About Kristi Morefield

Teacher-Librarian at Chambers Prairie Elementary School in Lacey, WA.

The Monarch

The Monarch is a beautiful picture book about the amazing journey of the monarch butterfly. Written by Kirsten Hall and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, this book uses fun, rhyming words and bright, colorful pictures to tell the story.

Students will enjoy following the butterfly as it flies through the sky. The words are simple and poetic, great for reading out loud. The pictures show nature in a soft, gentle way that keeps young readers interested.

This book is a good way to teach about butterflies, their life cycle, and why we need to protect them. It also helps children care about nature and the world around them.

The Monarch is perfect for lessons in science, reading, and art. It’s a lovely and meaningful book to add to your classroom.

The Most Magnificent Team

The Most Magnificent Team is another book by Ashley Spires about a girl and her dog who want to build something. But when they get to their favorite spot, they find the neighbor and her cat are already there! So they decide to work together.

At first, it seems like a great idea. But the two girls work very differently. One likes to move fast and just try things. The other likes to measure and plan. Soon, they start to get frustrated.

This story shows that working as a team can be hard, but it’s also worth it. The girl learns that mistakes are okay and teamwork takes patience. With funny pictures and an important message, this book is a great way to learn about trying your best, not giving up, and working together.

Chalk the Walk

Chalk the Walk is a fun and happy book about two kids who use chalk to make art on the sidewalk. As they draw, more people from the neighborhood join in. Everyone works together to make something beautiful. The words in the book rhyme, and the pictures get more colorful as the story goes on. The drawings show how art can bring people together. This book is great for young kids. It shows how a simple piece of chalk can help you use your imagination and have fun with others.

Girls on the Rise

Girls on the Rise is a powerful picture book by Amanda Gorman, the famous poet from the presidential inauguration. Her poem celebrates girls for being brave, strong, and kind. It shows that girls are amazing on their own—but even stronger when they support each other.

The pictures by Loveis Wise are colorful and full of life. They show girls from all over the world being proud, bold, and hopeful.

This book is great for young readers. It’s easy to understand, fun to read out loud, and reminds all girls that they can do great things—together.

Wren’s Nest

Wren’s Nest is a heartwarming picture book about a girl named Wren who loves watching birds with her grandpa. When she was a baby, wrens built a nest outside her window. Every spring, she and her grandpa watched baby birds grow. But when Wren moves to the city, she misses the meadow and the wrens—until she finds a new bird family nesting on their porch.

This story is about change, love, and the beauty of nature. The soft, colorful pictures help tell the story in a calm, peaceful way. The book also includes facts and tips about birdwatching and what to do if you find a nest. Great for lessons on nature, birds, and family connections.

This Book is Not For You

This Book Is Not for You by Howard Pearlstein, with fun pictures by Susanna Covelli, tells a silly story through a grumpy narrator who says the book is boring and has nothing cool in it. But the pictures show the opposite—there are monsters, aliens, ninjas, and more! Kids will laugh at how wrong the narrator is and enjoy spotting all the exciting things happening around him.

The book is fun and playful, especially for read-aloud time. But the joke gets repeated a lot, and some students might lose interest. It’s good for a quick laugh and to talk about point of view, but it’s not the strongest book for deeper lessons or repeated reading.

Robots Don’t Make You Go to Bed

Robots Don’t Make You Go to Bed by Laurel Gale, illustrated by Susanna Covelli, is a humorous and heartfelt story that encourages students to reflect on the value of family and the emotional support caregivers provide. When Owen builds a robot mom to escape rules and routines, he soon learns that while robots might skip bedtime and chores, they can’t offer the love, comfort, and connection that real parents do.

With its engaging illustrations and light science-fiction twist, this book is a great tool for discussions about family roles, emotions, and even early STEM topics. It’s especially effective when exploring themes of empathy and gratitude.

Steve: A Pretty Exceptional Horse

Steve: A Pretty Exceptional Horse by Kelly Collier is a funny and easy-to-read graphic novel that attempts to help kids learn an important lesson—being yourself is what really makes you special. Steve the Horse wants to stand out, so he finds a shiny horn and tries to show off. But his friends remind him that he doesn’t need fancy things to be important. This book could be used for classroom discussions about confidence, friendship, and what it means to be “exceptional.” Early readers may enjoy the humor, but the message misses the mark.

Lights Out: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds

Lights Out by Jessica Stremer is a simple story with a big message. It tells the story of a young girl who finds a bird that got lost in the bright lights of the city. She learns that too much light at night can confuse birds that are trying to fly home. So, she asks her neighbors to turn off their lights—and they do!

This story shows how small actions, like turning off a light, can help animals and protect nature. With beautiful pictures and an easy-to-follow message, Lights Out is a great book to start conversations about helping the environment.

The Overlook Book: Change Your Perspective, Change the World

Megan Fullmer Perry’s The Overlook Book uses layered paper collage and shifting visual viewpoints to help students understand how perspective shapes understanding. By showing scenes from multiple angles, the book encourages critical thinking, empathy, and open-minded discussion around themes like friendship, inclusion, and kindness. A valuable resource for social-emotional learning and classroom conversations about seeing beyond first impressions. This book is a creative tool for teaching perspective and empathy.