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Todd Nesloney's Top Book Recommendations

Want to know what books Todd Nesloney recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Todd Nesloney's favorite book recommendations of all time.

1

Elliot

Elliot's parents love him very much, but all is not well. When he cries, they do not understand why. When he yells, they do not know what to do. When he misbehaves, they do not know how to react. One day a social worker named Thomas comes to visit, and Elliot's world turns upside-down. Manon Gauthier's soft collage illustrations feature approachable rabbit characters, while Julie Pearson's soothing, repetitive text guides Elliot gently through the foster child system. The new families that care for the little boy are kind, but everything is strange and new, and the sudden changes make him... more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyToday’s book share is #Elliot. A unique story of foster care, adoption, & what love can look like, forever forever. This book would be an excellent conversation piece for kids about adoption and family. Get your copy here: https://t.co/SuEsjkwbw7 #SparksInTheDark #kidlit https://t.co/oTAiRMu3HC (Source)

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2

Those Shoes

"In this witty, wise picture book, Boelts presents a kid’s-eye view of a
consumer fad that rages through school at gale force." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)


All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for "want," just "need," when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has...
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Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI love the book #ThoseShoes sooooo much. This is a book that needs to be in every classroom. Especially during this season of the year. Get yours here: https://t.co/NmMaZR0y0b #affiliatelink #kidlit #sparksinthedark #kidsdeserveit https://t.co/GaoNZE4ItA (Source)

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3

I Am Perfectly Designed

I Am Perfectly Designed is an exuberant celebration of loving who you are, exactly as you are, from Karamo Brown, the Culture Expert of Netflix's hit series Queer Eye. In this empowering ode to modern families, a boy and his father take a joyful walk through the city, discovering all the ways in which they are perfectly designed for each other. less
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI absolutely love the book #IAmPerfectlyDesigned by @bestofkaramo. A wonderful story of a father reminding his son of all the ways that he was perfectly made. Get yours here: https://t.co/dfCZ2hTOxR #affiliatelink #kidlit #sparksinthedark #kidsdeserveit https://t.co/kDFKTuhrx6 (Source)

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4
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyThis year, I'm not doing the typical "one word", I'm doing 12. Thank you @writtentospeak for the BRILLIANT idea! check out his post here: https://t.co/hIlq9r0M3m If you haven't gotten his book, you are missing out! Get it here: https://t.co/i5pxeWmPx0 #KidsDeserveIt #TLAP https://t.co/ZlCIx678l6 (Source)

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5
Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty...
more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI don’t know why it took me so long to get around to reading #FrontDesk but WOW! This book was full of so much heart and I shed tears throughout. A must read for sure. Get yours here: https://t.co/qstKk5KzOT #SparksInTheDark #kidlit #affiliatelink https://t.co/9fmAWu8a8b (Source)

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6

The Cool Bean (The Bad Seed, #3)

Everyone knows the cool beans. They’re sooooo cool.

And then there’s the uncool has-bean . . .

Always on the sidelines, one bean unsuccessfully tries everything he can to fit in with the crowd—until one day the cool beans show him how it’s done.
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Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI love this book series and #TheCoolBean might just be my favorite one yet! A fun story about what it really means to be cool....by being kind. Get yours here: https://t.co/uhmjezLnyl #affiliatelink #sparksinthedark #kidlit https://t.co/2reZc1vrpD (Source)

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7

Be Kind

A picture book about the power of kindness.

When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind, and how each act, big or small, can make a difference--or at least help a friend.
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Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd Nesloney@BethanyMartino1 @madisond181 Thank you for having me!! I love sharing @PatZMiller book!! It's one of my favorites!! (Source)

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8

Two Can Keep a Secret

Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone's declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all...
more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyJust finished @writerkmc book #TwoCanKeepASecret and WOW!! Sooooo good. I loved her first book (One of Us is Lying) but this book was even better. Full of unexpected twists and turns and one amazing ending. That last sentence tho!! 😬 Great for 8th g… https://t.co/LY1h6teijQ https://t.co/Ndb1fIJQzy (Source)

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9
A touching story about Japanese American children who corresponded with their beloved librarian while they were imprisoned in World War II internment camps.

