Best Books 2006!!!!

We have balloted and the votes are in. In order to see the books selected for our list click on the label "best" below. You can also use the Library Thing link in the upper left hand corner of this page. At Library Thing, you can look at book covers and get ordering information, as well as printing out a copy of the list.

Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman

Which came first, this egg-cellently silly story or its hilarious chicken illustrations? As calamity after calamity besets Farmer Greenstalk and his family, the chickens flock together to provide sidesplitting solutions. After a week of non-stop feather-ruffling activity, the hens settle in their coop for a well-earned day off; luckily for the hapless Greenstalks, they are not the only helpful critters on the farm. The simple story line, organized by the days of the week, and the refrain, "Chickens to the rescue!" make this a great read-aloud read-along for pre-K through first grade.

The Extinct Files: My Science Project by Wallce Edwards

Wally uses the scientific method to prove to his science teacher that dinosaurs are not really extinct. Claiming that the illustrators drawings are "actual photographs," he makes astute observations about these non-extinct creatures. He shares information about habitat, diet, grooming, movement, etc.

This is a very creative way to present scientific method, using lots of humor (Glamorousaurus shows us grooming, "Tea Wrecks" hangs out at the coffee shop). The language used in the observations is very heavy in description and sticks to factual information.

It gets a little silly with its conclusion but all-in-all, a fun way to present some science themes creatively. Definately a picture book for middle school.

Wintersmith by Terry Prachett

Tiffany Aching, a 13 year old apprentice witch, gets a little excited at the season changing ceremonies and dances with the Wintersmith, the god of winter. For shame! The Wintersmith falls immediatly in love with her which causes much seasonal confusion for Tiffany's beloved homeland. This fantasy/fairy tale/comedy weaves together all these elements with style and hilarity. Characters span generations (one is even 113 years old) and sizes as Tiffany gets assistance from her pals, the wee-free-men, tiny blue Scotish warriors that keep her under careful watch.

There are elements of the story that will appeal to both boys and girls. Tiffany handles multiple crises with grace and thoughfulness. She's a good role model for adolescent girls, aside from the fact that she is, well, a witch in training.

This is part of a series but stands alone just fine. I have not read any of the previous stories and I had ball with this one.

Here's Looking at Me : How Artists See Themselves by Bob Raczka

This is an unusual way of looking at paintings. The self-portraits of 14 artists are pictured with accompanying commentary on the artist and the painting. Not all of the artists are widely known, although famous ones are represented. Fascinating facts will appeal to readers who may be inspired to look further at the artists' other works. Deceptively simple, this book asks interesting questions and helps us look at pictures in new ways. Among the artists represented are Van Gogh, Chagall, Velazquez, and Norman Rockwell. This can be used in art classes in grades 5-8.

Lugalbanda : The Boy Who Go Caught Up in a War An Epic Tale from Ancient Iraq, told by Kathy Henderson

In this work of fiction, the author has recreated a tale that she believes to be the oldest written story in the world. Drawing on translations from cueiform tablets found in ancient Sumer, she brings the story of Lugalbanda back to life. In folklore, he was a king in Uruk and Sumer and the father of Gilgamesh. Here he is a weak young boy who goes off to war with his brothers, becomes gravely ill, recovers,develops a relationship with the magical giant Anzu bird, and helps redeem his country from warfare. The illustrations, which are perfectly matched with the text, are middle eastern in style, with colors in jewel tones. Included are an introductory section on Sumer's history and an afterword about the story itself. Both are well-written and easy to read. This book can be read and appreciated by grades 4 and up. It could be used in 7th grade social studies classes or as part of a folklore unit.

Once Upon a Banana by Jennifer Armstrong, illustrated by David Small

The story in this mostly wordless book begins right on the cover, moves to the end papers and title page, and picks up speed with the first "real" page. A street performer chases his escaped monkey, who steals a banana and throws down a banana peel, which is stepped on by a motorcycling grump, who knocks over a ladder on which a painter is standing...and so on.There are several hilarious story lines that readers can follow.The events flow in incremental fashion, culminating in a funny but unexpected way. The street signs, which bear the only text, rhyme with each other. The book really has to be seen to be appreciated. I'd call it one for all ages. The curriculum connection could be visual literacy. It's lots of fun.

Welcome to the Bed and Biscuit

Grandpa Bender is a veterinarian who runs the Bed and Biscuit, a boardinghouse for various types of animals. Helping him run the business are former borders, rescued animals that Grandpa adopted as part of his family: Gabby, a Vietnamese mynah bird who has been with Grandpa for 10 years and sometimes answers the phone when Grandpa is busy; Ernest the pig, who has his own shower and a wonderful brain that can help him find things when no one else can; and Milly, a cuddly, red-gold cat that Grandpa wears like a scarf. In this often humorous tale they coexist happily until Grandpa brings home a mysterious guest, with whom he starts to spend all of his time. Who is this guest that fits in a breadbox? Will life with Grandpa ever be the same again? Recommended for grades 2-3.

Just For Elephants

This beautiful and poignant story really captures the attention of the reader as the former circus elephant is taken from a zoo to an elephant sanctuary to begin a new life. It is a heartwarming story of an elephant reunion and really provides an in depth understanding of the social and family structure of these huge animals. The book provides a little information at the back about the Elephant Sanctuary which is located in Tennessee. The book was put out by the creator of the sanctuary and while many of the pictures are very good, there are two that could be a little clearer.
There are downloadable teacher resources available from the sanctuary website and an elecam
www.elephants.com
3rd grade and up

Exploratopia

This is an excellent science resource for teachers and students. The book is divided into 3 main sections: Exploring Yourself (senses) Exploring Interesting Places (including kitchen, bathroom, beach, amusement park!) and Exploring Interesting Stuff (a whole host of things right out of the science curriculum).

Really neat ways to explain lots of great information in a kid friendly format--for example the scientific reason for disliking broccoli! The optical illusion section has some cool newer ways to look at optical illusions rather than the same old tired images. Lots of experiments--more than 400--many of which are easy to do and require common items to carry them out. Others have a plan ahead section where a few items will need to be gathered from other local sources such as Radio Shack.
The book contains lots of great pictures, diagrams and illustrations, a hints tips, and answers section and an index.
Packed full of lots of good and easy ideas to spice up science lessons in the classroom or allow students to extend some of the learning in class. Good ideas for science fairs too! I see this more as a book used with students rather than by them as the size of the book and depth of information is overwhelming for all but the most scientific-mindedchildren. I can see lots of the ideas from the book used to explore and explain scientific concepts K-8. Great ideas for centers can be developed from these ideas.

Put together by the folks at the Exploratorium

The Trap

This very moving story of life in the Alaskan wilderness alternates each chapter between the grandfather and the grandson and the very different struggles that each goes through during the four days that pass during the course of the story.

Albert Least-Weasel is an old, very stubborn man, he has lived his whole life in the cold Alaskan wilderness and insists on continuing to live his life on his own terms. He checks his own fur trapping line alone--even though most men his age had given that up long ago. He set out as usual to check his traps, but that day turned out to be anything but usual. He accidently caught himself in his own trap. The story weaves back and forth between Albert stuck out in the open in the freezing wilderness and his grandson Johnny back in the village. Albert's fight for survival is well-presented as is Johnny's plight caught between his worry about his grandfather and others feeling he should wait and his own commitments.

