TRUTH Books
2022-2023
The Little Red Pen, Janet Stevens
(Teamwork)
Poor Little Red Pen! She can’t possibly correct a mountain of homework all by herself. Who will help her? “Not I!” says Stapler. “Not I!” says Eraser. “¡Yo no!” says Pushpin. But when the Little Red Pen tumbles in exhaustion into the Pit of No Return (the trash!), her fellow school supplies must get themselves out of the desk drawer and work together to rescue her. Trouble is, their plan depends on Tank, the rotund class hamster, who’s not inclined to cooperate. Will the Little Red Pen be lost forever?
I Promise, Lebron James
(Respect)
Just a kid from Akron, Ohio, who is dedicated to uplifting youth everywhere, LeBron James knows the key to a better future is to excel in school, do your best, and keep your family close.
I Promise is a lively and inspiring picture book that reminds us that tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.
The Buddy Bench, Patty Brozo
(Understanding)
Having seen what being left out is like, children become agents of change, convincing their teacher to let them build a buddy bench.
A school playground can be a solitary place for a kid without playmates; in one survey, 80 percent of 8- to 10-year-old respondents described being lonely at some point during a school day.
The Big Umbrella, Amy June Bates
(Tolerance)
By the door there is an umbrella. It is big. It is so big that when it starts to rain there is room for everyone underneath. It doesn’t matter if you are tall. Or plaid. Or hairy. It doesn’t matter how many legs you have.
Don’t worry that there won’t be enough room under the umbrella. Because there will always be room.
Room On Our Rock, Kate & Jol Temple
(Harmony)
There are two ways to read this story. When read from left to right, the seals believe there is definitely no room on their rock for others. When the book is read backward, the seals welcome others to shelter on their rock. A heartwarming story about sharing and compassion.
2021-2022
The Lost Narwhal by Tori McGeeSomewhere in his travels, Mel the narwhal has made a wrong turn and ended up thousands of miles from home! Luckily, he's adopted by a pod of beluga whales who treat Mel as if he were one of their own. Inspired by actual events, The Lost Narwhal is a story about embracing your uniqueness and learning what it means to feel accepted. |
Don't Touch My Hair by Sharee Miller
It seems that wherever Aria goes, someone wants to touch her hair. In the street, strangers reach for her fluffy curls; and even under the sea, in the jungle, and in space, she's chased by a mermaid, monkeys, and poked by aliens . . . until, finally, Aria has had enough! |
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman
An unforgettable character teaches a lesson in overcoming obstacles: Tiny T. Rex has a HUGE problem. His friend Pointy needs cheering up and only a hug will do. But with his short stature and teeny T. Rex arms, is a hug impossible? Not if Tiny has anything to say about it! Join this plucky little dinosaur in his very first adventure, Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug—a warm and funny tale that proves the best hugs come from the biggest
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad
A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad. With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.
Aye-Aye Gets Lucky by Terri Tatchell
Aye-Aye doesn't mean to be naughty. He can't help himself. Or can he? Aye-Aye is an endangered lemur who loves pulling pranks on the villagers of Madagascar. He loves it when they squeal, but mostly he loves it when they huck their yummy meals at him. Until one day, they decide enough is enough and ban him from the village! Poor Aye-Aye is lonely and hungry and desperate to find a way to win back their hearts and clear his name. But how can he when he doesn't understand where he went wrong?
Luckily, a friendly flying fox swoops in to teach Aye-Aye a lesson and helps him to understand how his trickster ways made the people feel. Can Aye-Aye find a way to prove to the villagers that he's changed? Will they give him a second chance? Will you?
On the surface, "Aye-Aye Gets Lucky" is about a misunderstood lemur finding a way to win love, but look deeper, and it's a story about empathy, self-acceptance, community, and second chances.
2020-2021
Scribble Stones by Diane Alber
This story starts off with a little stone who thinks he will become something amazing but then soon realizes he had become a dull paper weight. He's on a mission to become something greater and in the process meets scribble and splatter and they all come up with a creative way to bring joy to thousands of people.
Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson
Oliver has always dreamed about where he will fit. Will he be in the mane of a unicorn? The tentacle of a pirate squid? The helmet of an astronaut? When he finally goes in search of his perfect place, he finds that trying to fit in is a lot harder than he thought. But like any puzzle, a little trial and error leads to a solution, and Oliver figures out exactly where he belongs. Where Oliver Fits is a sweet and funny story that explores all the highs and lows of learning to be yourself and shows that fitting in isn't always the best fit.
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can't understand it--how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make THEM happy. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?
I Am Human by Susan Verde
From the picture book dream team behind I Am Yoga and I Am Peace comes the third book in their wellness series: I Am Human. A hopeful meditation on all the great (and challenging) parts of being human, I Am Human shows that it’s okay to make mistakes while also emphasizing the power of good choices by offering a kind word or smile or by saying “I’m sorry.” At its heart, this picture book is a celebration of empathy and compassion that lifts up the flawed fullness of humanity and encourages children to see themselves as part of one big imperfect family—millions strong.
The Cool Bean by Jory John
Everyone knows the cool beans. They’re sooooo cool.
And then there’s the uncool has-bean . . .Always on the sidelines, one bean unsuccessfully tries everything he can to fit in with the crowd—until one day the cool beans show him how it’s done.