Video Penguins for Kids: Interesting Facts
Sergio Makes a Splash, by Edel Rodriguez
​Even though he loves water, Sergio the penguin is afraid to swim in the deep water until he learns how.
Video Sergio Makes a Splash, presented by The Joyful Bookshelf.
Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall
After he passes his swimming test, little Jabari decides he's ready to try jumping off the diving board, but when the big moment arrives, Jabari needs to work up the courage to jump.
Video Jabari Jumps, presented by The Alphabet Book Corner
Crafty Connections Penguins coloring sheet and step-by-step how to draw a penguin

Gators Have Grit
Grit is passion and perseverance for long term goals.
Video Using Grit to Succeed in School
The Chicken Who Couldn't, by Jan Thomas
A chicken who has fallen out of the farmer's truck must learn to believe in himself.
Video The Chicken Who Couldn't presented by Chris Castellarin
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin, by Chieri Uegaki
With the help of her memories of the time she spent in Japan with her ojiichan, a professional violinist, a young girl practices and practices playing her violin for her school talent show
Video Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin presented by Rachel Linsmeier Hart

My Uncle Martin's Words for America, by Angela Farris Watkins
The niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. recounts her uncle's work to promote racial equality and introduces key events during the civil rights era, focusing on key tenets of King's philosophy: freedom, justice, brotherhood and nonviolence.
Video Children give speeches inspired by Dr. King 
What a Wonderful World based on the song by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss Illustrations and lyrics introduce a song, first recorded in 1967 by Louis Armstrong, which celebrates the wonders of nature, loving friends, and the promise of the future in a baby's cry.
Video Louis Armstrong sings What a Wonderful World with spoken word introduction. ​
Video What a Wonderful Word, animation
Crafty Connection What a wonderful world coloring sheet

The Famous Speech On August 28, 1963, the "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The March was partly intended to show support for civil rights legislation proposed June 11th by President John F. Kennedy.
Video I Have a Dream 
President Johnson Signs Civil Rights Act Kennedy did not live to see the civil rights dream come true. The Civil Rights Act was signed by President Johnson on July 2, 1964. It outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. It ended racial segregation in schools, the workplace, and public facilities.
The Cart that Carried Martin, by Eve Bunting In an example of how focusing on a smaller element of a larger story can cut to the heart of its meaning, Eve Bunting tells the story of the cart borrowed from a junk store that carried the body of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the streets of Atlanta, Georgia, on the day of his funeral.
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds
Encourages readers to say something using their actions and words to show the importance and power of their voice to bring about change.
​Video Children give speeches inspired by Dr. King 
Audio All You Need Is Love ​
Crafty Connection All you need is love coloring sheet

Get Ready for Reading with a Quick Review of Homophones
Words that sound the same but have different meanings. How many other homophones do you know?
Knot Cannot, by Tiffany Stone
A whimsical tale follows the experiences of a piece of rope that unhappily compares itself to a snake that can move and hiss, before a dilemma helps the rope discover the benefits of its knotting capabilities.
Video Knot Cannot, presented by Ms. Karamy, Crystal Lake Public Library (running time approx. 12 min.) Have paper and pencil ready for stop-and-jot participation, if desired.
Self-Talk and Growth Mindset Next time you get stuck while figuring something out, try not to compare yourself with others. Tell yourself you can do it! Keep trying new ideas!
Crafty Connections Click here for step-by-step video directions to learn several knots. Click here to create a silky knotted snake using rope, yarn, or paracord.

Do the Right Thing
What does it mean to do the right thing? Why is it important to do the right thing even when no one is looking? 
A Bike Like Sergio's, by Maribeth Boelts
Money is tight for Ruben's parents so the chances of him getting the bike he wants are slim until he finds a hundred dollar bill. Finders keepers? Or honesty is the best policy?
Video A Bike Like Sergio's, presented by Readalotamus (running time approx. 13 min.)
Spread the Love 
Because kindness matters! Click here to read about the origins of the Great Kindness Challenge and here for the school edition of the Great (socially distanced) Kindness Challenge

California Young Reader Medal Nominee, Picture Book for Older Readers Category
Over the next few weeks, students in fourth and fifth grade will vote to help decide the favorite California Young Reader Picture Book for Older Readers. There are three nominees in this category:

• Before She Was Harriet, by Lisa Ransome-Cline
• The Skydiving Beavers, by Susan Wood
• Let the Children March, by Monica Clark-Robinson (this week's selection)

Let the Children March, by Monica Clark-Robinson
Nearly 55 years ago, an anti-segregation march that came to be known as the Children's Crusade was instrumental in pushing President John F. Kennedy and Congress to adopt the Voting Rights Act. That event is chronicled as a semi-fictional narrative from the perspective of one of the young participants in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. Bolstered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assurances, the children endured snarling dogs, water hoses, and jail, emerging exhausted but undefeated. The illustrations bring to life the determination of the marchers without sugarcoating the reality. This story remains relevant as the struggle for justice and voting rights continues today.
Video Let the Children March, presented by StoryTimeWithMsMelange (running time approx. 7 min.)