Nice segueway for 6 graders as they should have had US History covering Alaska and Canada as part of their 5th grade social studies. Great boy book as an upper grade next step from Paulsen's work.

An area of concern is the mention of the pervasive alcoholism of the tribal peoples while not glamorized, it is not ignored either.

Grades 6-12

I have a copy of my own if anyone needs to read it.

Bushnell's Submarine: The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution

What a great way to link 5th grade history to today! The American Revolution is very much a part of the 5th Grade Social Studies curriculum. What a wonderful way to open that subject using this as a class read aloud. The book itself is made to look antique and worn and stained and with the subtitle "the best-kept secret of the American Revolution" it will attract an audience. Famous names of the times are found throughout the book along with drawings, diagrams, maps, documents and portraits. Unfortunately there are no source notes or a bibliography included--but I think it is interesting and brings to life the study of history. While I would have liked to see those notes--I am willing to overlook it if this book will make history come alive for our students.
In addition, there is enough intrigue and suspense to get mystery lovers and boys reading!
Inventors and inventions also tie in to reading centers for the 5th grade.

SLJ gives it a grades 5-9 reading level which is where I feel it belongs. Other reviews put it in the Grades 7-10 range.

M. Bonomo

Balls!

What book provides information on bingo balls, pangolins, ball pythons, soccer balls, footballs and tennis balls just to name a few? Balls!
It is a compendium of all things to do with balls! What a great find for a PE teacher!
This is a wonderful collection of facts and asides all about balls. There are photos, historical and modern, fun facts, cartoons, famous faces, records and much more. The book is divided into 11 sections including 8 sports and ball basics and more odd balls and finally a for further reading section. The information is presented in a quirky fun kid-friendly way so that it is not a dry collection of facts.

The reader can learn the history of each ball and how it is constructed and why it is made the way it is--for example a basketball has 31, 029 pebbles on its surface! there is something in here for everyone. It can be read from cover to cover or a reader can select their favorite sport.
Bowling, baseball, and billiard balls are conspicuously absent. his is explained briefly on p.69 where Rosen assures us that another volume is coming soon!

Grades 4-7
PE Teachers K-8

George Did It by Suzanne Jurmain

George Did It is a humorous look at our very down-to-earth first president. It is full of interesting historical facts and comical illustrations that will appeal to children. Not only did George not want the job of president, he had to borrow money from a neighbor to pay for the trip to New York for his inauguration because he couldn't afford the trip. All of the fancy parties for him just put him to sleep. And, even though he wanted to be home at Mount Vernon, when it came time to serve as president George did it.

The book is in the same style as George Washington's Teeth, Thank-you Sarah, the Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving and So You Want to be President. A bibliography of the sources for the facts contained in the book is provided. It had starred reviews in Booklist, Publisher's Weekly and SLJ and could be used in grades 2-5.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Littlest One is in training as a dream-giver, a delicate creature whose job it is to turn memories into dreams that give comfort and hope to humans. Thin Eldest is her teacher, doing his best to guide Littlest as she learns to use her considerable gift for bestowing dreams on the inhabitants of their assigned house--an abused 8 year old boy and his elderly foster mother. Comforting the angry boy is a task made urgent when a Sinisteeds begins to inflict nightmares on him. When the Sinisteeds gather to attack the child's sleep in a horde, Littlest must use her ingenuity to save him. Lowry skillfully weaves together all the strands of the story--the sweet, caring work of the dream-givers, the violent thoughts and words of the boy, the determination of his mother to make a home for him, the calm patience of the foster mother--into an allegorical story that can be enjoyed on more than one level.

The Runaway Dinner by Allan Ahlberg

All of Banjo Cannon's dinner runs away, not just the sausage named Melvin. There are the carrots named Caroline, Clara, Camilla and Christabel, and the peas, called Peter, Percival and Paul--but don't ask about the terrible fate that awaits some of them in the park. Although Saskia, the plate, finds she rather likes being used as a frisbee, there are casualties. Banjo and his parents race along in eventful pursuit of food, cutlery and dining room furniture, and the hilarious story and illustrations keep pace. Runaway Dinner is a cleverly-written picture book that manages to sound and feel like an improvised story. It is also a fantastically successful read-aloud for students from kindergarten through third grade.

The Homework Machine, by Dan Gutman

The book jacket shows a police file with photos of the four protagonists, a group of students who never would have chosen to be friends but who find themselves seated at the same table in Miss Rasmussen's fifth grade class. Readers are hooked from the beginning by the involvement of the police as the story unravels from interviews with the students, their parents, and teacher. One student, Brenton has found a way to harness the Internet to do his homework and soon all four gather daily at his house to use the homework machine despite their individual differences and the tensions among the four. Fun and fast to read, this one should hold lots of kid appeal.

Grades 4-6

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, by Anna Harwell Celenza

Illus. by JoAnn E. Kitchel

When George Gershwin read in the newspaper that he would be premiering a jazz concerto at an upcoming concert only weeks away his first reaction was to tell his friend that he couldn't write anything that quickly. But convinced otherwise, Gershwin struggled to write the concerto until during a train ride the construction of Rhapsody came to him as a celebration of klezmer, ragtime, the blues, and jazz. The amazing story of this American musical classic includes a CD of the concerto.

Grades 4 up.

The Man Who Named Clouds, by Julie Hannah and Joan Holub

As a boy, Luke Howard began keeping a weather journal. At the time, the 1700s very little was known about weather and how clouds formed. Fascinated by weather, Luke added paintings of the clouds to his weather records and soon developed a system for classifying and naming the types of clouds. His classification system was influenced by Linnaeus' scientific classification of plants and animals. A modern day student's weather journal including miscellaneous weather facts is interspersed throughout this interesting history of meterology and introduction to types of clouds. A good accompaniment to the fifth grade weather unit.

Grades 3-5

Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes

This selection of poetry by Langston Hughes has the added value of an introduction to the poet, notes for the poems, and collage and watercolor illustrations. An inviting introduction to the poet and companion to other books about him.

Grades 4 -8

Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis

As any young child knows, a box is not a box but a racecar, a mountain, or a robot. A simple, repetitive text is paired with simple line drawings of a rabbit pretending that a box is anything but a cardboard box. This book has a classic, timeless feel and the question and answer exchange between the rabbit and the narrator will engage young listeners. This might be a fun writing model for older primary students.

PreK - K

Black? White! Day? Night! : A Book of Opposites by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

This is an ingenious treatment of opposites for pre-K through maybe first grade. Using flaps with holes cut in them to demonstrate opposites, the author has created a clever and original book. A black bat turns out to be the smiling mouth of a white ghost when the flap is lifted.Narrow looks like a thin yellow line on orange until you lift the flap and see wide, which is a long swath of yellow. This is a book that has to be seen and experienced to be appreciated. The design will be a problem in a library where it will get a lot of circulation, but it deserves consideration as a best book anyway. The drawings are simple and the colors bright, just the right combination for young children.

