Picture Books
The Hole Story of the Doughnut
by Pat Miller
Before 1847, the standard fried dough cakes sailors ate were called "sinkers" because the edges cooked faster than the centers, leaving them raw and heavy. Attempting to make the cakes more sea-friendly, Hanson Gregory, a ship cook's assistant, decided to poke holes in the center of some awaiting dough. Using a pepper can lid, he created a ring that cooked evenly. The new, delicious doughnuts were a hit with the crew and eventually the world. This is the story of Gregory's famous pastry.
by Janice May Udry
Trees "fill up the sky" and make the world a more beautiful place. Their trunks and limbs are good for climbing, and their branches can hold swings. Trees provide a home for birds to build nests and a safe haven for cats wishing to escape dogs. They offer shade for picnics, naps, and resting cows, and their leaves provide opportunities for fall play.
After reading this sweet story, young readers will be inspired to appreciate the trees around them and perhaps even plant one of their own.
The Amazing Impossible Erie Canal
by Cheryl Harness
The Erie Canal was an "amazing impossible" early American engineering marvel that connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, transforming New York City into the nation's premier port and driving westward expansion. The idea for a canal through the New York wilderness was first proposed shortly after the American Revolution to link the growing western frontier with the East Coast. Distance and the formidable Appalachian Mountains made travel difficult and expensive. The project's chief supporter was a young politician named DeWitt Clinton. Faced with immense criticism and numerous physical obstacles, Clinton and his crew persevered, working from 1817 to 1825, to create a ditch that transformed the nation.
This narrative non-fiction uses a combination of text, detailed illustrations, maps, and diagrams to bring the canal's history to life for young readers.
Hector Fox and the Giant Quest
by Astrid Sheckels
"I wish fairy tales were real," Lucy Skunk sighed. This simple wish prompts Hector Fox and his friends—Mo Marten, Charlie Chipmunk, and Jeremiah Rabbit—to set out on an adventure to find a genuine giant. They had all heard a rumor of an enormous, shadowy stranger living in the Forbidden Marsh, a place beyond the safety of their friendly Green Wood. Believing the figure might be a fairy-tale giant, the five friends venture far from home, encountering various twists and turns along the way. Ultimately, their quest leads them to a surprising and massive discovery that reveals the truth about the rumored beast, teaching a sweet lesson: things are not always as they seem.
Fans of Beatrix Potter will enjoy this first in a four-part series about Hector Fox and his woodland friends.
Leveled Readers
by Diana Murray
Pig can make any pizza to order for the customers in his parlor, from penguins who like their pizza cold to rats who want extra moldy cheese. One day, he becomes concerned when he notices that a turtle isn't eating and is sitting alone. After making a variety of different pizzas for the turtle, the pig finally realizes why the turtle refuses to eat: pizza is only yummy when you have someone to share it with.
This Level 2 reader includes one to three rhyming sentences on each page.
by Marcie Aboff
Ben loves jelly beans and frequently visits Jo-Jo's Jelly Bean Shop, where a weekly riddle contest offers a full jar of jelly beans as a prize. Ben is clever and consistently knows the answer to the riddle, but he is too shy to speak out loud in front of a crowd and, consequently, never wins the prize.
With encouragement and a little help from his sister, Ben finally gains the confidence to voice his answer and participates in the contest. But will his guess be correct? Will he win the prize?
This Level 3 reader exemplifies healthy sibling care and connection.
Illustrated Chapter Books
Real Pigeons Fight Crime
by Andrew McDonald
Rock Pigeon is a master of disguise. He gets recruited to a team that includes other uniquely talented pigeons like Tumbler and Homey. Together, they tackle three humorous mysteries: the case of the disappearing breadcrumbs, the mystery of the kidnapped bats, and a dinner disaster at a food truck fair.
This is the first in the Real Pigeons series, a 13-title collection of hybrid books that combine the text of an illustrated chapter book with the illustrations of a graphic novel. I have only read the first book. However, after much vetting, I've learned that the subsequent titles contain the same innocent, slapstick comedy of the first with no agenda, language, or sexual content.
Please note: One of the illustrations in this first book features a thought bubble that says "OMG." Additionally, in one chapter, the pigeons chase a boy into a fortune-teller's tent at a food truck fair. As they run through, a caged bird hands them a card that says, "You'll find the two you seek, if out the back you take a peek."
by Carla Stevens
The Statue of Liberty is being shipped to America, but cannot be erected in the harbor until enough funds are raised to build a pedestal on which it can be placed. Lily and her classmates are encouraged to contribute to a city-wide fundraiser, but her family has no money to give. With help from her grandmother, she creates and sells paper crowns modeled after the statue's crown. She's able to make so much money for the pedestal fund that her efforts are featured in the newspaper, inspiring reluctant adults to give. Eventually, all of New York watches as the statue arrives in the harbor and is eventually put together piece by piece.
Middle-Grade Novels
by Robert L. Fuller
One day, while out looking for cherries near their New Mexico home, the O'Ryan siblings—Slugger, Flint, and Scout—discover a shapeshifting alien dog named Robin Hood. Soon, sinister things begin happening.
Together, the trio, with help from their newly found mut, must find the legendary Sapphire Sword, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat the creeping, shadowy vines threatening to destroy the earth. If they fail, the life they knew will be consumed by fear and darkness.
