Unit Materials for 1st Grade English Language Arts
Explore the texts and supporting materials used in each unit of 1st Grade English Language Arts.
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Being a Good Friend
Core Texts
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Book: The Day You Begin by by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018) — AD980L
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Book: The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013) — 680L
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Book: Matthew and Tilly by Rebecca C. Jones (Puffin Books, Reprint edition, 1995) — 570L
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Book: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (P. Putnam's Sons, 1st edition, 2001) — 560L
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Book: Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann (Scholastic, 52850th edition, 2006)
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Book: Enemy Pie by Derek Munson (Chronicle Books, 736th edition, 2000) — 550L
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Book: The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio (Disney-Hyperion, 2010) — 570L
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Book: The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (Dragonfly Books, 2003) — 590L
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Book: Jamaica and Brianna by Juanita Havill (HMH Books for Young Readers, 1996) — 470L
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Book: Big Al by Andrew Clements (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Reprint edition, 1997) — 740L
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Book: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012) — 530L
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Assessment Text: “Your Name is a Song” by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (The Innovation Press)
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Folktales Around the World
Core Texts
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Book: A Story, A Story: An African Tale by Gail E. Haley (Aladdin, 1988) — 590L
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Book: Anansi and the Talking Melon by Eric A. Kimmel (Holiday House, 1994) — 500L
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Book: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel (Holiday House, Reprint edition, 1988) — 470L
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Book: Anansi and the Magic Stick by Eric A. Kimmel (Holiday House, III edition, 2002) — 500L
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Book: Anansi Goes Fishing by Eric A. Kimmel (Live Oak Media, Reprint edition, 1993) — 510L
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Book: The Lion and the Mouse by Bernadette Watts (North-South Books, Reprint edition, 2007) — 540L
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Book: Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema (Dragonfly Books, Reprint edition, 1998) — 560L
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Book: The Paper Crane by Molly Bang (Greenwillow Books, Reprint edition, 1987) — 660L
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Book: Mama Panya's Pancakes by Mary & Rich Chamberlin (Barefoot Books, 2006)
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Book: It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach (Square Fish, Reissue edition, 1990) — 590L
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Book: Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora (Dragonfly Books, 1 Reprint edition, 2010) — 860L
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Book: The Empty Pot by Demi (Square Fish, Reprint edition, 1996) — 630L
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Book: Why the Sky is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1995) — 800L
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Book: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale by Carmen Agra Deedy (Peachtree Publishers, Reprint edition, 2014) — 610L
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Book: Juan Bobo Goes to Work: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale by Marisa Montes (Rayo, 1st edition, 2000) — 540L
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Assessment Text: “The Crane Girl” by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Lin Wang (Shen's Books)
Supporting Texts
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Book: The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (Dragonfly Books, 2003)
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Amazing Animals
Core Texts
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Book: What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins (Clarion Books; Reprint edition, 2008) — 510L
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Book: What Color Is Camouflage? by Carolyn B. Otto (HarperCollins, 1996) — 610L
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Book: Living Color by Steve Jenkins (Clarion Books, 2012) — NC950L
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Book: Gecko by Raymond Huber (Candlewick, 2019) — AD820L
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Book: What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? by Steve Jenkins (Clarion Books; Reprint edition, 2001) — AD760L
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Book: Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Clarion Books; Reprint edition, 2012) — 980L
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Book: Lizards by Laura Marsh (National Geographic Children's Books, 2012) — 460L
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Book: Frogs by Elizabeth Carney (National Geographic Children's Books, 2009) — 470L
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Article: “A World of Animals” by TIME for Kids
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Article: “Hope for Tigers” by Brian S. McGrath (TIME for Kids)
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Article: “Eagles Soar” by Lillian Stone (TIME for Kids)
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Assessment Text: “My First Day” by Robin Page; Steve Jenkins (Clarion Books, 2013) — 590L
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Love Makes a Family
Core Texts
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Book: Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer (Chronicle Books)
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Book: Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown (Children's Book Press, Bilingual edition, 2011) — 580L
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Book: In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books) — 750L
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Book: Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson (Puffin Books, 2013) — AD710L
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Book: Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers) — 580L
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Book: The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali (Little Brown Books for Young Readers) — 500L
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Book: Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2010) — 490L
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Book: My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete (Scholastic Press, 1 edition, 2010) — 540L
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Book: A Tale of Two Seders by Mindy Avra Portnoy (Kar-Ben Publishing)
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Book: Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson (Puffin Books, Reprint edition, 2015) — 520L
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Book: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 1 edition, 2015) — 610L
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Book: Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker (Schwartz & Wade)
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Book: I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Reprint edition, 2004) — 510L
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Book: Grandfather Counts by Deborah J Short (National Geographic School Pub, Reprint edition, 2003) — AD570L
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Book: Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina (Candlewick, 1st Edition edition, 2015) — 560L