Oink by Margie Palatini

Oink by Margie Palatin; illustrated by Henry Cole; Simon and Schuster
Thomas and Joseph are sloppy, lazy, dirty, and Happy pigs, but duck, hen and rabbit complain that the pigs are disgraceful, untidy, and lazy. Hen suggested they paint, but hen did most of the work. Rabbit wanted them to improve their diet, harvest and eat fresh vegetables, but rabbit had to do all the work. Duck told them they needed to dig a hole for a pond to bath in, but duck did most of the digging. The hens, rabbit, and duck worked all day, they were exhausted from the hard work, proud of their accomplishments, then realized the pigs were not so dumb after all! The watercolor, ink and pencil illustrations add to the humor of this book.

A Million Dots by Andrew Clements

Did you know it would take 11.5 days to count a million dots? Clements' book has a million dots and gives students a concept of just how many a million is. Each page marks numerical milestones on the way to a million. The 600th dot is circled indicating the number of times a mosquito's wings beats 600 per minute. The adult sperm whale weighs 87,600 pounds and there are 615,000 different words in the Oxford Dictionary are among the facts in the text. Don't go cross-eyed counting the dots!


Illustrated by Mike Reed

A Place Called Kindergarten

A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper; pictures by G. Brian Karas

Tommy comes to the barn early every morning to bring an apple for the horse, a biscuit for the sheep, corn for the hen and dandelions for the cow. Then one morning he doesn't come and animals are curious why. The dog comes by and says Tommy left on a yellow bus and has gone to someplace called kindergarten. The animals anxiously wait the rest of the day for Tommy to stop by. After school he returns to tell the animals what he learned in kindergarten: a is for apple, b is for biscuit...
A great introduction for kindergarten and a celebration for the start of school

Building with Dad, by Carol Nevius

Illus. by Bill Thomson.

A young boy joins his dad at a construction site. The book opens from top to bottom providing interesting use of perspective and a sense of being dwarfed by the large equipment. The construction site is for a new school and will offer extra interest at newly opened schools.

Grades K-2

Peggony-Po: A Whale of a Tale, by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Illus. by Brian Pinkney

Created from a piece of driftwood by a whaler named Galleon who has lost his leg to the whale, Cetus, and named for a sea shanty, Peggony-Po joins a whaling crew and sets off to avenge his Pa and capture the ferocious whale. This original story has all the exaggeration and adventure of a true tall tale and makes for a salty read-aloud.

Grades 2-5

What Do Wheels Do All Day, by April Jones Prince

Illus. by Giles Laroche

Wheels move us in many ways: skateboards, motorcycles, and ferris wheels. A simple text employs vivid verbs to introduce a variety of wheels shown in attractive paper collage illustrations. Useful for primary units on motion as well as language arts lessons about action words.

Grades K-2

The Last Dragon, by Silvana Di Mari

Yorsh is a young elf who encounters two humans whose differences lead to several humorous situations. Encountering an old prophecy that the last elf and last dragon will create a new beginning for a land engulfed in darkness, Yorsh journeys to find the dragon. His fate is also tied to the fate of a young orphan girl whose parentage the reader will predict. This was a very satisfying fantasy with humor, danger, and characters the reader quickly cares about.

Drita, My Homegirl, by Jenny Lombard

Drita, a refugee from Kosovo and Maxie, an African American girl in her New York City classroom are an unlikely pair. Drita barely speaks English and struggles to make friends at her new school while outgoing Maxie is in frequent trouble for clowning around in class. Their stories are told in alternating chapters as the two girls get to know each other and their families. This is an outstanding story about friendship and overcoming differences.

Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything

In this sequel to Ruby Lu, Brave and True, feisty, Asian-American Ruby Lu jumps from one hilarious episode to another with her cousin, Flying Duck who has just emigrated from China to live with her. Children will relate to her thoughts and feelings about notes (to parents) pinned to her shirt; and her absolutely hilarious reaction to the Basic Lifesaving video she manages to check out from the library (because her dad doesn’t check her selections like her mom does).

Included at the end is, “Ruby’s Amazing Glossary and Guide to Important Words.” Another fun feature is the flip book of Chinese (?) sign language on the bottom of each page.

Interest level: Grades 1-3

Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root

Four kids go into the woods in search of a "long-leggy, branchy-antlered, dinner-diving, bulgy-nose moose." Although they've never seen one, they're sure they'll know it when they do!
Amusingly, there are little leggy, branchy, bulgy moose parts sneaking out of the illustrations throughout the double pages spreads. Kids will probably need a little encouragement to spot the clues but with the repeated phrases and simple rhyme, it'll be fun to try!

Fun to pair with Going on a Bear Hunt

Below by Nina Crews

Jack drops his favorite toy, Guy, through a hole in the staircase and worries about the dangers Guy might be facing down "below". Busy parents are unable to help immediatly so Jack must use his own ingenuity to retreive Guy all by himself. By using his toy crane, he joyfully recovers Guy and lots of other lost toys.
Crews' uses a variety of illustration techniques, dreamy double exposure images and hand drawings, to creatively show Jack's vivid imagination.

Bessie Smith and the Night Riders by Sue Stauffacher

Based on a real incident that happened near Concord, N.C., this story about Bessie Smith will fit well into the 8th grade social studies curriculum as a picture book for older readers. In 1927 Bessie Smith was touring the country by rail. She was performing in a tent outside of Concord when night riders from the Klan showed up and tried to scare her off. She "cussed" them and refused to leave, so they gave up and left her alone. The author embelishes the facts a bit, using a young girl who admires Bessie's singing as the main character and adding some dramatic fictional events around the edges of the true story. Bright, swirling, colorful illustrations will also attract readers.

Gone Wild : An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans

The best word to describe this book is elegant. The author/illustrator has created letters that incorporate some part of each endangered animal that he has chosen to highlight. The only colors employed are black, white, and red. Upper and lower case letters are shown in addition to the animal letter and an outline picture of the animal. A text box on each page gives the animal's class, habitat, range, threats, and degree of endangerment. In the back, there is additional interesting information for each animal. This treatment is spare but effective. The book can be used with children of many ages to teach about endangered animals. When I was at Mendenhall, we used to do a unit on alphabet books which culminated in the students' creating their own book around an assigned theme. There are many possibilites for curriculum connection here.

Lucy Rose: Busy Like You Can't Believe, by Katy Kelly

Illus. by Adam Rex.

Entering fourth grade, an irrepressible Lucy Rose chronicles her experiences eavesdropping, trying out for Annie in the school play, relationships with friends, the not so friendly Ashley, grandparents, and divorced parents. The telling is practically breathless, funny, and true. Her collection of new words and palindromes gives readers access to a sophisticated vocabulary within the comfort of a series character and style.

Grades 3-5

Aliens are Coming: the True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast, by Meghan McCarthy

The true story of the broadcast that frightened a nation is introduced with a reminder that radio reigned before television. The illustrations alternate black and white to show people in the 1930s and their reactions while imaginative visions of aliens and their spaceships are full color and bound to attract youngsters to this book. An author's note gives more in depth history including other similar radio hoaxes and could extend the interest and usefulness of this book to middle schoolers. This would be a fun addition to technology history and to discussions of modern Internet hoaxes and the need to verify sources.

