JoEllen McCarthy's Collections

JoEllen McCarthy champions the power of read alouds and explores her vision for this work for teachers, families, and students in her book, Layers of Learning: Using Read Alouds to Connect Literacy and Caring Conversations.

JoEllen believes there is no tool more powerful than a picture book and sharing stories can promote a love of oneself, a love of learning, and through a heartprint framework reflect limitless possibilities for both! She demonstrates the ways we can layer our academic and affective standards using books as our coteachers for lessons in reading, writing, and life!

To invite conversations to do this work, you can check out her ever changing “unlist of books.” This will help to shift your thinking from that book… to books that….” because beyond the books, some of the most important lessons we can teach are often those led by children, stirred by a read aloud.

JoEllen McCarthy is a lifelong learner, educator, and literacy specialist who spends her days teaching and learning alongside students, teachers, and administrators. As a literacy consultant and a Book Ambassador for The Educator Collaborative, she gets to spread her enthusiasm for literature through an exploration of powerful picture books that help layer reading and writing connections and nurture a more inclusive, responsive, caring community of learners. Learn more about her work in Layers of Learning: Using Read Alouds to Connect Literacy and Caring Conversations, connect with her via social media at @JoEllenMcCarthy, or visit her website.

Books that Help Address All the Feels

My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood
Grumpy Monkey (Grumpy Monkey)
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh
Sometimes I'm Bombaloo (A Big Feelings Book)
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings (Growing Hearts)
My Heart Fills with Happiness
Me Gusta (English With Some Spanish)
I Feel!: A Book of Emotions (I Will!)
What's Sweeter
Sometimes I Grumblesquinch (A Big Feelings Book)

Books that Celebrate Reading & More

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World
A House for Every Bird
A Walk in the Words
All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors
A Library
Everything in Its Place: A Story of Books and Belonging
Once Upon a Book
This Is a Story
The Loud Librarian

Books that Teach Concepts While Celebrating Culture & Community

Green Is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors
Marta! Big & Small (English With Some Spanish)
Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes
Grandma's Tiny House: A Counting Story!
Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes
Bracelets for Bina's Brothers (Storytelling Math)
How to Two
What Will Fit? (Storytelling Math)

Books that Honor Families & More

Drawn Together
A Family Is a Family Is a Family
Under My Hijab
Poemas Familiares Para Cada Día de la Semana: Family Poems for Every Day of the Week (Bilingual English/Spanish)
Saturday
Pop Pop and Me and a Recipe
Plenty of Hugs
A Morning with Grandpa
Far Apart, Close in Heart: Being a Family When a Loved One Is Incarcerated
Mi Casa Is My Home (English With Some Spanish)
Full, Full, Full of Love
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle
Tell Me a Tattoo Story

Books that Invite Conversations Around Hope and Healing

I Need a Hug
Ten Beautiful Things
Why Do We Cry?
Jenny Mei Is Sad
Calling the Wind: A Story of Healing and Hope
I Am Okay to Feel
Breathe
A Pinch of Love
The Little Hummingbird

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