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Book: Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki (Kids Can Press) — 800L
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Book: Dear Juno by Soyung Pak (Puffin Books, Reprint edition, 2001) — 500L
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Book: Grandmother's Visit by Betty Quan (Groundwood Books)
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Book: Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard (Roaring Brook Press)
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Book: Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Ying-Hwa Hu (Heartdrum) — 650L
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Book: Freedom Soup by Tami Charles (Candlewick)
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Book: First Laugh - Welcome Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe, Nancy Bo Flood (Charlesbridge) — 500L
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Assessment Text: “Sitti's Secrets” by Naomi Shihab Nye and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Aladdin) — AD650LL
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Inspiring Artists and Musicians
Core Texts
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Book: A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013) — 610L
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Book: Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan (Square Fish; 1st edition, 2007) — 750L
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Book: Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh (Harry N. Abrams; First Edition edition, 2011) — AD1040L
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Book: Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos by Monica Brown (NorthSouth Books; Illustrated edition, 2017)
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Book: Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (Harry N. Abrams; Illustrated edition, 2015) — NL
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Book: Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkey (Hyperion Book CH; 1 edition, 2006) — AD800L
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Book: When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan (Scholastic Press; 1st edition, 2002) — 920L
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Book: When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana by Michael Mahin — 610L
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Book: When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill (Roaring Brook Press; First Edition edition, 2013) — AD770L
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Book: Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Robert Andrew Parker (Dragonfly Books; Illustrated edition, 2016) — 750L
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Book: Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews (Harry N. Abrams, 2015) — 760L
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Book: Rock & Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story by Sebastian Robertson (Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Illustrated edition, 2014) — NL
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Book: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition, 2016) — 1050L
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Book: Misty Copeland (You Should Meet Series) by Laurie Calkhoven (Simon Spotlight; Illustrated edition, 2016)
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Book: Firebird by Misty Copeland (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition, 2014)
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Book: Misty Copeland: Ballet Star by Sarah Howden (Collins; Illustrated edition, 2020)
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Book: Bunheads by Misty Copeland (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2020)
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Assessment Text: “Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens” by Nina Nolan and illustrated by John Holyfield (HarperCollins) — HL500LL
Supporting Texts
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Painting: School Studies by Horace Pippin (1944)
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Painting: One: Number 31 by Jackson Pollock (1950)
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Painting: Tenochtitlán by Diego Rivera (1945)
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Painting: Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird by Frida Kahlo (1940)
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Painting: Untitled by Jean-Michel Basquiat
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Painting: Calaveras by José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada
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Song: “Black, Brown and Beige”
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Song: “Yesterdays”
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Song: “My Country Tis of Thee”
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Song: “Oye Como Va”
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Song: “Where Y’At”
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Song: “The Weight”
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Song: “Let Me Clear My Throat”
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
The Seven Continents
Core Texts
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Book: Explore North America by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG720L
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Book: Redwoods by Jason Chin (Flashpoint, 2019) — NC1100L
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Book: Explore South America by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG700L
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Book: The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry (Clarion Books, 2000) — 590L
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Book: Explore Africa by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG650L
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Book: Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion (Peachtree Publishing, 2022)
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Book: Explore Antartica by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG700L
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Book: Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder by Mario Cuesta Hernando (Prestel Junior, 2021)
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Book: Explore Australia and Oceania by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG640L
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Book: The Great Barrier Reef by Helen Scales (Flying Eye Books, 2022) — AD1100L
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Book: Explore Europe by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG690L
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Book: Child of St Kilda by Beth Waters (Child's Play (International) Ltd, 2019) — 1030L
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Book: Explore Asia by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007) — IG610L
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Book: Everest by Sangma Francis (Flying Eye Books, 2018)
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
The Power of Reading
Core Texts
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Book: Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora (HarperCollins Publishers, 2016) — AD490L
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Book: The Good Little Book by Kyo Maclear (Tundra Books, 2015)
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Book: That Book Woman by Heather Henson (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008) — AD920L
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Book: Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown (Tricycle Press, 2011)
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Book: Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora (Dragon Fly Books, 1st Dragonfly Books Ed edition, 2000) — 500L
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Book: Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul and illustrated by John Parra (Clarion Books; Illustrated edition, 2019) — 750L
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Book: Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel (Schwartz & Wade; Illustrated edition, 2020) — AD730L
