Each month we have a book club where we choose books for multiple ages to read during that month. We’ve had it only in our newsletter up until now. Each month we will post our book club picks here in the blog. We hope you will go to your local library or book store, get these books, and read along with us!
This month, we’re focusing on books that celebrate learning or help prepare us for being back in the classroom. Here are our picks for September:
Board Book: Our God: A Shapes Primer by Danielle Hitchen (children will learn about shapes and about God
Picture Book: What Do You Do with an Problem? by Kobi Yamada
Upper Elementary/Middle School, young adult, and adult: The Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by Rebecca Ann Langston-George (This is a picture book based on a true story. It deals with the Taliban trying to stop girls from being educated and Malala and her family’s fight for education for everyone. It is a powerful book that should spark important discussions on education, gratitude, and bravery. Even though it is a picture book, the story might be upsetting for younger children).
A chapter book and a young reader version of Malala’s memoir is available. I have not read them, so I cannot say much about them except what I read in reviews. Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights is the chapter book, and I Am Malala is the young reader’s version of the adult memoir: I Am Malala. According to reviews, the chapter book is good, and the young reader’s version is boring. The adult memoir has better reviews than the young reader’s version of the same book. However, in all of these, parents need to be aware that she refers to God. She is not a Christian, but she is referring to Allah. One review said she does not fight for girls’ rights in other religions but only for Muslim girls’ rights to education. According to what she and her dad claim, they are fighting for the rights of all girls and boys everywhere to have an education. I found the picture book mentioned above to be inspiring.
Questions for elementary through high school:
Is education important to you? Why or why not?
What does it mean to be a life-long learner, and is that important? Why or why not?
How can a problem be an opportunity?
Do you thank God for your school, teachers, and the ability to get an education?