When Executive Order 9066 is enacted after the attack at Pearl Harbor, children's librarian Clara Breed's young Japanese American patrons are to be sent to prison camp. Before they are moved, Breed asks the children to write her letters and gives them books to take with them. Through the three years of their internment, the children correspond with Miss Breed, sharing their stories, providing feedback on books, and...
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Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyCheck out this fantastic book #WriteToMe! An important read to share with our friends and students. #SparksInTheDark #WeLeadTX #TNT https://t.co/hAcYhHPTdm https://t.co/NQ9HETo73c (Source)

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10

Song for a Whale

The story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him.

From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.

When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should...
more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd Nesloney@LynneKelly looove your book #SongForAWhale! Would love to interview you for my #tellyourstory series! (Source)

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Don't have time to read Todd Nesloney's favorite books? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
11

Science With Scarlett

What Color Will It Be?

Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI’ve had a chance to read this book! It’s awesome!! Get one to share with kids you know!! #KidsDeserveIt #sparksinthedark #tlap #leadlap #tellyourstory https://t.co/YPtukjl0of (Source)

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12

I Want to Be a Lot

Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyToday’s book share is a new book! A wonderful story abt a young girl who realizes that she doesn’t just want to be “one thing” when she grows up, like all the adults keep asking her. Instead she wants to be a lot...& that’s ok! I love this story!! #SparksInTheDark #KidsDeserveIt https://t.co/Fefwl7w7ZT (Source)

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13

Douglas, You Need Glasses!

Meet Douglas, a dog with a big problem: he needs eyeglasses but doesn’t know it, and his bad eyesight tends to land him in some pretty hairy situations.
 
Readers will laugh along with the new picture book character Douglas as he chases a leaf that he mistakes for a squirrel, walks through wet cement because he can’t see the warning sign, and annoys the neighbor’s dog by mistakenly eating out of his bowl. And when Douglas’s owner Nancy finally takes him to what is clearly an eyeglass store and Douglas asks, “Why are you taking me to a shoe store?” everyone will be giggling.
...
more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI had so many students who had to get glasses & felt so uncomfortable with them. This is a great book that shares the story of Douglas the dog getting glasses & how he finds out life only got better, not worse, when he could really see! #SparksInTheDark #kidsdeserveit #kidlit https://t.co/G8UBuo0tT5 (Source)

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14

Most People

Michael Leannah wrote Most People as an antidote to the scary words and images kids hear and see every day. Jennifer Morris’s emotive, diverting characters provide the perfect complement to Leannah’s words, leading us through the crowded streets of an urban day in the company of two pairs of siblings (one of color). We see what they see: the hulking dude with tattoos and chains assisting an elderly lady onto the bus; the Goth teenager with piercings and purple Mohawk returning a lost wallet to its owner; and the myriad interactions of daily existence, most of... more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyToday’s book share is #MostPeople. Oh how I love this book. Instead of a focus on those few who make poor decisions, do bad things, or are mean, this book reminds us all that most people aren’t like that and to find the good everywhere. #sparksinthedark #readingsummit #kidlit https://t.co/fmlWpOsyDO (Source)

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15

The Adventures of Little Miss Crazy Hair

The Girl with Curl

2019 Award-Winning FINALIST Children's Mind/Body/Spirit category INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

The Adventures of Little Miss Crazy Hair – The Girl with Curl was inspired by our beautiful niece Vivian – our very own Little Miss Crazy Hair. The book chronicles a week in the life of Little Miss Crazy Hair who along with her best friend, her dog Duke, escape on wild and wonderful daily adventures resulting from the decision of how she will wear her wonderful, curly hair. She serves tea as a Princess. She refines her poise and grace as a Prima ballerina. She bravely sails the Nile. She...
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Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyToday’s book share! So many of our students can become embarrassed by their hair. Not this girl. She embraces it and lives life (and her imagination) to the fullest! This is another great read aloud to add to your classroom! #kidsdeserveit #sparksinthedark #tellyourstory https://t.co/OrWjQpgtBM (Source)

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16
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd Nesloney@Shirl_75 @mswilliamsyall Yes! @adamdovico and @abehege book is fantastic! #LimitlessSchool (Source)

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17

And That's Why She's My Mama

What is a Mama? A mama is someone who is always there for you. She makes you your favorite food, takes you to the park, and kisses your boo-boos better. Some mamas didn't hold you in their belly, but they will forever hold you in their hearts. Mamas come in all different shapes, colors, and ages, but they all have one thing in common. They love you! less
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyOh my. I love this book sooooo much. A gorgeous story where every page is an illustration of different “mother” and child combination with the underlying message that whoever I call “mom” doesn’t have to look like me at all to love me. #SparksInTheDark #kidsdeserveit https://t.co/nEDUZnseRG (Source)

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18

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree

When Grandma gives you a lemon tree, definitely don’t make a face! Care for the tree, and you might be surprised at how new things, and new ideas, bloom.
 