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Book: Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges (Chronicle Books, Reprint edition, 2015) — 860L
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Book: Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter (Beach Lane Books, 2009) — 630L
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Book: Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard (Aladdin, Reprint edition, 2005) — 520L
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Book: Grandmother School by Rina Singh (Orca Book Publishers; Illustrated edition, 2020)
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Book: Running the Road to ABC by Denize Lauture (Aladdin, Reprint edition, 2000) — 710L
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Book: The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard (Schwartz & Wade; Illustrated edition, 2020) — AD830L
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Book: More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby (Orchard Books, 1995) — 570L
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Book: The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles (Scholastic Paperbacks, Rep Anv Sp edition, 2010) — 730L
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Book: Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh (Harry N. Abrams; Illustrated edition, 2014) — AD870L
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Book: Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books; Illustrated edition, 2012) — AD650L
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Book: Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant (Knopf Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2016) — 590L
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Assessment Text: “Dear Librarian” by Lydia M. Sigwarth and Romina Galotta (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) — 530LL
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Making Old Stories New
Core Texts
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Book: The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2010) — 550L
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Book: The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel (Two Lions, 2009) — 550L
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Book: The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell (Cooper Square Publishing Llc, 1st edition, 1992) — 580L
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Book: The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2012) — 630L
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Book: Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas (Margaret K. McElderry Books, Reprint edition, 1997) — 700L
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Book: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka (Puffin Books; Reprint edition, 1996) — 510L
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Book: Little Red Riding Hood by Paul Galdone (HMH Books for Young Readers, First Edition Thus edition, 2012)
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Book: Lon Po Po, A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young (Puffin Books, Reprint edition, 1996) — 670L
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Book: Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Bilingual edition, 2014)
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Book: Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2014) — AD570L
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Book: Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007) — AD700L
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Book: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood: The Wolf's Story by Toby Forward (Walker Books Ltd, 2006) — AD520L
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Book: Wolves (National Geographic Readers) by Laura Marsh (National Geographic Kids; Illustrated edition, 2012) — 570L
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Assessment Text: “Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!” by Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrated by Gerald Claude Guerlais (Picture Window Books) — 460LL
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Movements for Equality
Core Texts
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Book: Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Tanya Lee Stone and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon (Square Fish; 1 Reprint edition, 2010) — AD700L
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Book: She Was the First! The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Lee & Low Books; Illustrated edition, 2020)
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Book: Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Laura Freeman (Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2020) — AD890L
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Book: Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition, 2010) — 500LL
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Book: Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison (HMH Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2018) — 650L
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Book: Someday is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-ins by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and illustrated by Jade Johnson (Seagrass Press; Illustrated edition, 2018) — 850L
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Book: Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Jamey Christoph (Random House Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2019) — AD970L
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Book: Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno (Random House Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2018) — HL620L
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Book: All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Nabi Ali (Sourcebooks Explore; Illustrated edition, 2020) — AD680L
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Book: Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls (Random House Children's Books, 2015) — AD770L
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Book: A Boy and A Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz and illustrated by Catia Chien (HMH Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, 2014) — AD670L
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Book: !Sí, Se Puede!/Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A. by Diana Cohn and illustrated by Francisco Delgado (Cinco Puntos Press; illustrated edition, 2005)
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Book: Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Balzar + Bray; First Edition edition, 2013) — AD760L
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Book: We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaele Goade (Roaring Brook Press; Illustrated edition, 2020)
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Book: The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson (Second Story Press, 2017) — 730L
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Book: Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock by Aslan Tudor, Kelly Tudor, and Jason Eaglespeaker (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018)
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Assessment Text: “Follow The Moon Home” by Phillippe Cousteau; Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Meilo So (Chronicle Books) — NC590LL
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
Ancient Egypt
Core Texts
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Book: Mummies and Pyramids: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #3: Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne (Random House Books for Young Readers) — 740L
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Book: DK FindOut! Ancient Egypt by Dr. Angela McDonald (DK Children) — 920L
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Book: National Geographic Readers: Pyramids by Laura Marsh (National Geographic Kids) — 560L
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Book: Tut's Mummy Lost... and Found by Judy Donnelly (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1988) — 540L
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Assessment Text: “National Geographic Readers: Egypt Collection” by National Kids (National Geographic Kids) — 560L; 710LL
Supporting Texts
- Resource: Book List for Further Reading
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