Category: information

Global Read Aloud: Notes as We Leave November

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GRA banner with slogan: one book to connect the world

In a hurry? Here’s the rundown:

  • GRA 2026 will kick off October 5th, and finish November 13th, 2026.
  • I’m giving you a sneakpeek into which books I can’t stop thinking about.
  • And if you have ever wondered why I choose one book over another, here’s your chance to learn more.

I am so grateful for the response to the newsletter. I, too, am trying to wrestle my attention away from social media, and so having this space, as a space to communicate straight to you, is a joy. I will try to keep it brief.

The Books I Can’t Stop Thinking About

Whale Eyes – A Memoir about Seeing and Being Seen

Whale Eyes is how you write a memoir. Wow. The words soar, and the illustrations illuminate a thoughtful and powerful message: see me not just for my eyes, but because I deserve to be seen. I was captivated by the raw, beautifully written stories and the layered experiences shared within these pages. Each moment challenges us to question how we perceive others—and how often we fail to truly see their humanity, especially when disability enters the conversation. This book doesn’t just invite reflection; it demands it, in the most profound way.

Growing Home: Reading it felt like getting a warm hug.

I kept thinking about all the conversations this book will spark during a read-aloud: about word choice, character change, and the magic of wondering what might happen next. It’s whimsical, magical, and wondrous in that rare childlike way that still feels deeply wise.

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze: This book will carve out its own legacy. This is the kind of book that demands to be shared, discussed, and read aloud. You know a book is great when it sparks conversations even with those who haven’t read it yet. Henson Blayze does exactly that. Because what value do we place on exceptional Black boys? How do we protect, exploit, or manipulate those who show promise beyond their years—when they’re not obligated to save the world? We live in a time when Black boys are often only allowed to be exceptional if we can exploit their talent, when especially those outside Black communities seek to dictate what it means to be humble, to give of themselves.

This isn’t just a book about sports, or even about brutality. It’s about reclaiming legacy, about resisting the ways others try to define your worth, about the continued oppression of those who we see as more—who are told they should know their place. It’s about reframing how we view the value of Black boys in white society. It’s brilliant, necessary, and exceptional in its ability to connect to the ordinary.

Tyger:

Set in an alternate reality London, where the empire never ceased to exist and slavery was never abolished, Young Adam comes upon a mythical tyger who needs his help. Find the guardians and open the river. What follows is a page turning quest, that not only reflects the current time we’re living in, but also the past, and the future. A hero for now, and a story that will stay with me for a long time. Perfect for middle school and up, for pleasure reading also literary work. 

A Few Things You Should Know

Kick off next year will be…

Mark your calendar for October 5th, 2026, which is when the 17th annual (😱) Global Read Aloud will kick off. As always, it will run for 6 weeks. Book choices should be out in March or April, depending on my reading speed and luck in finding the right books.

How did you choose this book?

Wondering how a book becomes a Global Read Aloud contender? I wrote about it all the way back in 2014, but recently updated the post. It is not simply about being a great story, although that is a huge part of it, but also whether people can even access it outside of the US, and whether it will appeal to a global audience.

Did you read this book yet?

Have a book or author to suggest? Make sure you add it here so I can learn more.

And finally…

Want to know what I am reading and loving, even if it is not a GRA contender – follow me on Instagram. Have anything I should know, feedback, or just questions – send me an email p@globalreadaloud.com or leave a comment here.

As the darkness settles deeper over Denmark, I keep finding myself turning to the pages of a book — for comfort, for questions, for a bit of light when it feels far away. Whether you’re heading toward the dark or toward the light, I hope you find that same small steadiness in the stories you read.

Until next time, keep reading. And keep sending me your thoughts — and your book ideas.
❤️ Pernille


Global Read Aloud: As We Wrap up November

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GRA banner with slogan: one book to connect the world

In a hurry? Here’s the rundown:

  • GRA 2026 will kick off October 5th, and finish November 13th, 2026.
  • I’m giving you a sneakpeek into which books I can’t stop thinking about.
  • And if you have ever wondered why I choose one book over another, here’s your chance to learn more.

I am so grateful for the response to the newsletter. I, too, am trying to wrestle my attention away from social media, and so having this space, as a space to communicate straight to you, is a joy. I will try to keep it brief.

