1. Follow Your Dreams Reading Ladder Starting Conversations Compiled by Anita Phillips, 2011.

2. The Sheppard’s Granddaughter The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Red Moon over Sharpsburg Weed flower Tofu Quilt Three Cups of Tea The Secret School Running Shoes What do you want more than anything else? What would you give to have your dream come true? Dreams Can Come True...

3. Running Shoes by Frederick Lipp & Jason Gaillard A young girl in Southeast Asia has a dream of going to school. More than anything else, she wants to read and learn. The gift of a pair of running shoes makes it possible for her to run approximately five miles to school. She not only overcomes the obstacle of distance but the obstacle of discovering that there are only boys there. She earns their respect and they accept her into the school. Driven by an inner desire to know and learn; sometimes it is a desire that we cannot define what or why but we know we must. A wonderful book to introduce the concept of a passion for learning that will drive people to go the extra mile. A picture book to read out loud and revisit on your own.

4. The Secret School by AVI The children in this rural community have a problem, their teacher left town. Will they have to repeat their grades when the new teacher comes next fall. No way, there is only 2 months left in this school year. Now how could a group of students work together to solve this problem? Could they teach themselves? The boys and girls step up to learn together, led by a young girl with amazing determination. Thinking about why we go school, this book builds well on the previous book. An easy novel that would be good for a read aloud or shared reading.

5. Three Cups of Tea by Sarah Thomson, Greg Mortenson, David Relin, and Jane Goodall. There are children who do not have schools to attend. Girls are especially denied the opportunity to learn. As a result, poverty and poor health prevails in families. When one man has an idea on how to fight ignorance and war with books and learning, people step up to help. Considering the lives of others can make us think more deeply about our own. How can we make a difference? This book is a little more challenging to read but would be a great book to read out loud with interesting cultural perspectives on going to school. This book provides many opportunities for conversations.

6. Tofu Quilt by Ching Yeung Russell A Young girl’s struggle in Hong Kong to break out of her extended family’s cultural expectations and follow her heart. Her mother is her roll model and her grandfather plants the seeds. Girls can do more than keep house. This book helps build independence in deciding for yourself, should I do my best in school? What is in it for me? What if my family or friends say no? This is a good read-to-self book in poetic style to share in discussion circles such as RTI.

7. Weedflower by Cynthia Kaddacta Sometimes we do not fit into the culture of our school. Sometimes it really hurts when you do go to school. What if prejudice and fear keeps you from learning? When Pearl Harbor is bombed, fear and prejudice sends thousands of US born Japanese families to interment camps. Good teachers do not like to teach at these camps. You are invited to think about how not having the opportunity to go to school can lead to severe boredom, anxiety, and uncertainty for a future. There is always two sides to the story. A very different boy shows “Weedflower” that there are many ways of knowing and learning. Another good independent read that helps us think about how an education comes to us in many ways.

8. Red Moon over Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells History repeats itself. Today, as in the days of the U.S. Civil War, many young people live in countries torn with war and loose their opportunity to go to school. When all hope is ripped away, young people can be quite determined and diligent in following their heart. What if ignorance and prejudice is prevalent in your society? The young medical research doctor who tutors his young neighbor girl during the war with the states inspires her to study science in a time when science was only for men. How can education help drive away ignorance and superstition? This book connects strongly to the themes in the previous books, furthering a historical perspective on current social issues. It is a very good independent read and great for discussions in book circles.

9. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate By Jacqueline Kell The grandfather in this story feeds his granddaughter’s curiosity for nature and the desire to become a scientist in a time when a girl was praised for her skill in the art of needlework. Society norms and expectations play a strong role in a child’s education. What if their educational goals and expectations do not match with what you want or what you are interested in? What will you do when you grow up? Will you be able to choose? Developing self-determination will have a powerful effect on our future. A little deeper thinking, new ideas to consider, and invitations to connect with struggles of young people of our near past. An excellent book to tie into exploring and learning from nature.

10. The Sheppard’s Granddaughter by Anne Laurel Carter Another perspective to consider, what if you are happy with your cultural traditions and you do not want to go to school for book learning. You believe that important people in your life can teach you what your heart yearns for most. The grandfather teaches the young girl the wisdom of a sheepherder. The brother in the story teaches her math and science so she can stay home and take care of the family sheep. When she has to go to school at age 16 she is at the top of her class. But she discovers that learning English will open many doors. We do learn from many people in our lives and in ways we might not fully understand. But when circumstances change and we have a fight to win, there are important lessons and skills we must reach out to learn on our own.

11. Continuing Conversations If you noticed that the main characters in these books were girls, you also probably noticed that there were boys, fathers, and grandfathers who played in an important part to support the dream that was in their hearts. Education has been expressed as a basic world-wide human right. There are still powers in charge today who would prevent young people from obtaining the education they desire. I encourage you to keep reading about young people who overcome the struggle to go to school. Their stories truly make a difference in the lives of so many.