Grades 2 - up

Hardworking Puppies, by Lynn Reiser

Ten puppies count down as each finds a job guarding, rescuing, performing, herding, and helping. While this is a fun introduction to counting backwards, it is more a book introducing a variety of careers and the canines involved with them. The bright illustrations add to the appeal.

Mammoths on the Move, by Lisa Wheeler

Extinct for thousands of years, the woolly mammoths presented here in a rhyming text and superb oversized scratchboard and watercolor illustrations will re-ignite the imaginations of young listeners. The rhyming text is a unique way to present factual information and will lend itself well to read aloud and sharing with a group. The illustrations appropriately shaggy in texture and often capturing only part of the huge animal are what really work to bring the subject close up.

Grades 1-4

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom, by Tim Tingle

Bok Chitto was a river in Mississippi that served as a boundary between the Choctaw Indian people on one side and the plantations and slaves on the other side. If a slave made it across the river, the slave was free. In this story, Martha Tom a young Choctaw girl is lost on the plantation side when a young boy, named Little Mo (short for Moses) helps her to find the crossing home. Later when Little Mo's family is to be separated by the sale of his mother, he leads his family to freedom by crossing the river in plain sight of the guards and their dogs who are struck still by a seeming band of angels escorting the family to freedom. This story is haunting both in the illustrations and in the cultural customs particularly the songs of each.

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, by Russell Freedman

Freedman adds details and depth to the now familiar story of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. He offers the background needed to understand that hers was not the first refusal but part of a growing movement waiting for an appropriate test case. He then goes on to show how the incident catapaulted a young and gifted minister, Martin Luther King Jr. to leadership and how the perseverance and steady resolve of a city population willing to walk to work for a greater cause, to face arrest and violence if necessary, and to organize and support each other started a movement and brought about change. Freedman uses the voices of participants to bring the story to life.

Grades 4 and up

Houndsley and Catina and the birthday surprise, by James Howe

Houndsley the dog is sad because he doesn't know when his birthday is. When he tells his friend, Catina, the cat she also seems sad. Unbeknownst to the other, each friend plans a suprise birthday party for the other. Told in three short chapters, this book for new readers is a delightful story of friendship accompanied by expressive watercolor, pencil and collage illustrations. The text hits just the right emotional note.

Grades 1-3

Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, & Dr. Paula Kahumbu

The tsunami of 2004 left a young hippo stranded and motherless in the village of Malindi on the coast of Kenya. The people rallied to rescue the hippo who they named Owen and transported the young animal to Haller Park, an animal sanctuary near Mombasa. Placed in an enclosure with Mzee, a giant 130 year-old tortoise, Owen immediately took to the tortoise and soon the two were inseparable friends. The book realistically portrays the animal relationship without sentimentality yet still the reader is left with a sense of mystery of belonging and friendship.

All ages.

Once Around the Sun, by Bobbi Katz

Illus. by LeUyen Pham

Poems celebrate each month of the year with childlike observations and enjoyment. "January is/when your sled hurries/to the park after school/and flurries you/down/the/hill." Bright colorful illustrations feature a young African American boy at school and at play. This is a visual delight and the poems could carry a classroom through the year and offer models for similar poems.

Grades 1-4

The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin

The "Year of the Dog" is for friends and family and finding yourself particularly for the Taiwanese, young girl named Grace for whom the year includes making a new friend when another girl from Taiwan enrolls in her school, writing and illustrating a book that wins a contest, and performing as a "Chinese" munchkin in a school production. Largely autobiographical, Lin says she wrote the book she wished she had growing up: one that mirrored her experience bridging two cultures. Small black and white decorations provide illustration of some of the Taiwanese cultural traditions. Family stories are also woven throughout.

Oh, Rats! The Story of Rats and People, by Albert Marrin

Illus. by D. B. Mordan.

Remembering an incident with a rat at age seven, the author offers a personal introduction to a fascinating exploration of the science and history of rats that revolves around their mostly irreputable relationship to humans along with their uses as a food source, detecting land mines and tuberculosis, and as lab rats for scientific research. Many fascinating facts are highlighted in sidebars and the black and white illustrations accented with red are just right.

Grades 4-7

Once I Ate a Pie, by Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan Charest

Illus. by Katy Schneider

"13 Dogs Tell All!" in humorous poems accompanied by doggie paintings. The use of different font sizes and text placement are part of the visual delight of these poetic offerings. With names like "Mr. Beefy" and "Wupsie", the dogs have distinct personalities captured in text and illustration.

Grades 1-4

Penny from Heaven, by Jennifer L. Holm

Eleven year old Penny lives with her mother and her maternal grandparents following the death of her father. She also spends a lot of time with her father's extended Italian family including several uncles who dote on her, a cousin Frankie who is always in trouble and a grandmother, Nonny who always dresses in black. It's the summer of 1953; polio keeps her from the swimming pool; her mother is dating the milkman; and the two families barely speak to each other. Filled with humor, drama and some suspense about her father and how he died, this is great storytelling with characters it's a pleasure to spend time with.

Grades 5-8

All of the Above, by Shelley Pearsall

Mr. Collins challenges his seventh grade math students to stay after school to build the world's largest tetrahedron and earn a world record. Four students alternate voices to tell what happens next and through the telling their individual stories emerge as well as their growing sense of teamwork and purpose. When vandals wreck their first attempt, the community rallies to help them. Mr. Collins sprinkles math facts and questions throughout like, "Each level of a tetrahedron increases by a factor of four." In order to beat the existing record, they must make four times as many pieces. Marcel's dad owns a barbecue place, and recipes for spicy barbecue sauce are also interspersed throughout the story. I expected to enjoy this book because it had a math theme, but was delighted to find it was a story with much greater depth because of the characters and their interactions.

Grades 5-8

I Lost My Tooth in Africa, by Penda Diakite

Based on a true family story. When Amina visits her family in Mali, she loses her tooth, places it under a calabash and receives, in accordance with Mali custom, a chicken and a rooster. The child's excitement and anticipation are very real and the vivid ceramic tile illustration give a feeling and visual picture of Mali.


illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite

K-2

The Little Red Hen, by Jerry Pinkney

A new twist on an old tale. Pinkney uses graphite, ink and watercolor in this visual feast; he uses color words in the text to match the color of the animals. Great for pre-ks and kinders to learn color and color words in this wonderful update.



ALA Notable
SLJ Best Books

Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!: A Palestinian Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald

A lively folktale from the middle east introduces us to a woman who longs for a child and prays to Allah "even if it's just a cooking pot" which is what she gets. The mischiveous little pot runs ("Tun-jur! Tun-jur!" is the roll-y noise she makes) off with things that do not belong to her. She learns her lesson when someone fills her up with goat muck- instead of the reward she was expecting.

A lesson of learning right from wrong is shared with strong arabic- styled illustrations.