The Books I Can’t Stop Thinking About

Whale Eyes – A Memoir about Seeing and Being Seen

Whale Eyes is how you write a memoir. Wow. The words soar, and the illustrations illuminate a thoughtful and powerful message: see me not just for my eyes, but because I deserve to be seen. I was captivated by the raw, beautifully written stories and the layered experiences shared within these pages. Each moment challenges us to question how we perceive others—and how often we fail to truly see their humanity, especially when disability enters the conversation. This book doesn’t just invite reflection; it demands it, in the most profound way.

Growing Home: Reading it felt like getting a warm hug.

I kept thinking about all the conversations this book will spark during a read-aloud: about word choice, character change, and the magic of wondering what might happen next. It’s whimsical, magical, and wondrous in that rare childlike way that still feels deeply wise.

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze: This book will carve out its own legacy. This is the kind of book that demands to be shared, discussed, and read aloud. You know a book is great when it sparks conversations even with those who haven’t read it yet. Henson Blayze does exactly that. Because what value do we place on exceptional Black boys? How do we protect, exploit, or manipulate those who show promise beyond their years—when they’re not obligated to save the world? We live in a time when Black boys are often only allowed to be exceptional if we can exploit their talent, when especially those outside Black communities seek to dictate what it means to be humble, to give of themselves.

This isn’t just a book about sports, or even about brutality. It’s about reclaiming legacy, about resisting the ways others try to define your worth, about the continued oppression of those who we see as more—who are told they should know their place. It’s about reframing how we view the value of Black boys in white society. It’s brilliant, necessary, and exceptional in its ability to connect to the ordinary.

Tyger:

Set in an alternate reality London, where the empire never ceased to exist and slavery was never abolished, Young Adam comes upon a mythical tyger who needs his help. Find the guardians and open the river. What follows is a page turning quest, that not only reflects the current time we’re living in, but also the past, and the future. A hero for now, and a story that will stay with me for a long time. Perfect for middle school and up, for pleasure reading also literary work. 

A Few Things You Should Know

Kick off next year will be…

Mark your calendar for October 5th, 2026, which is when the 17th annual (😱) Global Read Aloud will kick off. As always, it will run for 6 weeks. Book choices should be out in March or April, depending on my reading speed and luck in finding the right books.

How did you choose this book?

Wondering how a book becomes a Global Read Aloud contender? I wrote about it all the way back in 2014, but recently updated the post. It is not simply about being a great story, although that is a huge part of it, but also whether people can even access it outside of the US, and whether it will appeal to a global audience.

Did you read this book yet?

Have a book or author to suggest? Make sure you add it here so I can learn more.

And finally…

Want to know what I am reading and loving, even if it is not a GRA contender – follow me on Instagram. Have anything I should know, feedback, or just questions – send me an email p@globalreadaloud.com or leave a comment here.

As the darkness settles deeper over Denmark, I keep finding myself turning to the pages of a book — for comfort, for questions, for a bit of light when it feels far away. Whether you’re heading toward the dark or toward the light, I hope you find that same small steadiness in the stories you read.

Until next time, keep reading. And keep sending me your thoughts — and your book ideas.
❤️ Pernille


GRA banner with slogan: one book to connect the world

GRA Update: Looking Ahead to Next Year

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Welcome — And Thank You

Another Global Read Aloud has come to an end, and I find myself doing what I always do this time of year: sitting with the books, with the kids who read them, and with the small and not-so-small moments that stayed behind. Even as we wrap up one season, the next one starts to whisper its way in.

There is something tender about this in-between time. A closing and an opening. A deep breath before the next stretch of reading and learning together.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

I’ve already begun gathering books for the year to come—stacking them next to my bed, carrying them in my bag, letting them remind me why this project exists in the first place. Because stories make us feel less alone. Because sharing them connects us in ways we cannot always predict.

Over the next few months, I’ll be reading my way toward the next set of choices. Not just one book, but many. Stories that challenge, comfort, disrupt, delight—books that reach for something true.

If you have titles you think I should read, I hope you’ll tell me. This community has always helped widen my view. You can comment here, or fill out this form.

What I’m Wondering About This Year

I also noticed that some of you weren’t able to use the books this time around. I would really love to understand that better.

What got in the way?
What support or different choices would have helped?
Your experience matters, and it shapes the work ahead.

