Reading Lists!

Hopefully there will be a page on here soon with some of my work to purchase! In the meantime, check out some of my favorite read-alouds that I use in my classroom. Feel free to send me your suggestions, too! Use the form at the bottom. :)

"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."

C.S. Lewis

Seasonal Favorites

Saint Patrick the Forgiver - Ned Bustard

Link here!

This book came as a recommendation from my brother and sister-in-law. I am always looking for good quality books to introduce my students to different holidays. I teach kids from all over the world and it is fun to share holidays and traditions as a class. The illustrations in this book are really fun and it tells the story of Saint Patrick. I am excited to read this both to my kiddos and to my students.

He Always Hears - Alyson Punzi

Link here!

I will be upfront and say that I have not read this book yet. It popped up on my Amazon suggestions, and it looked good! I am anxious to try it out, so if anyone else has-let me know what you think. I love the idea of using stories to talk about difficult things with children. This book talks about the idea of Lament in an age-appropriate way. I thought it could be a good one to try during this season of Lent, as we wait in hope for the one who makes all things new.

Theology and Faith Books

You Are Special - Max Lucado

Link here!

This book is an older one, but still so beautiful. I read this book as a kid and still read it to my students today. I love the idea that when you are confident in your identity as one truly valued by the Creator, the "dots" and "stars" of others' opinions just fall right off. This unique story is full of beautiful lessons for students.

The World Jesus Knew - Marc Olson

Link here!

This reference book is beautifully illustrated and helps introduce students to the culture of the first century. We discuss in our class how important context is. Part of that is understanding the Bible was given to people in a specific place and time. It meant something to them, just as it means things to us today. If we want proper application, understanding the context that scripture was given in is important. This book has been a great tool.

The Ology - Marty Machowski

Link here!

This book is a simple way to introduce sometimes complicated Theology to students. We use this book as a resource reading chapters as needed. Each section includes Scripture to visit and picture representation of the theological concept. It makes a great daily devotional or a resource as questions/lessons come up.

The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross - Carl Laferton

Link here!

This gospel story is a great example of leaning into the beautiful big picture story of the Bible. Throughout its pages, this book weaves in the truth of people's separation from God due to our sin from the garden onward and then brings us to the cross. As the temple curtain is ripped in two, students learn that through Christ, we can come in once again and fellowship with our God. It is a beautiful telling of the gospel with deep theology approached in an age-appropriate way.

Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It - Hunter Beless

Link here!

One of the first lessons I teach my Bible class is about the Word of God. For the first few weeks of Bible class, we discuss truths about the Word, how we received it, the different books, the meta-narrative of Scripture, how to read it, etc. I have used this book as both an introduction and as a concluding read-aloud to these lessons. I heard a quote once that the more we learn about God, the more we love Him, and the more we love Him, the more we want to know Him. It is my hope that my students (and all of us), will get caught up into the ever-continuing circle of learning about and loving God. We need to all be students of God's Word. We were made to know Him and know Him deeply.

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones

Link here!

We bought this book to read before we even had kids. I had heard good things about it. If I am honest, this was one of the first books that started me on a journey to love the Old Testament. I struggled with some of the stories and had a hard time reconciling the God of the Old Testament with the God of the New. Sally Lloyd-Jones did a tremendous job pointing us all to Jesus through each of the stories she covers in this storybook. God's rescue plan began the moment we sinned in the garden and it is woven throughout the Old Testament, each story like an arrow pointing us to the Savior that would be coming.

The Church History ABCs - Stephen Nichols Ned Bustard

Link Here!

This is a simple introduction to many heroes of the faith. I have used this both as a quick overview of some of the well-known individuals in church history, as well as an introduction to go more in depth with certain names. I always find it helpful to point out to students that these people were not perfect. When I began researching some of these names as an adult, I was a bit disenchanted when I realized that some of them had some pretty noticeable flaws in their character. Now, when I teach about these heroes of faith, both inside and outside of the Bible, I make sure that I remind students that God uses broken people. We should be thankful that he does, because that means he can use us too!

Bible Infographics - Harvest House Publishers

Link here!

This is another fun resource book that has beautiful illustrations. There is a series of these books and they are full of graphs, maps, comparisons, and countless other images to help students better understand different things in the Bible. This book is great for reading straight through or to use as a companion when discussing something specific in Scripture.

