Eyes that Kiss in the Corners & Alma and How She Got Her Name

(Top) Eyes that Kiss in the Corners | Written by Joanna Ho & Illustrated by Dung Ho | Published by HarperCollins Publishers 2021

(Bottom) Alma and How She Got Her Name | Written & Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal | Published By Candlewick Press 2018

Both books have a lovely message about being confident and comfortable with traits that make you unique. In Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, we follow a young Asian girl who celebrates the shape of her eyes, and in Alma and How She Got Her Name, we follow Alma who learns the meaningful history behind her name. After reading the two books, students can analyze the text by comparing and contrasting the main characters.

I read Alma and How She Got Her Name about a year ago, but while reading Eyes that Kiss in the Corners this past week, I immediately made a text-to-text connection and I think students will, too!

Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese | Written by Sarah Weeks & Illustrated by Jane Manning | Published by HarperCollins Children's Books 2011

Too, too, too! Mac enjoys running around, while Cheese enjoys sitting all day. What happens when you pair two contrasting characters? A laugh-out-loud story that's perfect for beginner readers!