Leave a comment, or send me an email p@globalreadaloud.com

Why Subscribe Here

If you subscribe, you won’t miss the quiet but important updates:

  • the books I’m previewing
  • behind-the-scenes reading notes
  • early news from publishers
  • key dates and planning help

I promise not to overwhelm your inbox. Just what matters, when it matters.

Thank You

Thank you for being here.
Thank you for reading alongside me, for sharing your classrooms and your kids, for believing in the power of pages passed from hand to hand.

Every year, this project rebuilds itself through all of us.
Every year, it surprises me again.

Here’s to the journey ahead, whatever stories find us next.

— Pernille

Global Read Aloud Choices 2023 #GRA23

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There is never anything easy about picking the books and authors for the Global Read Aloud. How can there be when there are so many incredible books to choose from? So many different experiences waiting to be discovered?

I lose sleep. I try different configurations. I talk about it incessantly with my husband. I reach out to trusted friends to hear opinions. And yet, ultimately, it comes down to a gut feeling of what feels right for the moment we are in, for the way conversations are shaped around the globe. Having moved back to Denmark, the global part stands even more in focus. Are the books even available to me here in Denmark? Will they speak to the world I am inhibiting in the way that they will speak to kids in other places?

A lot goes into being a Global Read Aloud choice. I don’t make these selections lightly. There are so many worthy books and stories waiting to be shared on a larger scale, I can’t choose them all, but I wish I could.

Since last year’s selections, in many ways it feels the world got even bleaker. Book bans rage in the US that impact the global publishing industry, hatred grows, and a sense of hope and wonder is harder to reach as we burn out and watch our children struggle in a world that is actively rejecting many of them.

And yet, the stories of hope continue. Of reckoning with our past and using the stories to dream bigger. To know what we came from and know where we want to go.

And so the books I chose are about hope, once again. about seeing how our own thoughts can be as visceral of an enemy as the outside world. About coming together in unlikely ways. Of not shying away from what we were but still finding space to be something more.

So if you like the choices for this year, join me as we kick off the Global Read Aloud on October 2nd, 2023. If you don’t like the choices, don’t join, it’s as easy as that, but I for one am already counting down the days until it kicks off.

There is no sign-up to join, just either pay attention here for more information or join the Facebook communities – I would recommend joining the main one and the one specific to the book (or creator) you choose:

Main GRA Facebook group

Picture Book Study Group

Early Reader Book Group

Upper Elementary/ Middle-Grade Book Group

Middle School Book Group

YA Book Group

Kick-off this year is October 2nd and we run until November 10th.

You don’t have to follow the schedule, but please don’t read ahead and spoil the book(s) for others.

So drumroll, please…here are this year’s selections.

Picture Book Creator Choice:

This year’s chosen creator is Jacqueline Woodson

I have never gone a school year without reading a picture book aloud from Jacqueline Woodson. With every new book she writes, new conversations open up, new connections are made, and kids feel so seen. So we travel into her vast array of stories to select only 6.

WEEK 1 BOOK:

WEEK 2 BOOK:

WEEK 3 BOOK:

WEEK 4 BOOK:

WEEK 5 BOOK:

WEEK 6 BOOK: Free choice out of Jacqueline’s many amazing collaborations.

Just remember that the picture book creator study is open to all ages. It is a great way to participate if you don’t see your students often or have limited read aloud time.

EARLY READER CHOICE

Future Hero: Race to Fire Mountain by Remi Blackwood

Jarell has never quite known where he belongs. He’s ignored at home and teased at school for wanting to draw instead of playing sports with the other boys. The only place he’s ever felt truly at ease is his local barbershop where the owner hangs Jarell’s art up on the walls.

When Jarell discovers a hidden portal in the barbershop, he’s transported to a magical world that’s unlike anything he’s seen before. But it’s not just the powerful gods and dangerous creatures that makes this world different―it’s that everyone believes Jarell is the hero they’ve been waiting for.

Week 1: Chapter 1 – 2

Week 2: Chapter 3 – 4

Week 3: Chapter 5 – 6

Week 4: Chapter 7 – 8

Week 5: Chapter 9 – 10

Week 6: Chapter 11 – end

Hashtag: #GRAFuture

MIDDLE GRADE/UPPER ELEMENTARY CHOICE

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name.