How Great is Our God - Louie Giglio

Link here!

This book was actually recommended to me by a student. On their request, we used this book as our daily devotional and the kids loved it. It intertwines science and faith in a beautiful way and introduces students to unique facts about our world. My daughter loves science and it makes me happy to be able to give her a resource that talks about science in a way that honors the one that created science! Often faith and facts seem to be put at odds, but as Augustine tells us, "All truth is God's truth." We don't need to fear science, but rather we can glorify God all the more for the wonderful creation he has given us to enjoy!

Goodbye to Goodbyes - Lauren Chandler

Link here!

This book carries with it the memory of one of the most powerful lessons of faith and classroom community that I have been able to witness in my classroom. During Covid, the father of one of two of my students passed away. I tried to think of a way to discuss this with my students and came to this book. We read it together and through it were able to talk about grief, loss, death, and a promise that this is not all there is. Afterwards, we were able to pray for this family, but with the reminder that, "we do not grieve as those who have no hope." I love that stories help us bridge into these difficult spaces in ways that nothing else can.

S.T.E.A.M. and S.E.L. Books

The Invisible Boy - Trudy Ludwig

Link here!

This is a sweet story about kindness, bravery, and seeing each other and the different ways that God created us. One thing I really like about this story is that the "invisible boy" doesn't wait to be seen by others. He isn't passive. Instead he reaches out and sees others and through that, finds the bravery to be known as well.

The Rabbit Listened - Cori Doerrfield

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This book is a hard one for me to read, as it is always a lesson for me as well. I like to believe that every problem has a solution and I am a chronic "fixer." This book discusses the many different ways that people deal with sad things and highlights the gift of having someone there simply to listen. We discuss active listening a lot in my class and I wonder how many things could be "fixed" if we simply learned to listen first.

My New Friend Is So Fun! - Mo Williams

Link here!

Mo Willems is a gift and his books are wonderful. This one specifically, I recommend to adults too! Friendships are hard and sharing friends is difficult no matter what age you are. This book is about understanding that other relationships are not in competition or devalue your own. (It is helpful when you are aware that people are hanging out without you - they still like you! I promise!)

Me and my Fear - Francesca Sanna

Link here!

This is a story about transition and new places. It discusses the idea of fear, not as something to run from or avoid, but rather as a constant companion that can be helpful and controlled. It is also a companion that everyone has! The illustrations are really cute and the book always spurs on good conversation with my students.

Ish -Peter Reynolds

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I enjoy a lot of Peter Reynolds' work. This one is one of my favorites. It is the story about being confident in doing your best versus trying for perfection. It highlights the beauty of differences and includes the theme of creativity and art, which I always enjoy. As one of my students would always tell our class, "Practice doesn't make perfect, but it does make better."

My Mouth is a Volcano - Julia Cook

Link here!

One of the lessons that I always start the year with is a lesson on stewardship and control. There are certain things that students can control and certain things that they cannot. Understanding the difference in those things is an important part of life. I tell them that our goal is to control what we are given to control and then to rest and trust God with the other things. This is hard for adults, too. (Can I get an, "Amen!") I use this book to remind students that they are in control of what and how they speak. It gives reminders to listen more and to be careful in what we choose to say.

How to Spot an Artist - Danielle Krysa

Link here!

Oh, I love this book. It talks about how everyone is creative and an artist. We widely apply the term "artist" in my classroom and encourage all students to create in the way that only they can. This book warns against "art bullies," which after reading this book, we constantly look out for as well- specifically when people are art bullies towards themselves. God is a great Creator and we are made in his image. I think it makes Him happy to see his children step into messy spaces and work to create beauty that didn't exist before - in whatever way that looks for each individual.

Beneath - Cori Doerrfeld

Link here!

This is another great one from Cori Doerrfeld. The illustrations in the story are beautiful as a young boy begins the story completely hidden by a blanket and throughout the story emerges more and more. The book discusses the themes of vulnerability, trust, and understanding. There is always more going on beneath the surface. It takes courage to be honest in sharing those things with others. It also means listening and understanding as others share those things with you.

Duck! Rabbit! - Amy Rosenthall & Tom Lichtenheld

link here

This book is simple and entertaining. I use this read aloud when discussing how we all think differently and approach things in different ways than others. That is a great thing and evidence of our great Creator's unique design in making us as individuals and creating us to live in community.

