The new trailer for the live-action version of “Beauty and the Beast” has us hearkening back to the animated classic and our first introduction to our beloved, book-ensconced Belle.
So while we wait for a deeper glimpse into the fantastic library scenery of this new adaptation, we can also look to our own shelves for fairy-tale retellings that resonate with the thrill of timeless stories.
Read on for our picks of novels new and old inspired by classic folk and fairy tales.
School may be coming to a close, but as summer starts we want to echo Mr. Bennet’s encouragement to READ ON! 
Okay, so that line isn’t in the book, but it is in the BBC miniseries, and that’s the best adaptation. And it’s totally within Mr. B’s bibliophile nature as something to say. Always looking for a peaceful moment in which to read his book; could Mr. Bennet be the most relatable character in Jane Austen’s works?
In any case, as you encourage your students to take on summer as a season of reading, you can fulfill your Summer Reading list with books from Adams Book Company! Here is a list of all kinds of books that would be great for summer reading.
A Lesson Before Dying, Angela’s Ashes, 1984, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Cold Mountain, Friday Night Lights, Great Expectations, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, The Bean Trees, The Color Purple, The Joy Luck Club, The Kite Runner, The Road, The Tiger’s Wife, Fast Food Nation, The Alchemist, Salvage the Bones, The Beautiful Struggle, How to Read Literature like a Professor
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Spring break is a great opportunity to pick up that book you have been meaning to for months. It’s also a great opportunity for educators to suggest books to their students, not as mandatory reading, but as recommended reading geared towards that specific student.
It’s sometimes a daunting task to pick a book for a student. Will they like it? What if they dislike it so much that it puts them off reading? Though understandable concerns, whether the child likes or dislikes a book will make for a great discussion after the break. Plus, talking about a book is just as wonderful as reading one. Read on for picks from Middle Reader Novels, Beloved Classics, Movie Tie-Ins, and YA Fantasy…
Based on a true story, “Between Two Worlds” by Katherine Kirkpatrick is a novel of Arctic exploration told from a young Inuit point of view. Author of the “Indian in the Cupboard” series, Lynne Reid Banks, tells a story informed by her own experiences of leaving WWII England for Canada in “Uprooted”.
 Between Two Worlds |
 Odin’s Ravens |
 Uprooted |
 Navigating Early |
 Egg and Spoon |
 The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root |
 Paperboy |
 Love by the Morning Star |
 Mister Max |
 Joshua Dread |
 The Key & the Flame |
 Just Ella |
Series are great when you find a story and characters you love, and they’ve always been a great way to keep kids reading. L.M. Montgomery kept young readers happy with nine “Anne of Green Gables” novels, starting in 1908. Those books have a refreshed look with lovely new cut paper cover designs. Perennial favorite Sherlock Holmes also gets a handy repackaging with an edition that collects the timeless novel-length stories.
 Sherlock Holmes: The Novels |
 The Pushcart War |
 Wild Jack |
 Rainbow Valley |
 Fifteen Rabbits |
 The Wednesday Witch |
This year’s blockbusters draw on both literature and nonfiction. Nathaniel Philbrick’s “In the Heart of the Sea,” which reexamines the real-life disaster that inspired “Moby Dick,” is now not only adapted into a feature film, but is also available in a new edition for young readers.
No waiting: If you get hooked on a series by starting with the paperback, the next book is already available in hardcover!
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with the best books by or about the great civil rights leader. There are biographies, in-depth histories, collections of Dr. King’s words, and books to engage young readers. Below is a sample of books that can help students understand King’s monumental work and connect it with the continued efforts for justice and peace needed today.
The ACT is growing into the most preferred entrance exam by colleges and universities across the country. Adams Book Company has compiled a list of preparation manuals, practice tests books, and flashcards for your classroom. FREE shipping with use of code ACT36.*
We’ve compiled and curated a list of well-regarded books useful as a tool for teaching students to draw direct connections to real world issues and encouraging them to become active global citizens.
The above is just a small sampling of the new paperback titles that we’ve curated on our dedicated Social Justice Pinterest board. Check it out for more ideas for titles to integrate into your curriculum.
SAVE 35% off paperbacks when purchasing 10 or more copies. Explore titles and discounts now at Adams Book Company’s main site.
Whether you’re searching for new books to integrate into your curriculum or just looking to keep your finger on the pulse of publishing, we’ve compiled and curated a list of books, which are well regarded and newly available in paperback. Maybe you’ll see something you’d like to bring into your classroom or maybe you’ll discover your next read. Whatever you decide, just remember: read early, read often.
SAVE 35% off the cover price on paperbacks when purchasing 10 or more copies.
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Grades 10 and Up
$12.75 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9781594485152
When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles.
