Building students’ social-emotional capacity through reading and discussing books enhances their ability to experience successful relationships in school and more importantly now the interactions they have at home and in their neighborhoods. By inviting students to read and then have meaningful conversations about books, you offer models for building trusting relationships with peers and adults

Dear Teacher, A favorite genre of students, realistic fiction opens a window into their world and their hopes and dreams, and often validates their life experiences. Bonding to realistic stories can happen quickly as students connect with characters that experience a similar range of emotions, relationships, problems, and wonderings. When students relate to realistic plots,