Author's notes are included.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves: Why Commas Really do Make a Difference by Lynn Truss

Here's a fun children's version of the adult best seller! This one is considerably pared down to include just the need for correct commas. After offering a little story to explain the title, several humorous examples of misplaced commas are offered on double page spreads. Both pages list an identically worded sentence, only the comma location is changed.
ie: Eat here, and get gas. vs. Eat here and get gas.
Sorry - I had to go there!

Its a little uneven but certainly a strong example of some of the writing conventions we try so hard to hammer home.

Fun to pair with Punctuation Takes a Vacation by Pulver.

Earth Magic, by Dionne Brand

Illus. by Eugenie Fernandes

Originally published in 1979, this book of poetry is now published with new, swirling color illustrations that strongly convey the beauty and strangeness of the Carribean. The author draws on her childhood in Trinidad in this selection of poems that range from morning to night. Poems about the heat of the sun, a drought, a storm, and a hurricane ably capture the texture and sounds of the tropics. Other poems range from carefree jump rope rhymes to slavery and toil in the fields and a young girl's longing for school.

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel, by Siena Cherson Siegel

With artwork by Mark Siegel.

In the form of a graphic novel, a ballerina offers her memoir."Big open spaces always made me dance," is the opening line for the memoir that begins when a doctor tells her at age six that she has flat feet and her mother decides that dance classes might help. Thus begins a fascination and passion for dance fueled with lessons and visits to ballet performances. When she was eleven, she auditioned for the School of American Ballet and her family moved to New York City following her acceptance. The graphic novel formats allows the artist, her husband to use various numbers and sizes of panels to zoom in on a ballerina's hands, or to capture movement and emotion through a quick series.

Grades 4-8.

5,000 Miles to Freedom : Ellen and William Craft's Flight from Slavery by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin

The remarkable story of William and Ellen Craft's daring escape from slavery comes alive in this exciting account of their lives and adventures. Ellen Craft's father was her white master and she could "pass" for white. She dressed as a Southern gentleman while her husband William posed as her slave. Together they made their perilous way to the North and then to England, returning to the United States only after the Civil War was over. The Fradins succeed in conveying the fear the Crafts felt and the danger they were in during the journey north. The book also gives a good description of their lives once they lived on free soil. Always in danger of being captured by slave hunters who were sanctioned by the Fugitive Slave Acts, these brave souls traveled and lectured extensively about slavery and its evils. There is dialogue in the book which is taken directly from their own book about their escape. Also included are period photographs, drawings and engravings, and actual newspaper accounts about the Crafts. Well-researched and well written, this book belongs in every middle school collection. It correlates well with the 8th grade social studies curriculum and is perfect for Black history studies. An ALA Notable Book.

I Love Our Earth, by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson

Photos by Dan Lipow.

This is a beautiful tribute to the beauty and bounty of our planet. While the text honors the landscapes and flora of earth, the brilliant color photographs include faces of diverse people from around the planet. This would be a lovely introduction to primary units on landforms or climate but would also be an apt choice for Earth Day.

Grades PreK-2

Tools, by Tara Miura

Learn the correct names for a variety of tools grouped by their associated job: carpenter, tailor, mechanic, doctor, electrician, gardener, chef, watchmaker, barber, and painter. The labeled tools are presented before the job allowing listeners to guess before turning the page. Graphic illustrations created on computer are pleasing for their simplicity and focus on the topic.

Grades K-2

Dick Whittington and His Cat, retold by Margaret Hodges

Illus. by Melisande Potter.

Here's the classic tale of the young man who went to London to find his fortune and finds a cat whose rat-catching skills lead to riches. This engaging retelling and illustrations are followed by notes about the factual origin of the story and of the chapbook that preserved it. The real Dick Whittington was Lord Mayor of London and left his fortune to help the poor people in that city. This is a great story with an interesting history related to book publishing as well.

Grades 2-5

If You Were An Adjective, by Michael Dahl

Illus. by Sara Gray.

Adjectives tell us how things look, sound, feel or behave. Sometimes they are proper and sometimes they are comparative. The bright, textured acrylic illustrations are perfect for sharing and invite the reader to think of more describing words.

Grades 1-3

An Egg is Quiet, by Dianna Alston

Illus. by Sylvia Long

Eggs are quiet, until they hatch. But they also have other characteristics: size, colors, shape, design and textures which are depicted in the very dainty watercolor illustrations. The cursive font matches the delicate illustrations but will provide difficulty for young readers. The labeled illustrations particularly on the opening pages (of eggs) and the closing pages (birds and other egg-layers)are a particular strength and attraction of the book. This would be a great match for second grade animal life-cycles.

Grades 2-4

Move! by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Each doublespread in this book features an action word, presented in a large font along with one or two animals created with collages of cut and torn paper and a sentence with the animal and the action word. The page turns are action packed themselves. For example an armadillo swims and then quickly leaps on the next page to avoid a crocodile. I plan to use this for a lesson on action words in the context of a first grade unit on motion. Notes about the animals and how they move follow the body of the text.

Grades 1-4

The Princess and the Pea, by Lauren Child

A king and queen "did all the traditional fairy-tale things in order that their son might be bowled over by the right girl," but nothing quite works. One night a girl slides on her favorite "pea green" dress and goes out into the moonlight where she is lost in a storm and wanders to a palace door. The queen tests her with a pea and stack of mattresses to determine if she is a real princess, the prince falls in love with her, they marry and peas are not served at the reception. This retelling is quirky and fun but the most fascinating aspect of this book are the illustrations. The characters are cut-outs of paper drawings and are placed in settings built with dollhouse in a miniature three dimensional world. The back endpapers detail the creation and photography of the sets.

Grades 1-4

Hush, Little Baby, by Brian Pinkney

The illustrator places the familiar Southern Appalachian lullaby in the context of an African American family in the early 1900s with Papa left to watch the children. The verses have been changed slightly and they swirl across the bright pages along with the loving illustrations of father and children. I've shared this with kindergarteners who begged to sing it again and to check it out.

PreK-1

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip, by Gaylia Taylor.

Illus. by Frank Morrison.

Part Native American and part African American, George Crum lived at a time when it was difficult for people of color to be taken seriously in school or the workplace. His skills at preparing the fresh fish and game he catches lands him a job in a fancy restaurant where his sister is a waitress. Easily frustrated by the wealthy, fussy customers, one day George responds to a complaint that his french fries are too thick by slicing them very thinly. Soon everyone wants his "Saratoga chips." An author's note situates the story within the known and debated facts. The illustrations are lively and expressive. This would be a fun addition to units on inventors or food.

Grades 1-5

So Sleepy Story, by Uri Shulevitz

Everything has a face, and everything is sleepy: trees, house, chairs, dishes, and the moon. Then music drifts in and everything begins to shake, then wake, and then dance until drifting back to sleep again. The text begins and ends with one long sleepy sleepy sentence while the wide awake middle is more choppy and noisy. Young children will respond to the personification of everything through the expressive illustrations: even the curtains have faces.

A Dog for Life

John Hawkins and his older brother Tom come up with a scheme to save their dog, Mouse from being sent to a shelter after Tom was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Their mother was afraid that Mouse would bring in germs. However, Tom felt that he couldn’t survive without this special dog who shared the brothers’ gift of communicating with each other by reading each other’s thoughts. That’s how John and Mouse’s adventure begins. In spite of a naively created plan and a few unexpected, strange, and sometimes disturbing challenges, John and Mouse remain determined to reach their destination. Recommend this one to students who request adventure or family stories. Booklist starred review.