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
Grades 10 and Up
$10.40 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780143120537
Foer’s unlikely journey from chronically forgetful science journalist to U.S. Memory Champion frames a revelatory exploration of the vast, hidden impact of memory on every aspect of our lives.
Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington
Grades 10 and Up
$9.75 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780143121114
Tomboy Alice Bliss life is changed when her father, Matt, is being deployed to Iraq. At once universal and very personal, Alice Bliss is a profoundly moving story about those who are left at home during wartime and a small-town teenage girl bravely facing the future. View the Discussion Guide.
The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
Grades 10 and Up
$9.75 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780385343848
The Tiger’s Wife follows Natalia, a young doctor in a Balkan country that’s recovering from years of war, as she explores her grandfather’s death in a remote village and unravels the mysterious details of her grandfather’s past. View the Discussion Guide.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Grades 5-8
$5.19 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780375858291
2011 Newbery Winner
After a life riding the rails, 12-year-old Abilene is sent to live in her father’s hometown where she comes to discover details about his childhood in Kansas during World War I, including prohibition, poor race-relations, immigration, and labor issues.
“Vanderpool illustrates the importance of stories as a way for children to understand the past, inform the present and provide hope for the future,” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Cynthia K. Richey.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Grades 11 and Up
$5.84 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780142420591
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they’ve known. Deported to a prison camp in Siberia, Lina fights for her life, fearless, risking everything to save her family. View the Discussion Guide.
Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
Grades 5-8
$5.17 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9781419702006
2011 Newbery Honor
Shipwrecks, whaling, a search for home and a delightful exploration of cultures create a swashbuckling adventure. This historical novel is based on the true story of Manjiro (later John Mung), the young fisherman believed to be the first Japanese person to visit America, who against all odds, becomes a samurai.
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
Grades 7 and Up
$9.75 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780385528207
Two kids with the same name lived in the same decaying city. One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison. Here is the story of two boys and the journey of a generation. View the Discussion Guide.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Grades 5 and Up
$4.54 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780142419670
Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm (and Grimm-inspired) fairy tales. The siblings learn the true story behind the famous tales, as well as how to take charge of their destinies and create their own happily ever after. Building on the current popularity of fairy tales in movies and TV, students will enjoy these twists on classics.
I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
Grades 8 and Up
$7.80 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780307589675
Nujood tells her full story of her forced marriage to a man three times her age, mistreatment, and divorce. Fighting the system in a country where almost half the girls are married while still under the legal age, Nujood’s courageous defiance of both Yemeni customs and her own family has attracted a storm of international attention. View the Discussion Guide.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Grades 4-7
$4.54 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9780060760908
2011 Newbery Honor, National Book Award Finalist
Sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern find adventure when they are sent to meet their estranged poet-mother Cecile, who prints flyers for the Black Panthers in 1968 Oakland, California.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Grades 8 and Up
$7.14 for 10+ copies | ISBN 9781595141880
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. View the Discussion Guide.
The above is just a small sampling of the new paperback titles that we’ve curated on our dedicated New Paperbacks for the Classroom Pinterest board. Check it out for more ideas for new titles to integrate into your curriculum. Looking more towards the beginning of the year? We also have a board dedicated to back-to-school ideas.
Mark Twain famously stated, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” This month we’re embracing the strange by spotlighting nonfiction books and teaching tools. We’ve curated a list of new releases, established nonfiction favorites, and curriculum resources on our dedicated Pinterest board. Peruse below for a teaser and then visit our board and website to explore further.
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| The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks $10.40 for 10+ copies |
Breaking Night Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray $9.74 for 10+ copies |
Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone $11.69 for 10+ copies |
The Warmth of Other Suns $11.02 for 10+ copies |
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| Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi $9.07 for 10+ copies |
The Color of Water by James McBride $10.40 for 10+ copies |
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan $14.45 for 10+ copies |
Night by Elie Wiesel $6.47 for 10+ copies |
SAVE 35% off paperbacks when purchasing 10 or more copies. Explore more titles at www.adamsbook.com.
Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
This lesson plan serves as an intro to American literary nonfiction writing and focuses on persuasive effect in essays and non-fiction. Grades 9-12. View the Lesson Plan >
Edith Wharton: War Correspondent
Using Edith Wharton’s book, Fighting France, From Dunkerque to Belfort, students will explore an American correspondent’s experiences during World War I. Grades 9-12. View the Lesson Plan >
Using THIEVES to Preview Nonfiction Texts
Using a strategy called THIEVES, which is an acronym for title, headings, introduction, every first sentence in a paragraph, visuals and vocabulary, end-of-chapter questions, and summary, students are guided through a preview of a nonfiction text. Grades 6-8. View the Lesson Plan >
Can You Convince Me? Developing Persuasive Writing
This lesson explores techniques used in oral and written arguments. Students then apply them to persuasive writing activities and analyze the work of others. Grades 3-5. View the Lesson Plan >
Anne Frank: One of Hundreds of Thousands
This lesson supplements your students’ reading of The Diary of a Young Girl by connecting the diary to the study of history and inspiring students to use writing to deepen their insights into their own experiences and the experiences of others. View the Lesson Plan >
The Library of Congress has some great lesson plans for amplifying students’ experience of historical fiction through exploring related primary sources. View the Lesson Plans >
International Reading Association (IRA) Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Awards >
American Librarian Association (ALA) Robert F. Sibert Information Book Medal >
School Library Journal’s List of Best Nonfiction Books of 2011 >
The Library of Congress organizes booklists by historical figures and topics >
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March is… National Women’s History Month! Celebrate fabulous females in your classroom with our staff’s recommendations of books—new and old—that feature female protagonists, explore women’s issues, or document the women’s rights movement. Then further below view our list of free online resources including lesson plans, photo and bio sources, and printable activities. 
The Vintage Book of American Women Writers, Elaine Showalter
This anthology of 350 years of poetry and fiction features the work of writers ranging from Puritan poet Anne Bradstreet to contemporary stars like Annie Proulx and Jhumpa Lahiri. Sure to fuel classroom discussion, the volume offers an epic overview in one entertaining and provocative volume. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9781400034451
List price: $18.95 | Adam’s Price: $12.32 for 10+ copies
We Are The Stories We Tell: The Best Short Stories by North American Women Since 1945, Wendy Martin
A collection of 26 contemporary stories by the finest women writers to come out of the U.S. and Canada, including Ann Tyler, Tama Janowitz and Alice Walker. Grades 8 and up. ISBN 9780679728818
List price: $16.00 | Adam’s Price: $10.40 for 10+ copies
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, Carolyn Mackler
With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves the value of being true to oneself. With a teaching guide. Grades 7-10. ISBN 9780140291834
List price: $8.99 | Adam’s Price: $5.84 for 10+ copies
The Plain Janes, Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
This graphic novel provides a thoughtful look at the pressures to conform and the importance of self-expression. When Jane’s family flees the city after a terrorist act, she sparks a youth movement in her new community. Grades 7-10. ISBN 9781401211158
List price: $10.00 | Adam’s Price: $6.50 for 10+ copies
A Border Passage, Leila Ahmed
In her memoir, the author tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up part of a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America. With a reading guide. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9780140291834
List price: $15.00 | Adam’s Price: $8.75 for 10+ copies
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
This highly acclaimed novel is about a teen who chooses not to speak rather than to give voice to what happened to her. Bonus material in this edition includes a new introduction, resources, and discussion guide. With a teaching guide. Grades 7 and up. ISBN 9780142407325
List price: $10.00 | Adam’s Price: $6.50 for 10+ copies
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
In the world of the near future, who will control women’s bodies? Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force. With a reading guide. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9780385490818
List price: $16.00 | Adam’s Price: $10.40 for 10+ copies
The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts, Maxine Hong Kingston
A beautifully written memoir about growing up confronted with negotiating two sets of rigid, but very different rules: one set those of her “solid America,” and the other set of rules those of her Chinese heritage. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9780679721888
List price: $14.99 | Adam’s Price: $9.74 for 10+ copies
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood. With a reading guide. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9780060838676
List price: $14.99 | Adam’s Price: $9.74 for 10+ copies
A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf
In this classic essay, Virginia Woolf takes on the establishment, using her gift of language to dissect the world around her and give voice to those who are without. Her message is a simple one: women must have a fixed income and a room of their own in order to have the freedom to create. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9780156787338
List price: $14.99 | Adam’s Price: $9.74 for 10+ copies
The Awakening, with a selection of short stories (Bantam Classics), Kate Chopin
First published in 1899, this novel so disturbed critics and the public that it was banished for decades afterward. Now widely admired, The Awakening has been hailed as an early vision of woman’s emancipation. Grades 10 and up. ISBN 9780553213300
List price: $16.00 | Adam’s Price: $10.40 for 10+ copies
Jane Eyre (Bantam Classics), Charlotte Brontë
Published in 1847, the book heralded a new kind of heroine—one whose virtuous integrity, keen intellect, and tireless perseverance broke through class barriers to win equal stature with the man she loved. Grades 9 and up. ISBN 9780553211405
List price: $4.95 | Adam’s Price: $3.22 for 10+ copies
For more recommendations, check out our Women’s History Month Pinterest board.
Adams Book Company 
