Celebrate ‘Read A New Book’ Month With GPB’s Top Picks For Every Age

December is Read a New Book Month! Celebrate by snuggling up with a new read, chosen by GPB’s Education Team.

Some of these reads may be familiar favorites that you can revisit, while others will be fresh and are likely to have you enjoying the holidays wrapped up in a good story. We’ve also linked in supporting GPB and PBS LearningMedia resources to help you learn even more about the subjects and topics of each book.

Share this list with others and be sure to let us know which recommendations you enjoyed the most!

 

From Tracey Wiley, Education Outreach Director

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Why do you recommend this book?

I don't want to give too much away, but it's a quietly powerful story about how we are all connected in ways we can't even imagine, and sometimes the help we need to find our way can come from the most unexpected places.

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

Observing Octopus Intelligence | Spy in the Ocean | Nature

 

 

From Laura Evans, Vice President of Education

The Correspondent by Deborah Kalb

Why do you recommend this book?

This heartfelt novel explores intergenerational connection and the enduring power of storytelling. Even though this book is best suited for older students and adults, it reminds me that storytelling can begin with even the youngest learners and that every voice, at every age, matters.

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

GPB’s PBS KIDS Writers Contest, opening January 12, encourages young authors to share their own stories. It’s a perfect opportunity to nurture the kind of storytelling spirit reflected in The Correspondent. Educators can find prompts, past submissions, and contest details at gpb.org/writers to get started.

 

 

From Mary Anne Lane, Director of Educational Content

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Why do you recommend this book?

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you finish it. I first read it in 8th grade, and years later I had the chance to read it again with my own 8th-grade students. Each time, its lessons about empathy, courage, and doing what’s right felt just as powerful. It’s a story that grows with you and invites meaningful conversations at any age.

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

The Great American Read | To Kill a Mockingbird

 

 

From Christina Rand, Early Childhood Education Manager

You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo

Why do you recommend this book? 

I’ve used You Are a Lion and Other Fun Yoga Poses for years to create a calming transition after story time in early childhood classrooms. The kids love having their own space on the floor to stretch and breathe while doing fun exercises. They practice lion’s breath, downward-facing dog, cat, butterfly, cobra, frog, and mountain pose, plus their absolute favorite, savasana (corpse pose). Children enjoy this quieting practice because it’s something different from their everyday routine. They get to release energy after sitting still and then experience a peaceful moment to close their eyes and fully relax. It’s also a wonderful way to help little ones wind down at bedtime!

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

Why Yoga and Kids Go Together | PBS Kids

Breathe Yoga for Kids | PBS

Pre-K Health and Wellness Resources | GPB and PBS LearningMedia

 

 

From Insley Davis, Production Manager

Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Why do you recommend this book? 

This coming-of-age YA novel follows three teen girls whose lives intersect on a Georgia peach orchard. While fictional, the story captures the atmosphere, culture, and sense of place that many of Georgia’s students will recognize. It’s an engaging read for young audiences exploring themes of friendship, identity, and growing up in the South. The story literally feels like home with a hot slice of peach cobbler à la mode!

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

Pair this novel with the new Georgia Stories collection. This nonfiction video series highlights lesser-known and homegrown stories from across the state. Peaches brings Georgia to life through fiction, but Georgia Stories brings real history to the forefront for the same age group.

 

 

From Jonathan Reedy, Digital Editor, Education

MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards

Why do you recommend this book? 

If you enjoy the many Marvel films, stories from behind the scenes, or the art of filmmaking in general, then you’ll enjoy this book! This fun read covers the rise of Marvel Entertainment from a nearly bankrupt toymaker to the box office-dominating studio it is today. The stories of these amazing creators are incredibly inspiring and challenge you to never give up on the chance to tell a good story, and what can happen when sometimes those stories don’t work out the way you want. Also, Georgians might be surprised to learn how much of the MCU was created in our very own state!

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

Lights, Camera, Budget! provides an interactive experience that shows students the process of producing a movie.
The Student Voices Collective, while not exactly a movie production, has a lot of the skills that make big Hollywood film productions work and are the very same skills and techniques students are learning as part of the SVC. I know I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for my involvement in my high school news station.

 

 

From Valerie Wilson, Education Outreach Specialist

I Love You So Much by Marianne Richmond

Why do you recommend this book? 

This was my first child's and my favorite book when he was a toddler. My son was assured of my love for him, whether we had fun or we had troubled times. I was assured that the most important thing I could give my son as a single mom trying to figure out life was my full, complete, unconditional love for him. I Love You So Much was a beautiful reminder of how the love between us would be for a lifetime, no matter what happens. 

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

PBS Kids Talk About | Relationships and Family | PBS Kids

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood | 6 Tigertastic Ways to Make Memories Together | PBS Kids 

 

 

From Jenny Hale, Education Outreach Manager

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Why do you recommend this book? 

This is a captivating tale of a family surviving behind enemy lines during the Nazi occupation of France in WWII. An emotional journey, this book weaves together history and storytelling to create a beautiful look at what it means to do the right thing, even when the consequences are life-altering. Although this book has been out for several years, I only just recently read it. If you haven’t yet, move it to the top of your TBR stack immediately!

Learn more with GPB and PBS LearningMedia supporting resources:

The French Resistance in WWII | World on Fire | PBS LearningMedia

Women in Combat in WWII | US History Collection | PBS LearningMedia

WWII 1939-1945 | US History Collection | PBS LearningMedia

 

We’d love to know which of these reads you enjoyed most and hear your recommendations for what we should be reading this month. Please reach out and share– jhale@gpb.org.

 

Happy Reading from all of us at GPB!