All the Ways We Learn

By Chloe Ito Ward, Illustrated by Yaroslava Apollonova

The stereotypical vision of “perfect” learning looks like a class sitting still, quiet, and staring at the teacher. However, this is not a realistic portrayal of learners with a variety of needs. In this story, multiple ways of learning are showcased along with examples of how children with different needs can be accommodated. A few examples include using a calm corner when the room is too loud, choosing flexible seating options, or using a tactile beaded abacus to practice math. Each way of learning is accepted and celebrated as the book emphasizes that “learning can look a lot of ways”. Children will feel seen for their accommodations, empowered to identify their needs, and have an opportunity to practice tolerance and acceptance of their fellow classmates. The back matter offers additional information about accommodations and neurodivergence.

Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey

By Sydra Mallery, Illustrated by John Hare

Throughout our lives, we have used thousands of pencils. And, working with children, we’ve witnessed the treatment of such writing utensils…sometimes they are adorned with cute erasers, and other times they are completely beat up, chewed, or sharpened down to a pulp. Have you ever stopped to think about the pencil’s perspective? This story takes us on a journey through the life of a pencil, Stubby, from living as a tree in the forest, to being created into a pencil, to his experiences in a classroom. There, Stubby is passed around from child to child and used for a variety of things, whether that be drawing cool pictures, doing math (where his eraser was used a lot), rolling under desks, getting chewed on, grading papers with smiley faces, and more. It’s a funny read aloud that will get kids laughing and maybe even encourage them to take better care of their school supplies.

A Not So Perfect Start (The Caring Classroom, Book 1)

By Trudy Ludwig, Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

Trudy Ludwig, author of The Invisible Boy, has released another inspirational picture book. In this story, Thea wants everything to be perfect for her first week of school. Like many children at the start of the year, Thea is having many big feelings, including being nervous, excited, hopeful, and worried. Thea can be very hard on herself; she worries immensely about making mistakes and presents as frustrated and overwhelmed when things aren’t perfect. When there is a spilled paint disaster during art, Thea is able to work through her feelings of worry to find a way to make “perfection” out of a mess.  

The back matter includes tips for “perfectly imperfect you”, which are helpful reminders for children who worry about making mistakes or experience perfectionism.

The Ribbon

By Tessa Blackham

This beautifully illustrated wordless picture book will be published soon on September 29th. While this is not directly a “back to school” book, it centers on bravery in new experiences. The story follows a young girl who is nervous for her ballet recital. She receives a special ribbon from an older ballerina which gives her the encouragement to perform. The ribbon comes full circle when, years later, she passes it along to another young girl who is nervous, acting as a symbolic object of helping others, courage, and hope. While the setting is a ballet recital, the story will appeal to all children who have felt scared or nervous as well as the positive feelings that come with helping and encouraging others. The gorgeous illustrations portray the emotional experience of the characters and offer readers an opportunity to connect empathetically through the visual, wordless storytelling.