Professional Book Reviews: Cultivating Minds with Words, Stories, and Social Action

The four books reviewed in this issue address important topics in schooling today, including bullying, critical literacy, close reading of texts, and language use in the classroom. Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations provides lessons for developing kindness, compassion, and an understanding of difference in elementary school children. Teaching Children’s Literature: It’s Critical! shows us how to teach young people to critically examine texts and to take action on social issues. Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading provides ideas on scaffolding students to become critically reflective readers who value and respect their thinking and the thinking of others. Opening Minds: Using Language to Change Lives shows us how to help children change counterproductive conceptions of their abilities and to develop the ability to engage with others to accomplish goals.