Res was built to explore Mars. He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop humanlike feelings. Maybe there’s a problem with his programming….

Human emotions or not, launch day comes, and Res blasts off to Mars, accompanied by a friendly drone helicopter named Fly. But Res quickly discovers that Mars is a dangerous place filled with dust storms and giant cliffs. As he navigates Mars’s difficult landscape, Res is tested in ways that go beyond space exploration.

As millions of people back on Earth follow his progress, will Res have the determination, courage, and resilience to succeed… and survive? 

Reading Schedule

Week 1: Pages 1-49

Week 2: Pages 50 -99

Week 3: Pages 100 – 150

Week 4: Pages 151 – 200

Week 5: Pages 201 – 246

Week 6: Pages 247 – end

Hashtag: #GRARover

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOICE

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

While this book is not out until May 2nd, 2023 – it is one of the best books of the year in my opinion.

Will is the only round kid in a school full of string beans. So he hides…in baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isn’t the only feeling that dominates Will’s life. He’s also got a crush on a girl named Jules who knows he doesn’t have a chance with—string beans only date string beans—but he can’t help wondering what if?

Will’s best shot at attracting Jules’s attention is by slaying the Will Monster inside him by changing his eating habits and getting more exercise. But the results are either frustratingly slow or infuriatingly unsuccessful, and Will’s shame begins to morph into self-loathing.

As he resorts to increasingly drastic measures to transform his appearance, Will meets skateboarder Markus, who helps him see his body and all it contains as an ever-evolving work in progress.

Reading Schedule

Week 1: Pages 1 – 48 (end after “I didn’t need to eat after all”)

Week 2: Pages 55 – 105

Week 3: Pages 106 – 173

Week 4: Pages 174 – 225

Week 5: Pages 226 – 285

Week 6: Pages 286 – end

Hashtag: #GRAWork

YOUNG ADULT CHOICE

Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narváez Varela

Out of nowhere, a lady comes up to Anamaria and says she’s her, from the future. But Anamaria’s thirteen, she knows better than to talk to a stranger. Girls need to be careful, especially in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico―it’s the 90’s and fear is overtaking her beloved city as cases of kidnapped girls and women become alarmingly common. This thirty-year-old “future” lady doesn’t seem to be dangerous but she won’t stop bothering her, switching between cheesy Hallmark advice about being kind to yourself, and some mysterious talk about saving a girl.


Anamaria definitely doesn’t need any saving, she’s doing just fine. She works hard at her strict, grade-obsessed middle school―so hard that she hardly gets any sleep; so hard that the stress makes her snap not just at mean girls but even her own (few) friends; so hard that when she does sleep she dreams about dying―but she just wants to do the best she can so she can grow up to be successful. Maybe Thirty’s right, maybe she’s not supposed to be so exhausted with her life, but how can she ask for help when her city is mourning the much bigger tragedy of its stolen girls?

Reading Schedule

Week 1: Pages start – 35

Week 2: Pages 36 – 67

Week 3: Pages 68 – 100

Week 4: Pages 101 – 133

Week 5: Pages 134 – 164

Week 6:Pages 165 – end

Hashtag: #GRAThirty

TWITTER HASHTAGS FOR THE YEAR:

Picture book author study – #GRAJackie

Future Hero – #GRAFuture

A Rover’s Story – #GRARover

A Work in Progress – #GRAProgress

Thirty Talks Weird Love – #GRAThirty

GLOBAL READ ALOUD SUPPORT:

T-shirts and other merchandise supporting the project can be found here

To join my Patreon and support the running of the Global Read Aloud plus get access to consultation, coaching, mini-PD and all my resources, go here

TO ORDER YOUR BOOKS:

Please consider ordering the books from Bookshop.org– an independent bookstore that partners with local independent bookstores to sell books. You can see the winner list here and support The Global Read Aloud at the same time.

If you need to order through Amazon, please order it through this affiliate link, the cents earned from it go to purchasing and shipping books to those who cannot get them.

FOR RESOURCES AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

To find answers to the most frequently asked questions, go here – you will find ideas for how to do the project, as well as how you can share your reading.

To find shared resources and share your own, go here – you will find author resources and also created resources from others.

There you have it; another amazing year of connecting awaits. Read the books, share the books, and get ready for another opportunity to make the world smaller.

