Reading Representation Grades K-2

The books on this list have been curated for grades K-2 by Guilford Free Library and Guilford Public Schools librarians. These titles showcase characters from a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and family structures, affirming everyone’s presence and value in society while also being good stories that children enjoy! Reading stories from different perspectives inspires empathy, fostering self-love as well as a greater connection with others. This project is also presented by the Guilford Anti-Bias Anti-Racist (ABAR) Alliance, a collaborative partnership of educators, parents, and caregivers who work to further inclusion, equity, and tolerance within Guilford Public Schools. Learn more at www.GuilfordCtABAR.com.
 

Showing 1 - 18 of 18  There are a total of 48 valid entries on the list.

1. Alfie: (the turtle that disappeared)

Book cover for "Alfie"
Star rating for Alfie
Author:
Heder, Thyra
Average Rating:
4 stars
Formats:
Book, Hoopla eBook, OverDrive eBook
Description:
Told from the perspective of both the girl, Nia, and her pet turtle, Alfie, and describes what happens when he disappears on the eve of her seventh birthday to find her a special present.

2. All around us

Book cover for "All around us"
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Author:
González, Xelena
Average Rating:
3 stars
Formats:
Book, Hoopla eAudiobook
Description:
Finding circles everywhere, a grandfather and his granddaughter meditate on the cycles of life and nature.

3. Career day

Book cover for "Career day"
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Author:
Rockwell, Anne F.
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book has 3
JJ FAVORITES ROCKWELL
Description:
Each child in Mrs. Madoff's class brings a visitor who tells the group about his or her job. Guided reading level : I

4. Evelyn Del Rey is moving away

Book cover for "Evelyn Del Rey is moving away"
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Author:
Medina, Meg
Formats:
Book, Hoopla eAudiobook, OverDrive eBook, Readalong
Description:
Evelyn Del Rey is Daniela's best friend. They do everything together and even live in twin apartments across the street from each other: Daniela with her mami and hamster, and Evelyn with her mami, papi, and cat. But not after today--not after Evelyn moves away. Until then, the girls play amid the moving boxes until it's time to say goodbye, making promises to keep in touch, because they know that their friendship will always be special. The tenderness...

5. Green pants

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Author:
Kraegel, Kenneth
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ GROWING UP KRAEGEL
Description:
Jameson refuses to wear pants that are not green, until he has to choose between wearing his green pants and wearing a tuxedo with black pants so that he can be in his cousin's wedding.

6. Hair love

Book cover for "Hair love"
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Author:
Cherry, Matthew A
Average Rating:
4 stars
Formats:
Book, Hoopla eAudiobook
Description:
A little girl's daddy steps in to help her arrange her curly, coiling, wild hair into styles that allow her to be her natural, beautiful self.

7. Harlem Grown: how one big idea transformed a neighborhood

Book cover for "Harlem Grown"
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Author:
Hillery, Tony
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Non-Fiction has 2
J635.9 HILLERY
Description:
"Once there was a lot full of trash. Now there is a lush, green farm. This is the story of Harlem Grown, a garden in New York City"--

8. Harriet gets carried away

Book cover for "Harriet gets carried away"
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Author:
Sima, Jessie
Average Rating:
5 stars
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book has 3
JJ MAKE BELIEVE SIMA
Description:
While shopping with her two dads for supplies for her birthday party, Harriet, who is wearing a penguin costume, is carried away by a waddle of penguins and must hatch a plan in order to get herself back to the store in the city.

9. If your monster won't go to bed

Book cover for "If your monster won't go to bed"
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Author:
Vega, Denise
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ FAIRY TALES VEGA
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ MAKE BELIEVE VEGA
Description:
A handbook for youngsters that includes such instructions as "pour your monster a nice big glass of healthy, crunchy, oozy bug juice slimed with ooey-gooey snail trails to calm him."

10. Jabari tries

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Author:
Cornwall, Gaia
Average Rating:
5 stars
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ ACTIVITIES CORNWALL
Guilford New Juvenile
JJ ACTIVITIES CORNWALL
Description:
Making a flying machine can be frustrating, but a partner and a little patience just might help Jabari's invention soar.

11. The night is yours

Book cover for "The night is yours"
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Author:
Zachariah, Abdul-Razak
Average Rating:
5 stars
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book has 2
JJ ACTIVITIES ZACHARIAH
Description:
From a vantage point high in their apartment, a parent narrates as Amani plays hide-and-seek at night with her friends in the neighborhood.

12. Quiet! there's a canary in the library

Book cover for "Quiet! there's a canary in the library"
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Author:
Freeman, Don, 1908-1978
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ FAVORITES FREEMAN
Description:
Cary imagines a special day at the library when she invites only animals and birds to browse.

13. The sandwich swap

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Author:
Rania, Queen, consort of Abdullah II, King of Jordan, 1970-
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ GROWING UP ABDULLAH
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ GROWING UP RANIA
Description:
Best friends Lily and Salma disagree over their preferred foods, but after trading sandwiches to see how they taste, the girls change their minds.

14. The snowy day

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Author:
Keats, Ezra Jack
Average Rating:
4.5 stars
Formats:
Book, Readalong
Description:
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.

15. Ten ways to hear snow

Book cover for "Ten ways to hear snow"
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Author:
Camper, Cathy
Average Rating:
3 stars
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On Shelf
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book has 2
JJ ACTIVITIES CAMPER
Description:
Walking to her grandmother's home to help make warak enab, Lina discovers many ways to hear snow, from the scrape of a shovel on a sidewalk to the quiet pats of snowman-building.

16. The Three Billy Goats Buenos

Book cover for "The Three Billy Goats Buenos"
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Author:
Elya, Susan Middletown
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On Shelf

1 copy on order.
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book
JJ FAIRY TALES THREE BILLY BOATS/ ELYA
Description:
"A rhyming twist on the classic tale in which the goats help fix what is making the troll so grumpy in order to cross the bridge. Incorporates Spanish words and includes a glossary"--

17. We don't eat our classmates!

Book cover for "We don't eat our classmates!"
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Author:
Higgins, Ryan T.
Average Rating:
5 stars
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On Shelf

1 copy on order.
Guilford Juvenile Picture Book has 2
JJ MAKE BELIEVE HIGGINS
Description:
When the class pet bites the finger of Penelope, a tyrannosaurus rex, she finally understands why she should not eat her classmates, no matter how tasty they are.

18. Zin! zin! zin!: a violin

Book cover for "Zin! zin! zin!"
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Author:
Moss, Lloyd
Formats:
Book, CD Audiobook, Kit
Description:
Ten instruments take their parts one by one in a musical performance.