Enemy Pie - Derek Munson

Link here!

This is a fun story about working to understand each other and not going off of assumptions. Relationships are hard - they just are. This is an entertaining example of how first impressions aren't always what they seem and how you can find friends in surprising places.

After the Fall - Dan Santat

Link here!

My students always love this one! It is the story of Humpty Dumpty AFTER he fell. In this story, Humpty is scared of heights after his fall, because there are some things that all the king's horses and all the king's men can't fix. He lets that fear and disappointment control him...until he doesn't. It is a beautiful story about recovering after failure. This is a theme we discuss a lot in our classroom. I want students to learn to fail well and to know how to dust themselves off and try again. This one also has beautiful illustrations!

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport - Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

link here

This book is a great read aloud to talk about transitions, expectations, assumptions, and new experiences. I often read it the first week of school. Funny story- for the first few years that I read this book pronounced "Gila" phonetically because I had never heard of them before. I still cringe at this memory... To save you the embarrassment: it is 'Hee-la' monster.

Books on Teaching and Writing

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The Word Collector -Peter Reynolds

Link here!

Here is another favorite of mine by Peter Reynolds. It is a fun story about finding words and putting them together. The first week of writing lessons are my favorite. One of the lessons that I do is about the beauty of words. We are always on the hunt as a class for "juicy words." We stick them up on our word wall and write lists of them in our writing notebook. I have students that aren't afraid of poetry or who work to say things in creative ways because playing with words is fun...and powerful. We keep a quote by our word wall. It reads, "Words are sacred. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little." -Tom Stoppard

On Writing - Stephen King

Link here!

This is a book for adults, but I found it so interesting! I am not a fan of the horror genre, myself, but I really enjoyed reading Stephen King's perspective on writing. This book is part essay on the craft of writing and part memoir of Stephen King's writing journey. Both parts were fascinating and really helpful. He discusses his writing process and emphasizes the importance of being a reader. This is advice that I have read from many authors and advice that I share with my students.

Look! I Wrote a Book! - Sally Lloyd-Jones

Link here!

This is a read-aloud that I use to teach my students about the writing process. I want my students to have a solid understanding of the steps of the writing process and also how to use it in a way that works for them as an individual writer. This book is a simple introduction to that process and builds excitement in the idea that they are authors in their own right.

Gospel-Centered Teaching - Trevin Wax

Link here!

I just love this book. It is probably my favorite resource for anyone who is teaching children in some capacity. In this book, Trevin Wax shares a picture that has stayed with me in my years of teaching and now as a parent. He talks about kids trying on their parent's shoes. They put them on and walk around. They are a bit clumsy and we all say, "aw how cute." But we know eventually they will grow up and those shoes will fit them someday. In the same way, we teach kids strong truths. Their understanding might be a bit clumsy right now, but we know that they will grow into those truths someday. May we steward our opportunities well and become gospel teachers that help kids grow into faith as they grow up!

Gospel Centered Kids Ministry - Brian Dembowczyk

Link here!

This is another good resource for adults who work with kids. I so appreciate resources that remind us that our goal is not to create "moral kids," but rather to introduce kids to the life-altering truth of the gospel of Christ.

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

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Here is another book about writing for adults. Anne Lamott gives a lot of practical advice for writers. I also use a quote of hers every year for my very first writing lesson in my classroom. Anne Lamott writes that, "Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. The thing you had to force you to do — the actual act of writing — turns out to be the best part." As we decorate our writing notebooks, my students also tape this quote somewhere on the cover and we reflect on this throughout the year.

Adorning the Dark - Andrew Peterson

Link here!

I not only love this book, but think the title is just beautiful imagery. This is a book for adults about creating. I truly believe that as God is the great Creator and as we are made in his image, we are meant to make things. This looks different for every person. For some, it is making art or writing pieces, for others it is making science experiments or beautiful dinners. Our world is both beautiful and broken. As we create, maybe we can slightly mirror the beauty that is around us and the perfect beauty that will be as the Creator makes all things new. And also, maybe we can bring some light and lightness to the dark and heavy brokeness that we live under in this world marred by sin.

Art + Faith - Makota Fujimura

Link here!

This is another book about the Theology of making and creativity. I especially like Makoto Fujimura's chapter on the Japanese artform, Kintsugi, and how it reflects the truth of the gospel.