Love,

Pernille

Join Me in Our Patreon Community and Support the Global Read Aloud! #GRA22

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For the past 12 years, I have shared everything I could think of on this blog, on social media, and working with other educators. Every lesson shared, every question answered, every request sent to me has connected me to so many of you; I have been so grateful for your support of me, the Global Read Aloud, and the work I do.

For 12 years, I have worked tirelessly to help create change in education, to try to lighten the load as much as possible, and to continue this important work. And while that work will continue it is time for it to eveolve a little bit to give you an opportunity for more direct interaction so today I have also launched my Patreon page.

What will this community entail?
It will give us a way to collaborate in a new way, where you don’t have to wait for your district or school to hire me or be able to attend an event, but instead allow you to reach out, get support, and work together in accessible ways. It also will allow me to continue the work of the Global Read Aloud in a sustainable way. In fact, one of the tiers is meant as a way to just support the GRA!

Being a member will offer you access to virtual sessions, curated monthly booklists, specific breakdown of lessons and units, access to some of my presentations, as well as personal brainstorming sessions with me if you so choose. There will also be exclusive content, early access to new resources, monthly Q&As, as well as other opportunities for connections. You can even snag me for an hour-long brainstorming session for you or a small group of people!

With this access, you will get a chance to really tailor our opportunity to work together. You can have specific support from month to month, help co-create units and get the support to create change in your unique situation.

I am excited to have an opportunity to interact more organically and also be available to you for any specific questions and needs you may have.

If you find value in my work, the Global Read Aloud, or have benefitted from it in, then I welcome you to be a part of the community on Patreon where the learning, discussion, and collaboration will continue. If you can’t, don’t worry, this page will still exist with occasional updates and 12 years of materials.evolve

6 Tiers of Support to Choose From
There are 6 different levels for you to choose from, they all offer unique experiences and ways to support this work. All monthly work will kick off March 1st but there are already resources there to explore and help you.

To become a patron, go here.

I have already published the first post and access to my curriculum map, with more content to come. I am excited for what this community will allow us to do and how we can grow together, so welcome!
Thank you for your continued support.
Best,
Pernille

Ask Zetta Elliott Your Questions #GRA21 #GRADragons

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Bio | Zetta Elliott

With the fourth week of the Global Read Aloud 2021 underway, I am so excited to reveal that I will be in conversation with my author extraordinaire, Zetta Elliott, author of this year’s GRA choice for younger readers, Dragons in a Bag. This pre-recorded event will be available to view after October 27th and will be a chance to get your questions answered directly by this incredible author and human being.

So I need your help, what would you like me to ask Zetta? Have your students or classrooms submit their questions to potentially be asked and tune in when the recording is released.

You can submit as many questions as you would like! Just fill in this form between now and November 1st.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS HERE

Happy reading!

Pernille

Zetta Elliott Prizes Galore for the Global Read Aloud #GRA21 #GRADragons

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We are two weeks in to this year’s Global Read Aloud and it has been incredible to see all of the connections and read alouds happening. The magic that happens at all ages is unparalleled; our readers give me so much hope. SOmetimes though we get the chance to make the experience even sweeter and this year is no different. I am so excited to announce some incredible opportunities for those of you reading Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott.

How would you love a visit from the author? If you are based in the US, then you can enter here to potentially win a vist with Zetta!

US Based Author Visit – Enter Here

But don’t worry, if you are outside of the US, you also get a chance to win a visit with Zetta. To enter for that, go here.

Outside of US Author Visit – Enter Here

You can also enter to win a classroom set of Dragons in a Bag if you are in the US. To enter for that, go here.

Winners will be drawn on November 15th.

Happy reading and thank you to Zetta Elliot and Penguin Random House for donating prizes and time.

Ask Duncan Tonatiuh Your Questions #GRA21

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With the second week of the Global Read Aloud 2021 nearly wrapped up, I am so excited to reveal that I will be in conversation with Duncan Tonatiuh in a few weeks. This pre-recorded event will be available to view after October 27th and will be a chance to get your questions answered directly by this incredible creator.

So I need your help, what would you like me to ask Duncan Tonatiuh? Have your students or classrooms submit their questions to potentially be asked and tune in when the recording is released.

You can submit as many questions as you would like! Just fill in this form between now and October 22nd.