This is the first in a Christian sci-fi trilogy that has themes of family, forgiveness, and faith in the face of overwhelming odds.
Please note: At the beginning of the book, the siblings bicker quite a bit. But they soon learn that they must protect each other and work together.
The text contains a few uses of the words "heck" and "dang." In addition, one character says, "Oh my, ever-loving gosh!"
by Virginia Sorensen
Father has not been quite the same since he came home from World War II. He's withdrawn and unable to work. Marly, along with her parents and older brother Joe, moves from the city to a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania in hopes that Father can heal. The family discovers "miracles" throughout the year, including the beauty of the changing seasons and the warmth of their community. The spring "sugaring time" is especially helpful for Father, as he can help their neighbor, Mr. Chris, make maple syrup after the elderly man becomes ill. This act of kindness solidifies the family's connection to the community. and they decide to make a permanent life in the small, wooded neighborhood.
Fans of Little House on the Prairie will enjoy this story of the simple pleasures of home life.
Please note: One character says, "Just shut up about it." Also, when promising that he was not exaggerating about how much he liked the family's maple syrup attempts, the elder Mr. Chris says, "I swear on the Bible."
In one scene, Joe sneaks out one morning before anyone else is awake in order to climb the hill all by himself.
by Mindy Nichols Wendell
Hallelujah "Halle" Newton's life is turned upside down when her mother develops a severe case of tuberculosis and is sent to a special sanatorium in upstate New York. Halle and her father both test positive for the disease but are asymptomatic. This, however, does not stop Halle's classmates from shunning her at school. Tensions also rise at home when she and her father must take on the extra chores her mother is no longer able to do.
Upset by her father's temper and longing for her mother, Halle attempts to walk to the faraway hospital. She collapses en route and, having developed a cough, is admitted as a patient.
In the children's ward, Halle bonds with other girls and makes new friends, forming a "found family." She discovers joy and community in this isolated place, where patients are treated regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Despite her own improvements, Halle learns her mother's health is still deteriorating. Will Halle ever be able to go home, and if so, will her mother be able to join her?
This sweet historical fiction explores themes of hope, resilience, forgiveness, and the power of family bonds to overcome hardship.
Please note: On Halloween, a nurse comes into the children's wing wearing a witch's wig and hat. The children parade through the hospital in various costumes. This scene spans a couple of pages but is neither dark nor scary.
by Marion Bauer
In a wolf pack in the forests of northern Minnesota, four healthy pups are born: Leader, Sniffer, Runner, and Thinker. A fifth, very small pup is born last, and the father, the alpha male King, names him Runt. In a world where a name often determines one's worth, Runt soon learns that his name is an insult. As he grows, he desperately tries to gain his father's approval and earn a more respectable name. Unfortunately, his attempts to keep up with his siblings often backfire, leading to mistakes, the pack's displeasure, and even harm to his brothers and sisters. When he gets entangled with Bider, a disgruntled older wolf who constantly challenges King's authority, Runt learns the importance of obeying authority and making decisions for the sake of his family's safety.
Please note: In a show of rebellion, when the pups are initially born, Bider says to their mother, "Too bad you didn't have these pups with me."
At one point, the pack attacks a bull moose, and one of the pups dies, which may be troubling to some sensitive readers.
Parents, Be Aware
by Edward Marshall
Fox wants to go out and play with his friends Dexter and Betty, but his mother insists he take his little sister, Louise, with him. Fox is angry and complains about having to babysit all the time, but eventually concedes and takes Louise to the park. While he is distracted, mischievous Louise climbs a telephone pole and gets stuck. Fox must come to her rescue.
This Level 3 book is told in three short stand-alone vignettes that put Fox's responsibility to the test.
Things to know: Each time Fox is tasked with a job, especially when it includes his baby sister, his immediate response is, "No." Mother has to convince him to obey. When Fox loses Louise and later finds her, he tells her not to tell their mom.
by Greg Howard
Eleven-year-old Riley is struggling with the mysterious disappearance of his mother four months ago. The police investigation is stalled, his family becomes distant in their grief, and Riley finds himself bullied at school. In his distress, Riley clings to the bedtime stories his mother used to tell him about the "Whispers," magical wood creatures that grant wishes if given tributes. Desperate for answers and convinced his burgeoning sexual orientation is the reason his mother left, Riley decides to find the Whispers himself. Along with his best friend, Gary, his crush, Dylan, and his loyal dog, Riley ventures deep into the woods to leave gifts for the creatures and ask for his mother's return.
Things to know: Much of the book centers on Riley's struggle with same-sex attraction and his desire to be understood. Additionally, there are two mentions of a girl's breasts and one mention of a male animal's genitals.
Just for you, Mom
by Bethany Turner
On February 4, 2003, Olivia had a "meet-cute" with a handsome, struggling actor in a coffee shop. They made a spontaneous pact to meet at the same place in exactly ten years to make a film together, once they have both found success. The only problem: Olivia was so flustered she forgot to get his name.
Over the next ten years, every February 4th brings significant coincidences and ironies in Olivia's life. When the 10-year anniversary arrives, she comes face-to-face with her very own plot twist.
This rom-com is a story of personal growth, second chances, and realizing that sometimes the perfect story is the one being written right in front of you, not the one you are trying to force onto the page.