February is a month to celebrate love, history, and connection in the classroom. This month’s Book Talk features heartfelt Valentine’s Day stories and powerful books honoring Black History Month. From tales of kindness and friendship to inspiring narratives about cultural identity and resilience, these selections are thoughtfully categorized for elementary, middle, and high school students. These read-alouds for kids are perfect for sparking meaningful classroom discussions and fostering deeper understanding; each book recommendation will help you create engaging and impactful lessons all month.
Staff Suggestions
Discover what our ESC Region 13 Reading Language Arts (RLA) Specialists recommend as their top three picks this month, plus explore a full list of read-alouds for kids with links!
“Jacqueline Woodson’s powerful free-verse memoir captures her experiences growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, weaving themes of identity, family, and resilience into deeply personal yet universally relatable moments. Her lyrical storytelling transforms even the simplest events into something profoundly meaningful.
The free-verse structure of this memoir not only makes it accessible for grades 4-8 and provides depth for older students to analyze and discuss. It fosters discussions on history, the Civil Rights Movement, cultural identity, and self-expression, while inspiring young writers to experiment with poetry. This story lingers with readers long after the final page; February is the perfect time to dive in!”
Gabrielle Gaza-Sweet, Elementary Education Specialist
“Introduce your students to the remarkable true story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four black women mathematicians who broke barriers and made history at NASA. This kid-friendly adaptation brings the inspiring narrative of perseverance, intelligence, and courage to life in a way that is both engaging and accessible for elementary students.
Perfect for small group discussions, or as part of a unit on Black History Month, this book not only educates but also empowers young readers to envision their potential to make an impact on the world.”
Kristeena Reiser, Elementary Education Specialist
“If you’re looking for a book that will captivate older students and spark deep, reflective discussions Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is an excellent choice. Thought-provoking and emotional, it challenges readers to consider how their actions impact others and the legacy they leave behind. Lauren Oliver’s poetic yet accessible writing beautifully captures the raw emotions of adolescence, and Sam’s transformation from self-absorbed to self-aware is both moving and relatable.
In the classroom, Before I Fall is a powerful tool for exploring narrative structure, character development, and themes like empathy, redemption, and morality. High schoolers will especially connect with its themes of identity and choice, and the book’s unique premise encourages engaging discussions about perspective, what would you do if you could relive one day over and over?”
Kelley Weigand, Secondary Education Specialist
Elementary Books
For younger readers, choose books celebrating kindness, friendship, and cultural identity through relatable characters and engaging illustrations. This curated list of read-alouds for kids is perfect for sparking discussions about love, community, and the importance of understanding our shared history.
Incorporate creative activities by having students draw their favorite book scene on a heart-shaped cutout on one side, draw one act of kindness to improve their community on the other side, and wrap up by sharing reflections on kindness or courage.
- Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
by Eileen Spinelli - Love Is
by Diane Adams - Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech - Valentine’s Day Is…
by Gail Gibbons - Henry’s Freedom Box
by Ellen Levine - Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History and Exceptional Women in Black History
by Image of Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History - Mae Among the Stars
by Roda Ahmed - Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry - Black Is a Rainbow Color
by Angela Joy
Middle School Book Picks
Middle school readers thrive on stories that challenge their perspectives and deepen their understanding of the world. This month’s Book Talk features compelling read-alouds for kids’ books that celebrate love, kindness, and cultural identity while honoring the legacies of Black History Month. Incorporate these four books into your lesson plans with activities like break-out group discussions, journaling prompts on overcoming challenges, or creating character analysis charts to explore resilience and growth with these picks.
- Courtesy of Cupid
by Nashae Jones - Crush
by Svetlana Chmakova - This Promise of Change
by Jo Ann Allen Boyce - Some Places More Than Others
by Renee Watson
Young Adult Books
For young adult readers, assign thought-provoking books that explore themes of empathy, community, and resilience in their own lives. Pair these books with reflective essays, debates on themes of justice and hope, or collaborative projects connecting the stories to real-world events.
- 11 Paper Hearts
by Kelsey Hartwell - The Do-Over
by Lynn Painter - I Rise
by Marie Arnold - X: A Novel
by Ilyasah Shabass
Book Talk is an ongoing monthly series. We’d love to hear your feedback, comments, or suggestions about our book recommendations and read-alouds for kids! Check out this month’s lesson plan suggestions.
Our RLA Team
We have an amazing RLA team of specialists at the Education Service Center Region 13. Reach out with questions, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get the latest announcements, resources, tips, and more related to RLA.
- Kristeena Reiser – Elementary RLA
- Gabrielle Sweetland-Garza – Elementary RLA
- Kelley Weigand – Secondary RLA
- Becky Schneider – Program Manager, Content Services & Texas Reading Academies
- Joe Green – Coordinator, Content Services
For more information on RLA, visit our website or blog for related articles.
Kristeena Reiser
Kristeena is an Elementary Reading Language Arts Specialist at ESC Region 13.
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