Grade 4-8

Wildfire, by Taylor Morrison

This is not a read aloud. It provides a great deal of details about the business of fighting wildfires. The page layout is sometimes confusing, but there is a wealth of information on each page. The paintings are perfect for conveying the heat of the fires. A central theme in the book is how our forests actually need fires and how fires are a part of nature's plan for healthy growth. Overdevelopment and people's general aversion to fire are putting our western forests in an ever more volatile and dangerous situation. This will be very popular with students interested in fires, disasters, and how things work.

Grades 4 - 8

Duck and Goose, by Tad Hills

A delightful primary book about a duck and a goose squabbling over a large spotted egg - in reality a rubber ball. Both birds claim the egg and become friends while waiting for it to hatch. A cute book about friendship and sharing, not to mention showing the difference between geese and ducks. I am already looking forward to Duck, Duck, Goose by the same author.

PreSchool - Grade 2

Solomon and the Ant, retold by Sheldon Oberman

Here are forty-three clever, witty, and illustrative stories sure to delight students of all ages. This collection is a goldmine for storytellers. Oberman has gathered stories from many Jewish traditions - trickster tales, riddles, King Solomon, and the prophet Elijah. Each is short and told so clearly that the jewel at the heart of the story shines through every time. It is recommended for grades 5 and up....but many of the stories have delighted younger audiences at my school. The seven page introduction was a little long. Surely the material before and after each story would have sufficed. A simple "Sheldon Oberman did not live to actually hold this book in his hands; nevertheless, he held the stories in his heart" would have been more in keeping with the spirit of these fabulous folktales.

Grades 5 - 8

Counting on Grace, by Elizabeth Winthrop

A story just like this one could have taken place in any mill town in North Carolina. It is a gripping narrative of a spunky heroine named Grace Forcier. She lives in a textile mill town in Vermont and works with her mom as a doffer in the spinning room. The author describes the many hardships of the textile workers while weaving Grace's story of self-discovery and growth all the while. She and her friend Arthur are the best readers in school and Miss Lesley their teacher wants to keep them out of the dangerous mill. She is fired for her meddling and Grace is given the substitute teaching position. The Lewis Hine photo on the dusk jacket is of a real mill rat from 1910 - an "anemic little spinner in North Pownal Cotton Mill." In this book Grace writes a letter to Mr. Hine about working conditions for children in the mill and he arrives and takes pictures to document the terrible conditions . You will remember Grace long after you put this book down - she is the star among many wonderfully drawn characters. This book will be an excellent companion to Bread and Roses by Katherine Paterson and of course, Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor. SLJ starred review.

Grades 5 - 8

Weedflower, by Cynthia Kadohata

A powerful story of a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Before Pearl Harbor Sumiko works with her uncle's family on a flower farm in southern California and dreams of owning her own flower shop. When the war starts Sumiko's family is split apart and she is moved to a camp in Arizona - a camp located on a Mojave reservation. There she works with a neighbor, Mr. Moto, to grow an award-winning garden and she befriends Frank, a young Mojave. Through her friendship with Frank, she sees the injustices perpetrated on the Native Americans and tries to reason out the very difficult decisions her family has to make. Students will relate to and understand Sumiko's feelings at each step of her amazing story. The author's father was interred at the Poston camp and she writes a moving and well written testimony to the courage and perseverance of Japanese Americans during this dark period in American history. SLJ starred review.

Grades 5 - 8

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

Here is a great new book for fans of Junie B., Amber Brown and Judy Moody. Large font and lots of humorous black and white illustrations will appeal to students wanting to move from easy readers to chapter books. Ivy and Bean are seven year old neighbors who dislike each other even though they have never spoken. When they finally do meet, they team up to cast a "witches spell" which sends Bean's bossy older sister into a wormy mud hole and makes them friends forever. This is a fun book to read which also reinforces the lesson that you shouldn't prejudge others.

Use with grades 1-3.

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers

Great jazz poetry along with a history of jazz. The beat of the poems mimic jazz music and different instruments are highlighted by having their own poems. The introduction gives a history of jazz and a timeline of jazz does the same but in a more kid friendly format. There is also a glossary of jazz terms. The vivid illustrations are perfectly matched to the poetry.

I just finished Bud, Not Buddy with my fourth grade reading group and I can't wait to share these poems with them. One of the reading skills we are to focus on this month is inference and poetry is a great way to teach that skill in an interesting way.

I can see using this with grades 3-8.

Dizzy, by Jonah Winters

Credited with inventing "bebop," Dizzy Gillespie started out poor, with an abusive father, and in trouble for fighting. In a jazzy, poetic text, the author shows how his trumpet became an outlet for anger and trouble, and how Dizzy took fun and laughs and turned them into something new and creative. An author's note fills out the biography of this musical great.

Grades 2-5

Adventures of Marco Polo by Russell Freedman

This is a superior piece of bookmaking and a story well worth reading. Freedman's account of Marco Polo's daring adventures should hold the attention of even the most reluctant readers of non fiction. He writes simply but never condescendingly. The book's pages look like parchment paper and every double page spread contains at least one illustration. There are lush paintings by the illustrator and many colorful images from historical illuminated manuscripts. Perhaps the most valuable chapter is the last, titled "Did Maro Polo Go to China?" In it the author discusses current scholarly theories about the Polos and whether they ever actually made it all the way to China. This could engender a lively discussion about how we decide what to believe about the past. The topic fits well into both 6th and 7th grade social studies curricula. Starred reviews in Booklist and SLJ.

Bringing Asha Home by Uma Krishnaswami

Eight-year-old Arun is delighted when his parents tell him they are adopting a baby girl, Asha, from Dad's native India; but the paperwork and procedures require a long wait, during which Arun pretends his paper airplanes are bringing Asha from India. Krishnaswami (say Krish-na-swa-mee) uses the North Indian Hindu Rakhi Day (Rakshabandhan), which celebrates the bond between sisters and brothers, to frame the story. Arun explains the custom to his best friend, and Asha arrives clutching a rakhi (bracelet) for her brother. Jamel Akib's warm, realistic illustrations in soft colors enhance the text: Mom is white, family and friends are diverse, home life and activities are inviting.
Loving preparations for adoption, a less well-known but very special Hindu tradition, and subtle diversity make this book an excellent choice for all elementary collections. An author's note provides more information on Rakhi Day and adoption. Hindi words (such as "rakhi") are explained above the CIP information.
Grades K-3.

Wolves, by Emily Gravett

Rabbit checks out a book about wolves from the library and reads, about a second too late, that they sometimes eat -- rabbits! Oops! Well the author assures us this is a work of fiction and "no rabbits were eaten during the making of this book," but nevertheless she provides an alternative (vegetarian) ending. Tongue in cheek humor abounds in the small details and clever design of this book about a book. This could be a fun introduction to fiction & non-fiction and maybe book care (the wolf book gets a bit chewed up!).

