Picture Books
by Jessie Haas
The summer grass has been cut and is spread out, drying in the sun. Gramps warns Nora that nothing is more important on a farm than hay. Without it, they can't feed their animals.
The calm day quickly turns stressful as the sky shifts from milky white to increasingly dark shades of gray. A severe rainstorm rolls in, threatening to soak and spoil the drying hay. The family must work together, racing against the clock, to get the harvest all in the barn before the sky unzips.
This living book will give young readers a look at one special aspect of life on a farm.
by Brittany Pomales
On the morning of his birthday party, young King Liam wakes up from a nightmare that his party will be ruined by something starting with the letter P. Unable to remember the exact menace, Liam uses his royal power to order that everything starting with P be removed. His tired royal advisor, Cedric, carries out the chaotic commands. They toss out pepperoni pizza, piñatas, parrots, and all pants (which Percival, the royal goat, promptly eats). The ban escalates until even people (including the princess and guests) are sent away on paddle boats because the word starts with P. Liam finally sits alone in his empty palace, realizing he has gone too far.
Please note: Though the king realizes that he has overreacted, he doesn't really learn his lesson. The book ends with the beginning of another overreaction about candles.
by Susannah Lloyd
Marcel, a large bird, and Steve, a small worm, are asked by the narrator to show the reader the concept of size. Trouble is, Marcel keeps eating Steve. Growing increasingly frustrated, the narrator breaks the fourth wall to scold Marcel and demand that he spit the little friend back out. Each time he is coughed up, an unbothered Steve simply adjusts his hat and carries on. Marcel gets a taste of his own medicine when he goes missing on the final page.
Young readers will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor of this metafictional book.
by Margarita Engle
In 1903, while visiting Paris, American socialite Aida de Acosta sees a man gliding through the sky in a dirigible. Though she's invited on board to be a passenger, Ada refuses. Instead, she determines to pilot one all on her own. Against social norms, she learns to operate the complicated controls and becomes the first woman to successfully fly a motor-powered aircraft. This is her story of bravery.
Leveled Readers
by Grace Kim
Peter Piper and Silly Sally travel to visit their friend Betty Botter. Along the way, they see some pretty unusual things like five fat frogs flying fast and a woodchuck chucking wood.
This whimsical story features a handful of well-known tongue twisters that will leave emergent readers wanting more. The publisher has deemed this a Level 3 reader. However, because each page contains only two or three sentences, I think it is more than appropriate for Level 2 readers.
by Joan Sandin
Carl Erik and his family complete their long journey from Sweden to start a new life in Minnesota. When his father travels to a distant town to find work, Carl must step up as the "man of the house" and find ways to feed his family.
He faces teasing from some of his new classmates while struggling to learn English and adapt to American customs. He also overcomes his initial fears and builds relationships with the local Indigenous neighbors, ultimately finding a sense of belonging and community.
This Level 3 book gives readers a peek into the life of a 19th-century immigrant family.
Illustrated Chapter Books
by Margi Preus
Driven by wanderlust, Jean Pierre, an enthusiastic red squirrel, sneaks onto a birchbark canoe crewed by eight French-Canadian fur traders. When the crew discovers the stowaway and threatens to turn him into squirrel stew, a kind voyageur also named Jean rescues him and lets him travel the rest of the way tucked into his pocket. When the canoe finally reaches the trading post at Grand Portage after a 1,200-mile journey, Jean Pierre makes a horrifying discovery: the men are there to trade for beaver pelts and furs from his fellow forest animals.
Heartbroken but determined, he teams up with a clever flying squirrel named Monique to organize a forest animal ambush and convince the men to quit the fur trade.
This living book will introduce readers to a little-known part of American history: the late-18th-century fur-trade industry.
Please note: Once Jean Pierre learns that the voyageurs trade furs, the story takes on a mild "protect the animals from greedy Europeans" tone.
Owl Diaries: Eva's Treetop Festival
by Rebecca Elliott
To celebrate the first day of spring, Eva pitches a grand idea to her teacher at Treetop Owlementary. She'd like to host a Bloomtastic Festival. The festival will feature a massive lineup, including an art show, a talent show, a fashion show, and a bake-off. Her teacher loves the idea but schedules it for the very next week. Determined and a bit bossy, Eva insists on organizing the entire event herself. With only seven days to prepare, she quickly becomes completely overwhelmed by the massive amount of work. Will she pull it off, or will she finally have to accept help from her friends?
