Spring fever can mean restive students. Settle them with selections from CTA’s California Reads, books approved and recommended by teachers. Try:

Viva Frida (pre-K, kindergarten), by Yuyi Morales. Youngsters will respond to the beautiful photos of puppets, which tell the story of Frida Kahlo’s life and inspirations. Text in English and Spanish.

Math Curse (grades 3-5), by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. After a teacher tells her class that they can think of almost everything as a math problem, a girl wakes up to find it true: She has 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes until the bus leaves. Is there enough time? She has 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. Can she make 1 good outfit? Why can’t she just keep 10 cookies without someone taking 3 away? Find out how she breaks the Math Curse!

Crenshaw (grades 6-8), by Katherine Applegate. With no money for rent and little for food, Jackson and his parents, little sister and family dog may have to live in their minivan. Again. Then a big, outspoken cat named Crenshaw comes into his life. But is this imaginary friend enough to save his family?

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children (grades 9-12), by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. Gabe Williams is about to graduate from high school, has just started hosting a radio show, and has a crush on his best friend Paige. And — everyone knows him as Elizabeth. Gabe must deal with freaked-out parents and bigoted classmates as he navigates love, sex, and whether to use the men’s or women’s room. 

Find more book recommendations at cta.org/californiareads.