Grades K-2

Keep Climbing, Girls, by Beah E. Richards

A young girl climbs a tree in defiance of Miss Nettie, who hands on hips, tries demands, shame, and fear to bring her down. The message rings loud and clear for all girls, particularly girls of color, to climb higher, forge a path upward, and defy expectations. Besides it's such a great view from the tree top! R. Gregory Christie's angular and expressive swatches of color capture the spirit of this inspirational poem. Grab a girl or two and read this one aloud! An introduction provides background on the author, an actress featured in the documentary: Beah: A Black Woman Speaks.

All ages.

Freedom Riders : John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement

By focusing on two participants in the historic Freedom Rides, one black and one white, this account of a landmark civil rights movement is at once personal and universal. Lewis, now a Congressman from Georgia, and Zwerg, a retired preacher and businessman, came from different worlds. Their paths crossed in Nashville, Tennessee, when, as young college students, they were part of the sit-in movement there. They became dedicated to demonstrating to the nation the injustice and brutality of segregation. Both risked their lives and became victims of violence. Readers will be able to relate to the experiences of each, making the history more lively and understandable. The story is clearly told in a chronological account that uses many photographs to illustrate the text. Back matter includes a time line, a roster of many of the riders, an index, and a resource guide. The guide lists some excellent books for young readers, music and videos, and places to visit both in person and online. This is an excellent nonfiction book for middle school where it can be used for black history units and for eighth grade social studies .

Escape! : The Story of the Great Houdini

This is a great account of the life of Erich Weiss, alias Harry Houdini. In clear, often cleverly worded prose Fleischman conveys a sense of what made this average magician so famous. Told with a heaping dose of skepticism, the story of Houdini's life emerges as the tale of a self-made man with a tremendous ego and a penchant for stretching the truth. Several long-standing myths are dispelled here. Fleischman himself had a brief career in his younger years as a magician, so he has considerable knowledge of the world of magic. As a biography for reluctant (but not slow) readers, this title fills a great need at the middle school level. The design of the book is very reader friendly, with double spaced text and a lot of spectacular pictures. The front and back covers feature actual advertising posters for Houdini's performances. A bibliography and an index are included.

Alexander the Great Rocks the World by Vicky Alvear Shecter

This biography details the life and times (or escapades) of Alexander the Great.

Peppered with casual comments directed toward the reader, it offers both an intimate and a broad view of Alexander's upbringing, education, military campaigns and leadership as ruler of Macedonia, Greece, Persia, Egypt, etc, etc, etc. The author is able to imbue a sense of Alexander's power, charisma, and progressive thinking.
Humorous text and the common threads of adolescence (pre-and early adolescents being the target audience) are employed to draw in the reader. Of course, the subject matter is pretty interesting, too.

Shecter includes a timeline, a bibliography, chapter end notes, and a decent index. Illustrations, photographs of artifacts, maps and other visual aids, and quotes from famous dead guys help make the book a breezy read.

My favorite quote, from pages 51-52, "After uniting Greece, he had a new obsession-Perisa. He wasn't alone. The Greeks, in general, shivered in ther tunics whenever the subject of Persian aggression came up. They especially feared the powerful Persian ruler, King Darius III. Why? Because King Darius served the Dark Lord Sauron and sought the One Ring that would give him power over the hobbits and Middle Earth. Oh, wait. Wrong story."

4th grade - 8th grade

The Moon, by Robert Louis Stevenson

Illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson.

Stevenson's classic poem "The moon has a face like the clock in the hall," is here given a beautiful and very child-friendly treatment. Wide double-spreads depict a father and child on a late night adventure that includes a moonlight cruise. It's the small details: binoculars and stuffed animal, family dog and cat, mom at home with a baby, and the child asleep in the car seat on the drive home that invite, comfort, and welcome young listeners into this poem. Grandmothers pay attention! This is a book for the youngest on your list. At the same time, I think the poem is so accessible that it might make a nice accompaniment to the third grade earth-moon-sun unit.

Preschool-grade 3

The Story of Salt, by Mark Kurlansky

A really interesting journey into the history and importance of a rock we all take for granted. The book begins with an explanation of what it is, followed by its impotance to our bodies and how it is used. The book continues with how to make salt the four most common ways. While 'Make" is not an exact term as minerals cannot be made--it does explain how salt is released from water. Political and economic uses are discussed including salt's role in the great Wall of China and it's use in preservation from mummies in Egypt to food products. Words in our language that have developed based on salt are included. Lots of information in child-sized bites with text boxes on every other page.
The format causes some difficulty in reading--black text on dark washes, but the information is top notch and it ties salt in across a variety of subject areas. Great ties to the 4th Grade curriculum. Notables.

Grades 4-6

An Island Grows, Lola M. Schaefer

A simple , clear treatment of a complicated subject. Cut paper illustrations follow the developement of an island from magma flow, through the coming of plants, insects, animals and people. Clear text and pictures make it easy to trace the development of the island from magma flow to populated island. A great candidate for sequencing lessons. A few more details are available in the back as well as a suggested bibliography.

Grades K-3

Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker

Clementine conquers all sorts of disasters with spunky persistence and unflagging optimism. She tries her best to help--but things do not always go as planned. For example, Clementine's best friend Margaret's extreme haircut. She tried to help her friend by evening it up--by cutting the other side. The result wasn't good so they agreed to cut it all off. Then they drew it back in permanent flame colored marker. The Principal and Margaret's mother were less than pleased with the results. Clementine is forever getting in trouble for not paying attention--but she is paying attention and seeing lots of things no one else would ever see.
A wonderfully humorous look into a child's world of life, school, and friends with superb dialog and fabulous pen and ink drawings that capture the spirit of the characters. A laugh out loud uplifting read and a wonderful addition to early chapter books. Notables SLJ Best Books and PW .

Grades 2-4

Did You Say Pears? by Arlene Alda

Colorful photographs pair homonyms or homophones (and a page at the back explains the difference) while the text plays off the sound and meanings. Sometimes the text surprises like "blew" for candles and "blue" for a swath of sky and other times it's the striking photographs: a spiral staircase for "stair" and a carved wooden face for "blank stares." A delightful choice for language arts and perhaps a model for creative writing.

Grades 2-4

Turtle Crossing, by Rick Chrustowski

Follow a female painted turtle from hatching throughout seasons and years until she mates and lays eggs. The bright-colored illustrations feature pond life while the factual text shows the life cycle of this common reptile. As the title implies, there is also a message here about turtles crossing roads often to lay eggs or return to water. This is an attractive introduction to one of the animals frequently seen in our state.

Grades 1-3

John, Paul, George & Ben, by Lane Smith

John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Tom Jefferson are introduced as school lads: John writes his name too big, Paul is very loud, George is honest, Ben is very clever, and Tom is independent. Most behaviors are not appreciated by their teachers or class mates. "Say you want a revolution," well these are the lads to do it! The American Revolution, of course. From the endpapers, title page, and throughout till the CIP there are small humorous details referencing American history. The illustrations are done on textured paper and handmade parchment; the font is Early American, and photographs include classic portraits of the "lads". Throughout this very tongue-in-cheek and humorous portrayal is great attention to detail and facts with a page following the text, "Wherein we set the record straight with ye olde True or False section."

