Picture Books
by Erin Cabatingan
All Zebra wants to do is put together a basic alphabet list--the kind that children like to read. Much to his dismay, however, he keeps getting interrupted by Musk Ox, who insists that instead of "a is for apple," the list should read "a is for musk ox." He's tired of always being trapped in the middle of the alphabet simply because his name starts with "m." Employing plenty of creative license, Musk Ox proves why his name corresponds to all 26 letters of the alphabet and should be featured on every page of Zebra's book.
This hyperbolic and hilarious tale will teach young readers not only the letters of the alphabet but also plenty of trivial facts about a certain four-legged Arctic mammal.
Barbara McClintock
When Adéle picks up her younger brother Simon from school, she finds that he is laden with winter gear and school supplies. But as they walk through the streets of Paris on their way home, Simon misplaces all of his belongings. His art project goes missing at the corner market, and his books get lost in the park. On and on they journey until they arrive home, only to find that Simon is empty-handed. How will he recover all his lost things?
Young readers will enjoy a "Where's Waldo?" type search as they look for all of Simon's missing treasures on each beautifully illustrated page.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
by Jon Scieszka
There are always two sides to every story, and now Mr. Wolf finally gets to tell his. You see, he was never trying to eat the pig siblings. He had a cold. He was huffing and puffing because he was sick. The fact that his sneezing blew down their houses wasn't his fault. He only ate the pigs because they died of fright. Why leave a dead pig just lying around? He was doing the community a service by disposing of the deceased animals. He's innocent.
Or is he?
This is a fractured fairytale that can spark a discussion about spotting fake news.
by Linda Elovitz Marshall
Although her home was in the bustling town of London, young Beatrix Potter loved her family's annual summer visits to the countryside. It was there that she experienced nature and began to imagine her now-famous characters, including Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, and many others. However, Miss Potter wasn't just a whimsical writer; she was also a philanthropist. With the funds she earned by self-publishing her first stories, she purchased dozens of farms across England, preserving the natural world and a slower way of life for generations to come.
Leveled Readers
by Arnold Lobel
A young elephant is left alone. His parents boarded a boat for a short trip some time ago and never returned. Uncle Elephant arrives to care for him. While visiting, Uncle takes his nephew on a train bound for many grand adventures. Eventually, Mom and Dad are found, and Uncle's babysitting services are no longer needed. But when he heads home, the older elephant leaves behind many fun memories that the young elephant will never forget.
Please note: In one chapter, Uncle and the nephew find a lamp that talks. They believe it to be magic and begin to make wishes as they rub it. However, it turns out that it is the home of a talking spider, not a genie. Uncle owns a box of cigars. The text includes two mentions of "darn."
by Deborah Hopkinson
12-year-old Johnny hates being a slave. One day, some Union soldiers march past the farm where he lives and invite Johnny to join them. He's never been a soldier before, and he knows he will miss his uncle and his favorite mule, but he decides to follow the men in blue coats. He's put to work helping the camp cook. Soon, he learns that some soldiers on a nearby battlefield need supplies, and there's no one able to drive a team of mules to make the delivery. Johnny volunteers and saves the day!
This Level 3 reader is based on the true story of a young enslaved boy who helped the Northern soldiers in the Civil War.
Illustrated Chapter Books
Fizz and the Police Dog Tryouts
by Lesley Gibbes
Fizz is small. Fizz is cute. Fizz is furry. Fizz is not the kind of dog one would expect to find fighting crime in a canine unit. But that's precisely what Fizz wants to do. Instead of parading around in the purse of a wealthy heiress or sitting on the lap of a wheelchair-bound owner like so many of his brothers and sisters, Fizz is determined to catch bad guys. But when he shows up for police dog tryouts alongside hundreds of more qualified dogs, Fizz begins to doubt himself. Will he be able to pass the test and earn a spot on the force when the odds are stacked against him?
This is the first in a fun four-part series about Fizz, the police dog.
by Cynthia Rylant
After years of living alone as a lighthouse keeper, Pandora, the cat, is thrilled to meet Seabold, a shipwrecked dog who needs help. The pair learn to live in companionable friendship on the island, caring for the sailors at sea. One stormy day, another ship washes ashore. This one is filled with orphaned mice siblings. Though the cat and dog have little, they have more than enough love to share.
