Esperanza Rising is a book about a young girl named Esperanza who lives with her family in Mexico but a sudden tragedy forced them to flee to California during the Great Depression. Esperanza's life was turned upside down and forced to work to help support her family through the situation. The text displays her struggles and how she overcomes them. When I read this book I felt connected to it. It reminded me of how strange and out place I felt when I moved to the US as a little girl. This book could be used successfully while teaching about immigration and the Great Depression. It could also be introduced while discussing point of view in the classroom.

Fiction

5-8th Grade

Fountas and Pinnell: Level V

This is another book my mom use to read to me as a little girl. She specially read this book to me when we had to move and change schools. This book is about a young racoon  named Chester who is forced to move from his home due to deforestation and into a new home. The text displays the obstacles Chester encounters while saying goodbye to his home. The book ends with chester loving his new home and making new friends.  This book could be used in a PreK-2nd grade classroom. The teacher could have new students read the book and talk about their thoughts on their new school or teachers might even read this to a group of children who transitioned from elementary to intermediate school. 

PreK-K

Fountas and Pinnell: L