Grades 4-8

Strange Happenings: Five Tales of Transformation by Avi

A bored boy trades bodies with a cat who once was also a boy, a princess is born invisible because of her mother's wish for a flawless daughter, a curious boy realizes too late that the identity of the team mascot is better left unknown, a shoemaker reneges on a bargain with his cat and discovers that the devil will have his due, and a selfish hunter finds forgiveness and a new life from the golden bird he killed. The five short stories in this slim volume show versatility in style and tone, with some reading like timeless folktales ("Babette the Beautiful", "The Shoemaker and Old Scratch", "Simon") and others like present-day fantasy ("Bored Tom" and "Curious"). Although the amount and density of symbolism varies from story to story, each tale has at least one moral to teach. It would be exciting to read and discuss this title with fifth-graders or middle-schoolers.

Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson

Sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks sees an unexpected inheritance of her uncle's homestead claim in Montana as a chance to stake out a life for herself after being sent from distant relative to distant relative following the death of her parents. The requirements to own the claim seem overwhelming: build and fence and cultivate 40 acres within the ten months remaining plus pay the final fees. With the help of neighbors and against the background of World War One, Hattie sets out with determination and a feisty spirit to do what needs to be done to own her own piece of land and sky. The strength of this story is the clear-headed and sometimes poetic narrative as well as the intricate weaving of plot themes: letters to an uncle and a "friend" fighting abroad, the wartime mistrust and fear of sedition and Hattie's courage to stand up against it, and the strength of Hattie's character.

Grades 5-9

Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter, by Susan Goldman Rubin

In a format befitting his pop-art style, the early life and work of Andy Warhol is presented against large blocks of bright color. Photographs and reproductions of his work fill the pages along with numerous quotes many from this nephew, James Warhol who authored Uncle Andy's (2003) a great companion to this work. The timeline is a particularly creative example of the form employing bold patterns and colors and filling in the later years of his life and work. The "back" material in this book: glossary, source notes, bibliography, illustration credits, and a list of museums where one can view his work including the Ackland in Chapel Hill are particularly strong. While this book is suitable for elementary school readers, it's hard to put an upper limit on its appeal.

Grades 4 - up.

The King of Attolia.

TURNER, Megan Whalen. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-06-083577-X; PLB $17.89. ISBN 0-06-083578-8.

Gr 7 Up –In a slick political and personal maneuver, the former Thief of Eddis has married the Queen of Attolia and must convince her court and her countrymen that he is a competent and caring ruler. This rich and multilayered novel, the third about Eugenides, is told with verve, and will create legions of fans for the newly minted and largely misunderstood monarch. (Feb.) SLJ Best List

Great romance and adventure in one title. Sequel (THE THIEF, THE QUEEN of ATTOLIA) we have been waiting for. The series has grown with our readers.
KP

Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry by Joyce Sidman

A little tan dog zooms out of the front door of his home; a white kitten is pushed from a car by the side of the road. Through the magic of concrete poetry, their stories meet and merge in the park during a thunderstorm. The poet and the illustrator/designer combine talents to create a book full of verbal and pictorial imagery that is charming and inventive. Spiky-topped green letters form the grass in the park and read "PATCHWORK, RABBIT-NIBBLED, MOWER-CROPPED, WIND-WHISPERED GRASS". On the "nosetrail" of the cat, the dog's singlemindedness is momentarily waylaid: "catcatcatcatcat...catcatcatcatCHIPMUNK! The clouds grow from "WISP" to closely layered "SNOW-WHITE ROLLS AND DOLLOPS STUPENDOUSLY SWELLING". The multiple fonts and perfect color palette make this digitally-created book a treat. The poet has had experience teaching children how to write concrete poetry; this amazing little book will inspire others to creativity.

Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building by Deborah Hopkinson, ill. by James Ransome

This picture book tells two stories: one of a young boy and his father living in NYC during the depression; and one of the men that built the Empire State Building. Hopkinson's narrative from the boy's point of view as an on-looker is balanced with Ransome's paintings of the progress. Included in the story are facts about the construction. Hopkinson includes a note at the end and information on her sources. The end papers offer photographs of the construction.

My students enjoyed the book, especially the pictures of the workers eating their lunch on the contruction site, high above the city.

edit Recommended for 2nd-5th grades.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward is the much-adored and pampered china bunny of 10-year-old Abilene. However, the life that he seemed to take for granted takes some interesting turns when he is lost at sea, recovered, and lost again several times. He experiences life with an array of people from various walks of life, but of all the lessons he learns the greatest of these is love. Ibatouilline‘s acrylic gouache illustrations are stunning and at times haunting. DiCamillo’s multi-layered story is skillfully written.


School Library Journal Best Books, Booklist Editor's Choice

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh

Who knew that the space suits worn by Apollo 11 astronauts included 22 layers of fabric? Probably the 500 designers and seamstresses who constructed them! They are just part of the group of behind-the-scenes workers who helped make this historic space mission possible. Thimmesh takes a new approach to a story that is familiar to many by including information from personal interviews and oral histories as well as other authoritative sources. Text and vivid photos invite the reader to study the book (not necessarily in order) from cover to cover. White text on some photos might be a bit hard to read, but the student who is fascinated by space will be motivated to continue. Also included is an extensive source list, chapter notes, additional suggested sources to consult, a descriptive list of the other Apollo missions, an index and a glossary.

Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

In free verse form Roy tells the story of her aunt's life and her family's survival in the Lodz ghetto in Poland during World War II. Her Aunt Syvia entered the ghetto at the age of four and was liberated the day before her 10th birthday. She was one of twelve children to survive the ghetto. Through a child's voice we learn the horrors of living in the ghetto and picture of survival for those 800 of 270,000 who lived to tell this story.
It is amazing the compassion and passion Roy evokes in such spare text.
Recommeded for 4-7 grades.

Sister Trickster: rollicking tales of clever females by Robert San Souci

Eight amusing and lively trickster tales with females as the central figure are retold from Anne Virginia Culbertson's out-of-print book At the Big House. Featured characters are Molly Cottontail, Mistah Slickery Sly-Fox, Mistah Rooster and Mistah Bear, Mis Grasshopper, Mis Duck and Mis Goose. Using dialet these tales show that females are more adept at thinking than the male counterparts. Reminiscent of Joel Harris' Uncle Remus tales.
The San Soucis have recaptured these tales for our modern day students.

illustrated by Daniel San Souci, Recommended grade levels:3-6.

London Calling by Edward Bloor

The odd but compelling novel teeters somewhere between fantasy and historical fiction, SLJ calls it "magical realism". Martin time travels through his dreams to the blitz era of London to assist another boy in finding the truth to a personal mystery. The mystery reveals delicate secrets in England's war efforts and makes Martin question how history is written.

In the present, Martin is a student at fancy private school but after a bullying incident, he has been granted a semester off to do an extensive research project. His research is intertwined with the events in his dreams but is all pulled together in a fascinating conclusion for the present time conflicts as well as the events he is involved with in the war dreams.

Could be used as classroom discussion for WWII as well as more general discussion about how historical events are recorded and remembered.