workman Kids

Workman Publishing 

Hachette Book Group.

by Jen Haberling 

Illustrated by Kevin Jay Stanton and Nialleycat

2025

512 pages

ISBN: 9781523526055

This lifelong English teacher wishes this book existed when I had classes. Everything you need to know and much, much more! Perfect for reluctant readers and English class haters, with illustrations and colorful text boxes with important text highlighted. 

This kids' (wink, wink) notebook  on which the cover states, "Notes borowed from the smartest kid in the class" is the difference between a mediocre grade and an A+ in English Language Arts. In fact, it should be on every English teachers' bookcase, but even more so, a must for every backpack in the class. 

From parts of speech and their jobs to writing complete sentences and later writing complete papers, this little (512 pages) notebook explains it all. Types of writing are explained and explored including opionion pieces, essays, and arguments. This is NOT a book you hand a kid and ask them to read. It IS a book that you can help kids navigate and LEARN. Each section has a check your answers or check you knowledge questions to help focus and restate learning. 

If you know kids in middle school or teach them, please race to buy a class set of these problem solvers. This edition is one of seven in the "ace all of middle school! series. 

So highly recommended! Every wannabe author needs this book as a shelf staple in their writing arsonal, 

Grades 5 and up. 

A Spanglish Counting Book: Menudo Sunday

 

Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book

by Maria Dolores Aguila

Illustrations by Erika Meza

Dial Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9780593462256

 Menudo Sunday celebrates the family tradition that happens every Sunday when primos (cousins), tias (aunts), tios (uncles) and extended family gather at abuelitos' casa (grandparents' house). And what a celebration it is! 

Cover art shows a large family gathered over a huge bowl of menudo. Even the family pets have a spot!

Counting in Spanish and English is a bonus to this lovely story of family, tradition, love and the beloved recipes passed down through the generations. Menudo brings this family together as they sing, visit, play and share. When the first giant bowl of menudo crashes to the floor (no thanks to the family dogs and the kids underfoot), Abuelito (grandfather) says take a breath and we'll start another pot. 

While the male relatives cook, the cousins continue to play until it's menudo time. The family bows their heads for grace and share a wonderful meal. This story isn't about the food: from the illustrations depicting sheer joy and love to the charming grandpa who teaches patience and grace through his actions, Menudo Sunday is the best counting book of the year, but it's not about the counting either. It's about the character of the content. 

Added content is a glossary of Spanish words, a note from the author and helpful tips for hosting a menudo Sunday of your own. 

Highly, highly recommended for every collection. A true keeper. Grades 1-5. 

Healing the World One Mitzvah at a Time!

 

It's A Mitzvah: Small Deeds With Big Heart

board book

by Suzy Ultman

Rise

an imprint of Penguin Workship

2025

24 pages

ISBN: 9780593751954

It's a Mitzvah! is truly heartwarming and precious--entertaining and fun without being preachy.A smiling yellow heart teaches that a mitzvah is steeped in Jewish tradition and is used for doing good deeds. It reminds people that good deeds bring "kindness, connection, and peace to the world." When you save an earthworm forom the hot sidewalk, its called  takkun olam which means repairing Mitzvahos are important and if more people worldwide would embrace the idea, the world would heal. It takes good humans who are helpful, kind, giving and loving. 

Each type of mitzvah is written in Hebrew and then translated below it. For example: "....give food to people who need it" and is considered "giving righteously, being fair, and thinking about ethics."  

Highly recommended ages 3 and up. Excellent and sturdy book to teach children kindness and working to save their world. A first book of ethics!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Wordless Picture Book: A Place for Us

 

A Place for Us

by James E. Ransome

Illustrations by the author  

Nancy Paulsen Books 

An Imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2025

32 pages

ISBN: 9780593324882

Gorgeous watercolors tell the story of a young boy who attends school and at the end of the day, is picked up by his mother. They go to a fast food restaurant and eat then  walk through what appears to be a big city, and they arrive at the library. It's dark outside by then. They sit at a library table while the boy does his homework. The mother reads a book. They stay at the library until it closes, and the librarian is seen motioning them to the door, 

It appears to be a normal day that any child could have, but the reader learns as they arrive at a park, they are homeless. The boy sleeps on a park bench, his head in his mother's lap. Morning comes, and the boy changes clothes and brushes his teeth using water from a park fountain. His mother walks him to school. As he enters the building, he looks over his shoulder at her--a very powerful last painting that will be etched into the reader's memory. 

Though homeless, the bond between mother and son is unbreakable. No matter how hard things are, they love each other. 

In the author's note, Ransome reports that about half a milllion people are homeless in America, and half of them are children. It is Ransom's hope that when people (and kids) see someone who is homeless, they "pay attentioon, and (to) do the work of finding the much-needed solutions. 

He asks the question: "In a country of vast resources, what is our responsibility to those without access to the basic necessities?" This question is never asked. Politicians have no answers and offer no help. There must be a way to solve this terrible situation. 

A Place for Us is that book that will stick in your mind. It'll make you think and question. Will it make you act to help? 

Highly, highly recommended

Grades 1 and up.