Submit your questions here

Happy reading!

Pernille

Ready to Kick Off – Global Read Aloud Information for 2021 #GRA21

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Time is ticking and the kick off to the 2021 Global Read Aloud is nearing.  I am so excited to once again be reading aloud with other educators around the world. If you have not pre-read the books you are doing with your kids, I would highly recommend you do so to make sure they are the right fit for your community. I hope this collection of information is helpful!

For a comprehensive FAQ post, go here

The dates are October 4th – November 12th, 2021 –   you can fall behind, just don’t read ahead.

SO WHO IS THIS YEAR’S PICTURE BOOK STUDY….

Duncan Tonatiuh: Children's Author and Illustrator - UWM Libraries

This year’s chosen creator is Duncan Tonatiuh!

Duncan was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende. He graduated from Parsons The New School for Design and from Eugene Lang College in New York City in 2008. His work is inspired by Ancient Mexican art, particularly that of the Mixtec codex. His aim is to create images that honor the past, but that address contemporary issues that affect people of Mexican origin on both sides of the border. His book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale is the winner of the 2014 Tomás Rivera Mexican American children’s book award. It is also the first book to receive two honorable mentions, one for the illustrations and one for the text, from the Pura Belpré Award for a work that best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books. The book was featured in USA Today, The Chicago Sun, The Houston Chronicle among other major publications because it deals with the controversial topic of immigration. His book Diego Rivera: His World and Ours won the 2012 Pura Belpré illustration award. It also won the 2012 Tomás Rivera. His first book Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin received an honorable mention from the Pura Belpré Award in 2011. It was named an Americas Award Commended Title and a Notable Book for a Global Society list.

WEEK 1:

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin: Tonatiuh, Duncan: 9780810938724: Amazon.com: Books
1st Week: Dear Primo

WEEK 2:

The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended): Tonatiuh, Duncan: 9781419721304: Amazon.com: Books
2nd week; The Princess and the Warrior

WEEK 3:

Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns: A Mesoamerican Creation Myth: Tonatiuh, Duncan: 9781419746772: Amazon.com: Books
3rd week: Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns

WEEK 4:

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)) by [Duncan Tonatiuh]
4th week: Separate is Never Equal

WEEK 5:

5th Week: Diego Rivera: His World and Ours

WEEK 6:

YOUR CHOICE

I am so excited to dive into the fantastic world of Duncan Tonatiuh, there is just so much to uncover. Because Duncan has so many incredible books to choose from, you can also feel free to substitute other of his books in for the ones chosen above, some of his picture books are geared a little older so feel free to make the selections work for you. Please consider following Duncan’s work on social media and supporting your local independent bookstores with your book purchases. If you want to support the Global Read Aloud, please consider purchasing your books through the links placed here, the GRA gets a small affiliate percentage whenever books are purchased through Bookshop.org – a website that sends orders through local bookstores. If your school requires you to use Amazon to order the books, please consider using this link to place your order and support the GRA.

SO WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S EARLY READER BOOK….

Dragons in a Bag: Elliott, Zetta, Geneva B: 9781524770457: Amazon.com: Books
Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott

When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she’s not his grandmother–but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they’ll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don’t let them out of the bag, and don’t feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita have broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?

Why Zetta Elliott had to decolonize her mind to write the children's book Dragons in a Bag | CBC Radio

THE READING CALENDAR WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Week 1: Oct. 4th – 8th : Chapters 1 – 3

Week 2: Oct. 11th – 15th: Chapters 4 – 6

Week 3: Oct. 18 – 22nd: Chapters 7 – 8

Week 4: Oct. 25th – 29th: Chapters 9 – 10

Week 5: Nov. 1st – 5th: Chapters 11 -12

Week 6: Nov. 8th – 12th: Chapters 13 – end

Don’t worry about falling behind, just don’t read ahead and if you need to start later, please do.

Please consider following Zetta’s work on social media and supporting your local independent bookstores with your book purchases. If you want to support the Global Read Aloud, please consider purchasing your books through the links placed here, the GRA gets a small affiliate percentage whenever books are purchased through Bookshop.org – a website that sends orders through local bookstores. If your school requires you to go through Amazon, please consider using this link to purchase the book in order to support the Global Read Aloud.