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In this imaginative take on that popular saying, a child is surprised (and disappointed) to receive a lemon tree from Grandma for her birthday. After all, she DID ask for a new gadget! But when she follows the narrator’s careful—and funny—instructions, she discovers that the tree might be exactly what she wanted after all. This clever story, complete with a recipe for...
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Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyLove this book!! #SparksInTheDark https://t.co/mPycRoSDSe (Source)

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19
Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again.

Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever...
more
Recommended by Todd Nesloney, and 1 others.

Todd NesloneyI love this book so much!! Order it NOW! https://t.co/LmWGFcqOV3 (Source)

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20

A Boy Like You

There's more to being a boy than sports, feats of daring, and keeping a stiff upper lip. A Boy Like You encourages every boy to embrace all the things that make him unique, to be brave and ask for help, to tell his own story and listen to the stories of those around him. In an age when boys are expected to fit into a particular mold, this book celebrates all the wonderful ways to be a boy. less
Recommended by Shannon Miller, Todd Nesloney, and 2 others.

Shannon MillerI love this beautiful new picture book from @SleepingBearBks by @frankmurphy2009 & Kayla Harren ❤️This story is one for everyone as it celebrates all the wonderful ways to be a boy. I can’t wait to share it with our kids at #VanMeter 😊#kidlit #kidlitart #futurereadylibs #tlchat https://t.co/aTTET7jrYi (Source)

Todd NesloneyOk everyone, I don’t say this often, but WOW. This is probably my new favorite picture book EVER. This book has everything I’d want my boys to hear. Everything. I love it soooooo much. #sparksinthedark #KidsDeserveIt https://t.co/tKPMDivPUY (Source)

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Don't have time to read Todd Nesloney's favorite books? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
21
The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.

Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration,...
more

Elizabeth C. MclaughlinI've recommended the book White Fragility on here many times, and this interview is a great place to start. If you're a white person who believes you're not racist, please read this article. And then go read the book. https://t.co/S5plH3wS5m (Source)

Marshall Kirkpatrick@jhagel This is a great book btw! (Source)

Todd Nesloney@SarahSuggs13 I love that book, have spoken with the author, and did an entire staff book study. Again, had you even tried to see my work that I do, you'd have learned that. You seek to divide and that is it. Great lesson for our students. (Source)

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22

New Kid

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the...
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Bunmi LaditanBest book I’ve read all year. Absolutely wonderful, touching and fun. I bought it for my oldest daughter and ended up reading it, too. 📚 ♥️🌹 https://t.co/IkV115zyJo (Source)

Todd NesloneyI love this book from @JerryCraft and even got to interview him for #TellYourStory!! https://t.co/Hnmx0usD4u (Source)

Krishna GradyIt’s about a kid, Jordan Banks, who transfers to the Riverdale Academy Day School. He’s in seventh grade and he can’t help seeing privilege everywhere. He’s one of the few African American students in the school. The beauty of the story is that he’s regularly dealing with racism and microaggressions and bullying, but there’s also friendship and learning who you are, which is especially hard in... (Source)

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23

Gmorning, Gnight!

Little Pep Talks for Me & You

From the creator and star of Hamilton, with beautiful illustrations by Jonny Sun, comes a book of affirmations to inspire readers at the beginning and end of each day.

Good morning. Do NOT get stuck in the comments section of life today. Make, do, create the things. Let others tussle it out. Vamos!


Before he inspired the world with Hamilton and was catapulted to international fame, Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspiring his Twitter followers with words of encouragement at the beginning and end of each day. He wrote these original sayings, aphorisms,...
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Recommended by Arianna Huffington, Todd Nesloney, and 2 others.

Arianna HuffingtonClearing a place on my bedside table for @Lin_Manuel’s new book Gmorning, Gnight! Love the illustration of the bed on the cover! https://t.co/qkSxdvpjke (Source)

Todd NesloneyI love this little book from @Lin_Manuel! Great daily pick me ups. Get yours here: https://t.co/JTKgA3h2s1 #SparksInTheDark #affiliatelink #tellyourstory #kidsdeserveit https://t.co/mFut4gG8kg (Source)

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Don't have time to read Todd Nesloney's favorite books? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.