GRADE 4 BOOKS
Witchlings written by Claribel A. Ortega*
HEROES AND ROLE MODELS continued
Juan Verdades: The Man Who Couldn’t Tell a Lie written by Joe Hayes and illustrated by Joseph Daniel Fiedler Juan is the caretaker of Don
In this best-selling fantasy novel, Seven has eagerly awaited her ceremony where she will transition from a witchling to a witch. But when the time comes, she’s disappointed to learn she’s a “spare.” Spare covens are looked down upon and often have fewer people and less magic. To make matters worse, Seven’s coven fails to seal their magic circle.
Ignacio’s prized apple tree, which produces the best apples in the area. When Don Ignacio brags about his tree, he makes a bet to the neighboring rancher that Juan cannot lie. In an effort to win the bet, the neighboring rancher
Now they are doomed to lose their powers unless they take on an impossible task. If they fail, it could lead to even worse consequences. In this dynamic adventure with elements inspired by folklore from the author’s Dominican heritage, Seven and her friends must work together in order to save their powers.
convinces Juan to steal the apples from Don Ignacio’s tree. But will Juan tell the truth about what he has done and why he did it?
Sonia Sotomayor written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Angela Dominguez*
This biography of Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina
STRONG AND RESILIENT
Anchor Text
Supreme Court justice, follows Sotomayor from her childhood growing up in the South Bronx with very few resources, all the way to her appointment as a Supreme Court Judge. Readers will appreciate learning from Sotomayor as she takes her experiences and turns them into something extraordinary.
A Mango in the Hand written by Antonio Sacre* and illustrated by Sebastià Serrae This year, Francisco’s Papá thinks
he is old enough to pick mangoes for his feast day
celebration. But this task sounds a lot simpler than it proves to be. Francisco learns about problem- solving and persistence as he works toward his goal. This
Sylvia & Aki written by Winifred Conkling
colorfully illustrated story is told through Spanish-language proverbs in both Spanish and English. Each proverb helps Francisco think deeply about his actions and his motivations— and find a surprising way to achieve his goals.
Based on the true stories of Sylvia Mendez and Aki Munemitsu Nakauchi, who were children in the 1940s during World War II, Sylvia & Aki follows Sylvia as she gets used to her new home. The farm where she now lives belonged to Aki’s family until they were sent to an internment camp because they were Japanese Americans. Sylvia and her brother are not allowed to attend the
Esperanza Rising written by Pam Muñoz Ryan*
In this beloved historical fiction novel, after tragedy strikes,
Esperanza Ortega and her mother flee from their ranch in Mexico to a farm labor camp in California. It’s not an easy change for Esperanza; she has trouble adjusting to her new life of racism, hardship, difficult work, and poverty after years of luxury and happiness. But when Mama gets sick, it’s up to Esperanza to be the hope her family needs by working in her place.
school closest to them with the most up-to-date materials; instead they are forced to go to a school farther away because their skin is brown and their parents came from Mexico and Puerto Rico. While Sylvia’s father fights the school board over their decision, Sylvia learns more and more about Aki, who used to live in her room, and the similar fight she is going through.
Scholastic Rising Voices: Books Elevating Latino Stories: Grade 4 Books | Back to Top | 23 *Denotes an author or illustrator of Latino descent † Comparable substitutes will be provided for titles no longer available.
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