SO WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S MIDDLE GRADE BOOK….

Jumbies (The Jumbies): Baptiste, Tracey: 9781616205928: Amazon.com: Books
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste!

Corinne La Mer claims she isn’t afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. They’re just tricksters made up by parents to frighten their children. Then one night Corinne chases an agouti all the way into the forbidden forest, and shining yellow eyes follow her to the edge of the trees. They couldn’t belong to a jumbie. Or could they?When Corinne spots a beautiful stranger at the market the very next day, she knows something extraordinary is about to happen. When this same beauty, called Severine, turns up at Corinne’s house, danger is in the air. Severine plans to claim the entire island for the jumbies. Corinne must call on her courage and her friends and learn to use ancient magic she didn’t know she possessed to stop Severine and to save her island home.

Amazon.com: Tracey Baptiste: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

THE READING CALENDAR WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Week 1: Oct. 4th – 8th : Chapters 1 – 7

Week 2: Oct. 11th – 15th: Chapters 8 – 14

Week 3: Oct. 18 – 22nd: Chapters 15-21

Week 4: Oct. 25th – 29th: Chapters 22 – 26

Week 5: Nov. 1st – 5th: Chapters 27 – 39

Week 6: Nov. 8th – 12th: Chapters 40 – end

Don’t worry about falling behind, just don’t read ahead and if you need to start later, please do.

Please consider following Tracey’s work on social media and supporting your local independent bookstores with your book purchases. If you want to support the Global Read Aloud, please consider purchasing your books through the links placed here, the GRA gets a small affiliate percentage whenever books are purchased through Bookshop.org – a website that sends orders through local bookstores.  If your school requires you to go through Amazon, please consider using this link to purchase the book in order to support the Global Read Aloud.

SO WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK….

The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book 1: Robertson, David A.: 9780735266100: Amazon.com: Books
The Barren Grounds by David Alex Robertson

Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.

Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home — until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything — including them.

David Alexander Robertson (Author of When We Were Alone)

THE READING CALENDAR WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Week 1: Oct. 4th – 8th : Chapters 1 – 5

Week 2: Oct. 11th – 15th: Chapters 6 – 10

Week 3: Oct. 18 – 22nd: Chapters 11 – 14

Week 4: Oct. 25th – 29th: Chapters 15 – 18

Week 5: Nov. 1st – 5th: Chapters 19 -22

Week 6: Nov. 8th – 12th: Chapters 23 – end

Don’t worry about falling behind, just don’t read ahead and if you need to start later, please do.

Please consider following David’s work on social media and supporting your local independent bookstores with your book purchases. If you want to support the Global Read Aloud, please consider purchasing your books through the links placed here, the GRA gets a small affiliate percentage whenever books are purchased through Bookshop.org – a website that sends orders through local bookstores.  If your school requires you to go through Amazon, please consider using this link to purchase the book in order to support the Global Read Aloud.

SO WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S YOUNG ADULT BOOK….

Amazon.com: Elatsoe (9781646140053): Little Badger, Darcie, Cai, Rovina: Books
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger!

Elatsoe—Ellie for short—lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant groups. She can raise the spirits of dead animals—most importantly, her ghost dog Kirby. When her beloved cousin dies, all signs point to a car crash, but his ghost tells her otherwise: He was murdered.

Who killed him and how did he die? With the help of her family, her best friend Jay, and the memory great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, Elatsoe, must track down the killer and unravel the mystery of this creepy town and its dark past. But will the nefarious townsfolk and a mysterious Doctor stop her before she gets started?

A breathtaking debut novel featuring an asexual, Apache teen protagonist, Elatsoe combines mystery, horror, noir, ancestral knowledge, haunting illustrations, fantasy elements, and is one of the most-talked about debuts of the year.

THE READING CALENDAR WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Week 1: Oct. 4th – 8th : Chapters 1 – 6

Week 2: Oct. 11th – 15th: Chapters 7 – 12

Week 3: Oct. 18 – 22nd: Chapters 13 – 18

Week 4: Oct. 25th – 29th: Chapters 19 – 24

Week 5: Nov. 1st – 5th: Chapters 25 -30

Week 6: Nov. 8th – 12th: Chapters 31 – end

Don’t worry about falling behind, just don’t read ahead and if you need to start later, please do.

