Back to School with Harper Stacks
We've been having quite the heat wave here in New York City so I'm looking forward to the cooler weather of fall. And there's nothing quite like the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, neat stacks of new workbooks, and all of the desk neatly arranged (likely for the last time) to get one thinking about fall.
Below are some of our recommendations for this upcoming school year. From back-to-school read alouds, to perfect books for guided reading groups or book clubs, we have engaging and challenging books for every reader in your class.
Early Readers
Some kids are excited for the first day, while others may feel nervous or even scared. This book addresses all the ways students can feel when they begin a new school year.
Snake wants his pottery project to be perfect and it's not. But when he takes credit for a classmate's project, he realizes there are worse things than broken pottery.
This is a great book to teach about relationships and responsible decision making. Check out our SEL series for more books like this!
This brightly illustrated book is a wonderful way to review the basic skills children need to begin a year in Kindergarten and help kids feel confident and excited.
A class is excited to meet their teacher on the first day of school. But the classroom is empty except for a . . . sandwich? Could this be their teacher!? A hilarious way to kick off the new year.
For more fabulous books for our youngest students, check out our Best Books for Storytime campaign. With favorite characters like Pete the Cat and favorite authors like Kevin Henkes, there's something here for everyone with questions and activities to boot!
Middle Grade
The finale to the award winning One and Only series is here! And this time, our beloved gorilla Ivan hs starting a family of his own. Each title in this series works well as a read aloud or great option for small-group discussion.
Young Sophie and Old Sophie have a bond that cannot be broken. But when Old Sophie starts to have memory problems, with Young Sophie be able to keep her from being put in a home?
Morgan and his big sister Claire have always been close. But now that Claire is preparing to go off to college, things have changed. Can one day together convince Claire that things don't have to change? The perfect pick for upper elementary and middle school book clubs.
This unique book is told through a series of connected short stories, making it perfect for guided reading groups or reluctant readers, who can read one story or read them all!
Teen
Two teens in a detention center connect and fall in love through a shared journal kept in the library. This title will spark discussion on the faults in our justice system while also showing the power of the written word to connect us.
Many teens are clamboring for more thrillers, and this one, centering around a murdered Indigenous girl, definitely delivers. Use this book to kick off your school's book club.