Jamie's Little Library

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora, tells the inspiring true story of Mary Walker, who was born into slavery in 1848 and learned to read at the age of 116. Despite a lifetime of hardship and limited opportunities, Mary never gave up on her dream of literacy. This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates perseverance, the power of education, and the belief that it is never too late to learn.

Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project by Saadia Faruqi is a fun, heartfelt story about friendship, culture, and finding confidence when things don’t go as planned. When Marya is paired with Waleed, a new student from Pakistan who misses home, she’s sure their country project will be amazing — until her big ideas start to spin out of control. Through humor, teamwork, and a few mistakes along the way, Marya learns that kindness and understanding can turn any “disaster” in

This is a great book to share with children ages 4-8 to develop self-esteem and love of nature.