This is the first in a light-hearted 24-book series about Eva, her family, and her classmates, designed to keep voracious readers turning pages.
Please note: When her brother leaves his stinky sock in her room. Eva calls him a Squirrel-head.
During the first half of the book, Eva thinks Sue is mean, but when both girls swallow their pride and learn to depend on each other, they form a genuine friendship.
Book 2 is called Eva Sees a Ghost. While the "ghost" turns out to be a snowy owl, Eva's teacher and school friends mention telling "ghost stories." One sentence mentions a squirrel zombie.
While the books are numbered, they are all stand-alone stories and can be read in or out of order. So, a child could easily skip Book 2 and not miss anything. I have not read the entire series.
Middle-Grade Novels
by Carol Ryrie Brink
The Mellen family of Minnesota unexpectedly inherits an outrageously bright pink Floridian beach-cabin motel from their late Uncle Hiram. Though Mr. and Mrs. Mellen initially want to sell the quirky property, their children urge them not to, and they agree to stay on for one season.
The motel attracts a delightfully charming assortment of winter guests, including an eccentric artist who can seemingly talk to beach creatures, a down-on-his-luck stage magician, a wise woodcarver, and a couple of suspicious men the children believe are gangsters. Alongside a new local friend, the family gets swept into a series of humorous adventures all while uncovering their late Uncle Hiram's hidden, legendary secret.
Please note: One of the guests jokes about using a magic wand to open a coconut, but later admits it was a joke.
The magician confesses that his tricks are just sleight-of-hand novelties.
War Horse
by Michael Morpurgo
In Devon, England, a young thoroughbred foal named Joey is purchased at an auction by a cruel, drunken farmer. The man's 15-year-old son, Albert, forms an instant, unbreakable bond with the horse and trains him to be useful around the farm.
With war looming and money desperately needed, the farmer secretly sells Joey to the British cavalry. The animal is then placed in the care of a kind officer, Captain Nicholls, and shipped to France. When Albert discovers what his father has done, he promises to find Joey soon and bring him home.
Unfortunately, Joey is quickly captured by the Germans and spends most of the war changing hands. Will Albert be able to enlist in time, and if so, will he ever find his beloved thoroughbred behind enemy lines?
This moving WWI tale, told through the eyes of Joey, the horse, was adapted for the screen in 2011. I haven't seen the movie, but it appears suitable for teens 13+.
Please note: Overwhelmed by his financial instability, Albert's father gets drunk.
There are a few instances of God's name used in vain, as well as two or three mentions of "hell."
Due to the nature of war, this book may be troubling for some sensitive readers.
by McCall Hoyle
Abandoned by humans and separated from her canine mentors, Millie is a mutt living in an alley behind a bakery. She survives in the shadows until animal control captures her. Lee Berry, a special education teacher and dog trainer, later adopts her from the shelter.
At school, Ms. Berry pairs rescued dogs with her students to help both the animals and the children learn coping skills. Recognizing that Millie and Tori Smallwood, a struggling reader who lives with her grandfather after her mother can no longer care for her, both suffer from severe abandonment issues, she teams them up. Just as Millie begins to drop her guard, an event challenges her sense of security, causing her to revert to her old habits of fleeing and growling. Ultimately, the two must rely on their shared training to trust one another and build a permanent family.
This is the third book in a series of stand-alone titles by McCall Hoyle, each narrated by a different stray dog. The books do not need to be read in any particular order.
Please note: Although it does not go into detail, the text mentions that Tori's mom is in rehab for an addiction to prescription pills after a back injury.
A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest
by J.A. Myhre
Ten-year-old Mu is an orphan living in the heart of Africa within his great-uncle's household. He is largely unloved, ignored, and burdened with menial chores. One day, while working, Mu meets a talking chameleon named Tita who greets him by name and invites him on an unexpected quest. Soon after setting off, Mu gains another unexpected ally: a large, loyal dog named Botu. Together, the animal guardians help guide and protect the boy.
