""Teaching Tough Topics" shows teachers how to lead students to become caring citizens as they read and respond to quality children’s literature. It is organized around topics that can be challenging or sensitive, yet are significant in order to build understanding of social justice, diversity, and equity. Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, Religious Intolerance, Poverty, and Physical and Mental Challenges are just some of the themes explored. The book is rooted in the belief that by using picture books, novels, poetry, and nonfiction selections, teachers can enrich learning with compassion and empathy as their students make connections to the texts, to others, and to the world."-- Provided by publisher.