Get Ready for Day One
Ready for the first day of school on Thursday, September 4? If the answer is anything other than "yes," don't sweat it—check out our list of tips, suggestions, and advice on how to turn your child's first day into their Best Day!
Monday, September 1 is Labor Day! First celebrated in 1882 right here in New York City, this federal holiday honors the contributions of workers across the United States and recognizes those who fought tirelessly for fair wages, safer working conditions, and a better quality of life.
As we approach the unofficial “end of summer” this year, we’re sharing reading recommendations for students of all ages to explore the history and impact of labor movements, the people who led them, and the issues that motivated them.
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
- Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin
- Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children, by Jonah Winter; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
- When Cesar Chavez Climbed the Umbrella Tree, by Rachael Hanel; illustrated by Alex Herrerías
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Bog Myrtle, by Sid Sharp
- Dolores Huerta Stands Strong, by Malene Targ Brill
- I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People, by Anne Broyles; illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
- The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins and Her New Deal for America, by Kathleen Krull; illustrated by Alexandra Bye
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Fannie Never Flinched: One Woman’s Courage in the Struggle for American Labor Union Rights, by Mary Cronk Farrell
- Kids on the March, by Michael Long
- The Pecan Sheller, by Lupe Ruiz-Flores
- Three Strike Summer, by Skyler Schrempp
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Fight to Win! Heroes of American Labor, by Kim Kelly
- The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers’ Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields, by Steve Watkins
- Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States, by J. Albert Mann
- Uprising, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. As the summer winds down, you can also find great recommendations for your final few beach reads before the school year starts in the Summer Reading Collection.
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
On July 16, Governor Kathy Hochul joined Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos for a roundtable event at Walton High School in the Bronx to meet with local community and school-based stakeholders to discuss New York State's updated policy regarding students' use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during school days.
During the roundtable, the Governor and Chancellor provided an overview of how the upcoming policy will affect classrooms, learning spaces, and families in school communities across the City and the State. Check out some of our favorite moments during this community event!
