“Liang, Tao, and Hosp share a passion for the potential of literature to make a difference in children’s lives. Their commitment to courageous conversations with real children in real classrooms is reflected in this valuable work. The volume provides suggested book sets, activities, discussion prompts, and other resources that are effective starting points for teachers.”

—Kathy G. Short, PhD, Regents Professor, Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies, and Director, Worlds of Words, University of Arizona


“Like a trusted mentor, this book empowers educators to guide courageous conversations about topics like mental health, immigration, and grief, using the power of picture book sets. While many may think that picture books are for younger students, these texts and conversations are invaluable to older students as well. Discover the power of intentional sequencing to unlock deeper learning and spark meaningful discussions. Few resources provide such comprehensive and practical support for maximizing the impact of text sets on students' social and emotional competencies, in developmentally appropriate ways.”

—Naomi Watkins, PhD, Secondary English Language Arts Specialist, Utah State Board of Education