While traveling, Mu encounters dangerous rebel fighters, the plight of child soldiers, hungry wildlife, and the devastating threat of the Ebola virus. In a moment of intense danger, Botu makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect Mu, forcing the boy to confront his own moral choices and flaws, and eventually repent in faith.
Fans of Patricia St. John's books like Treasures of the Snow and Star of Light, will enjoy this fictional missionary story.
Parents, Be Aware
by Jenn Bailey
Henry loves Classroom Ten because everything is always the same and predictable. He relies on a strict schedule where events happen on exact days. On Monday, his teacher, Mrs. Tanaka, announces a school parade for Friday, which means moving Share Time to the wrong day and dealing with loud instruments. Throughout the week, Henry feels stressed by the changes, the noisy preparations, and the anxiety he calls "stomach volcanoes." On Friday, Henry uses his Quiet Card to take a break in the classroom closet. Inside, he meets his classmate Samuel, who dislikes his heavy parade hat. Henry trades his loud tambourine for Samuel's soft, heavy hat (which blocks out noise), and the two boys happily lead the parade together.
Things to know: Henry directly disobeys his teacher but still gets his way. The text implies (but does not explicitly state) that Henry is autistic, which would explain some of his behavior but could cause confusion for some young readers who are unfamiliar with that particular diagnosis.
by Avi
In a Colorado silver mining outpost camp in 1893, a restless young teen named Ollie dreams of striking it rich to escape poverty with his younger brother Gus and their widowed mother. He dreams of striking it rich, a hope that seems within reach when the children stumble upon a hidden cave filled with silver. With help from Bertram Blake, a visiting geologist who teaches Ollie to read the landscape and stake a legal claim, the boys try to establish their own mine. However, Elijah Gatchett, the ruthless town owner, thwarts their plans by illegally controlling all local prospecting and enforcing his rule with armed thugs.
Things to know: When giving the children a quick geology lesson, Bertram Blake says that the rocks are millions of years old.
Disobeying his mother and succumbing to the mining community's superstitions, Ollie uses a divining rod to help him find silver deposits.
Gus is often the voice of reason in the relationship but gets overruled by his foolhardy older brother, who thinks of nothing but getting rich.
There are several uses of old-timey swear words, including j*ck*ss.
Just for you, Mom
by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
This sweeping historical fiction chronicles the extraordinary life of colonial patriot Abigail Adams. Narrated in the first person and meticulously grounded in over 1,100 of her preserved letters, the novel highlights her role not just as a supportive political wife to John Adams, but as a fiercely independent force who managed their farm, made lucrative financial investments, and raised her children amidst the backdrop of war, illness, and intense personal loss.
As her husband's most trusted confidante, she famously urged him to "remember the ladies" while offering fearless counsel. The story follows her onto the world stage as a diplomat's wife in Europe and eventually as the nation’s second First Lady, highlighting her trailblazing advocacy for women's rights, her battle against political foes, and the heavy personal sacrifices her family's long legacy of public service demanded.
Best in Show
by Brian Floca
The year is 1869. You gather with your family on a platform in Omaha, Nebraska, and board a great iron horse bound for San Francisco, California, where the rest of your kin awaits your arrival. The journey that once took months by horseback or covered wagon now takes only days thanks to the Transcontinental Railroad. This book is a narrative look at westward expansion and the changes that the railroad brought to the land and its people. The beautiful watercolor illustrations will give readers a peek at 19th-century American culture, the Native Americans of the West, national landmarks, and the expansive and diverse landscape of the United States.
By Patricia MacLachlan
Answering an advertisement, Sarah Elizabeth Wheaton boards a train in Maine--the only home she has ever known--and heads to the prairie to be the mail-order mother for two children being raised by their widowed father. When she arrives, the dogs love her first. But with her simple ways and keen perception, she eventually wins over the heart of young Caleb. Anna, the eldest sibling and narrator of the story, is not so easily swayed. Unlike her brother, she still remembers their real mother and sees Sarah's arrival as a betrayal of the past.
This is the first in a 5-book series set in the late 19th century. The subsequent books follow the family's growth and are equally enjoyable.