Please consider following Darcie’s work on social media and supporting your local independent bookstores with your book purchases. If you want to support the Global Read Aloud, please consider purchasing your books through the links placed here, the GRA gets a small affiliate percentage whenever books are purchased through Bookshop.org – a website that sends orders through local bookstores.  If your school requires you to go through Amazon, please consider using this link to purchase the book in order to support the Global Read Aloud.

FACEBOOK GROUPS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER EDUCATORS:

Main GRA Facebook group

Picture Book Study Group

Early Reader Book Group

Upper Elementary/ Middle-Grade Book Group

Middle School Book Group

YA Book Group

TWITTER HASHTAGS FOR THE YEAR:

Picture book author study – #GRADuncan

Dragons in a Bag – #GRADragons

The Jumbies – #GRAJumbies

The Barren Grounds – #GRABarren

Elatsoe – #GRAElatsoe

GLOBAL READ ALOUD MERCHANDISE:

T-shirts and other merchandise supporting the project can be found here

To get your free sticker, see this post

RESOURCE SHARING – ADD YOUR IDEAS

Please remember and respect that the Global Read Aloud is trademarked and is established in the spirit of free collaboration.  Please do not create resources to sell for the project – it goes completely against the nature of the work and will result in you being barred from the project.

Do please share resources on this spreadsheet, make sure to not delete anything off it.  Also, please do not change the sharing settings on it.

To see the spreadsheet and add your own free resources, go here

You can also look for connections on the document if you want, this way you do not have to go to Facebook.

Welcome

There are so many great things already happening surrounding these read alouds. It is not too late to join, just get the books, join whichever groups work for you or find a connections in the Shared Resource Document and get ready to read.

I am humbled by the love and support as always that surrounds the GRA. Thank you for being a part of the journey.

Keep reading,

Pernille

Cover Reveal: Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed

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It’s not every day, the Global Read Aloud gets to host a cover reveal, but today is one of those special day and boy, was it easy to say yes to this! In 2018, the middle grade choice for the year was Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, a book that quickly took our GRA community with storm. Kids around the world learned about Pakistan, about the plight of indentured servants, about one girl’s courage to change not just her own life but the lives of others. We were enthralled, enriched, and invested and so many of us begged for more of Amal’s story. Well, Aisha Saeed heard us and in between all of her other writing, she wrote the story of Omar called “Omar Rising” to be released February 1st, 2022!

What is Omar Rising about?

In this compelling companion to New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Amal’s friend Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school.

Omar knows his scholarship to Ghalib Academy Boarding School is a game changer, providing him—the son of a servant—with an opportunity to improve his station in life. He can’t wait to experience all the school has to offer, especially science club and hopefully the soccer team; but when he arrives, his hopes are dashed. First-year scholarship students aren’t allowed to join clubs or teams—and not only that, they have to earn their keep doing menial chores. At first Omar is dejected—but then he gets angry when he learns something even worse—the school deliberately “weeds out” kids like him by requiring them to get significantly higher grades than kids who can pay tuition, making it nearly impossible for scholarship students to graduate. It’s a good thing that in his favorite class, he’s learned the importance of being stubbornly optimistic. So with the help of his tightknit new group of friends—and with the threat of expulsion looming over him—he sets out to do what seems impossible: change a rigged system.

Aisha Saeed on OMAR RISING:

Omar Rising is a story about just how high the stakes of education can be— especially for those whom it may be the only ladder out of their difficult circumstances. As the son of a servant, Omar is doing everything he can to succeed at his new boarding school so he can give his mother and himself a brighter future, but as he navigates his classes, he discovers exactly how unjust his new school is and the power of collective activism to affect change. While Omar’s story is set in Pakistan, as a former educator in the U.S., I’ve witnessed firsthand both the challenges— and the resiliency— of my students as they worked to overcome their own inequitable circumstances.

Are you ready for the cover reveal?

Gorgeous! I can’t wait to read this book.

How can you pre-order it?

Please consider supporting your local independent book store to pre-order this book. You can also order it through Bookshop.org, a website dedicated to funnel book orders through local independent book stores and paying them a larger percentage than other known large scale book sites. However you choose to order it, I know one thing to be true; Aisha’s words changed so many perspectives in Amal Unbound, I know Omar Rising will change many too.

Happy reading!