English Language Arts / 1st Grade / Unit 4: Love Makes a Family / Independent Reading Suggested Books

Independent Reading Suggested Books for Love Makes a Family

See our Teacher Tool Independent Reading (K-5) for guidance on how to use the suggested texts below.

Fiction Texts with Aligned Themes and Topics

Books about Adoption

Elliot by Julie Pearson
Home at Last by Vera B. Williams
I Don’t Have Your Eyes by Carrie A. Kitze
My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson
Pablo’s Tree by Pat Mora (480L)
Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
We Belong Together: A Book about Adoption and Families by Todd Parr

Books about Changes in Families

Dear Child by John Farrell
Deena Misses Her Mom by Jesse Holmes, Kahliya Ruffin (520L)
Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty
Mango Moon by Diane de Anda
Missing Daddy by Mariame Kaba

Books about Family Traditions

Kite Flying by Grace Lin (280L)
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie and Yuyi Morales (AD420L)
Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales

Books about Gender Identity

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings
It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn
Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (190L)
The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya

Books about Grandparents

Abuela’s Weave by Omar S. Castaneda
All Around Us by Xelena Gonzalez
Babu’s Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyongs (660L)
Grandma's Gift by Eric Velasquez (900L)
Grandma’s Records by Eric Velasquez
My Dadima Wears a Sari by Kashmira Sheth
Our Granny by Margaret Wild, Julie Vivas
Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby Miller
These Hands by Margaret H. Mason

Books about LGBTQ+ Families

A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
Mum and Mum are Getting Married! by Ken Setterington

Books about Love in Families

A Father Like That by Charlotte Zolotow
Love by Matt de la Peña

Books about Multiracial Families

The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alko

Books about Siblings

Benji, the Bad Day, and Me by Sally J. Pla

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