First in an 8-part series, this is a heartwarming found-family story.
Middle-Grade Novels
by Barbara O'Connor
Ever since his older brother Tank's death, Walter Tipple has struggled to find his way. Unlike Tank, who went off to join the military without saying goodbye, Walter doesn't have many friends. Then, one day, he meets Posey, a girl from next door. She's brash and loud, adventurous and stubborn. Together, they stumble upon a man passed out near the creek. He's a balloonist named Banjo who hopes to win the grand prize of a hot air race. Unfortunately, his balloon has crashed. The kids agree to help him repair the damage and get him flying again. The trio form an unlikely friendship that helps Walter grieve the past and look expectantly to the future.
This is a beautiful, coming-of-age story about friendship, bravery, and healing after great loss.
Please note: A cliffhanger sentence at the end of one chapter leads the reader to believe that the kids find a dead man lying in the marsh. The next chapter quickly reveals that the mystery man is Banjo who has only passed out after his balloon crash.
To help Banjo recover the downed balloon, underage Walter sneaks out and drives his older brother's truck.
Some of the characters speak in a colorful southern dialect. The following words are used three or four times each: "heck," "bull," and "dang." Additionally, one sentence mentions Banjo spent an evening gambling and drinking beer. Later, the text says he utters "a string of cuss words" in frustration.
by Astrid Lindgren
Most nine-year-old girls don't own a pet monkey or a pet horse, and they most certainly do not live alone in a topsy-turvy house. Then again, Pippi Långstrump is not your average girl. Red-headed, adventurous, and orphaned, fiery Pippi seeks to bring fun and whimsy to her small Swedish village. When she befriends siblings Tommy and Annika, who tell her all about the "holidays" they experience while in school, Pippi determines to enroll to earn her fair share of breaks. But, the class is not quite prepared for the antics of a girl who has never been to school.
Fans of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle will love this first book in a beloved Scandinavian series that has delighted children for decades.
by Jeff Probst
Before boarding the boat, the four step-siblings were not getting along. Their parents had only recently married, blending their two families into one. Now, they find themselves exploring the waters of the South Pacific with their uncle while the newlyweds enjoy a kid-free Hawaiian honeymoon.
A huge squall comes out of nowhere, capsizing the boat and sending all the passengers scrambling. The children wash up on a deserted island and must work together, using their unique gifts, to get home.
First in a three-part series, this book ends on a cliffhanger. Readers must follow up with the sequel to learn whether the stranded kids survive.
Please note: There are one or two uses of the word "heck" in the text.
by A.A. Milne
Pooh is a lovable bear with a penchant for mishaps and misadventures. With the help of his pal Christopher Robin, Pooh and a curious cast of characters search for a lost tail, get stuck in a doorway after eating far too much honey, encounter the frightening Woozles and Heffalumps, and learn what it means to be a friend.
Though Disney's version of The Hundred Acre Woods has been marketed to preschoolers, A.A. Milne's 2-book series about Pooh and his friends is filled with the kind of satirical comedy and poignant life lessons more appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Parents, Be Aware
by Richard Peck
The upstairs Cranston family decides to go to England in search of a suitable match for their daughter. Naturally, the downstairs Cranstons--a family of mice--fear being left behind in an empty house. Though she knows that mice have always had a complicated history with water, Helena, the eldest of the mouse siblings, agrees to take her brother and two sisters on board the ship. While at sea, both the human and the rodent Cranstons enjoy the grandeur of a luxury liner--posh parties, ball gowns, and even invitations from royalty. The upstairs Cranston daughter eventually meets a suitor, but she's not the only one. Love is in the air, and many matches are in the making.
Things to know: Worried about an oceanic voyage, Helena seeks the advice of Great Aunt Mouse, who consults her crystal ball--a glass marble. Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, one of the younger sister mice sneaks out each night to meet a boy mouse. Both the upstairs and the downstairs Cranstons spend the entire trip "husband hunting." Several characters kiss their potential mates.
by Christopher Paul Curtis
With a shabby suitcase in hand, ten-year-old Bud Caldwell sneaks away from his foster family's home in Flint, Michigan, in search of Herman E. Calloway, lead band member of the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. Though not entirely sure, Bud believes the musician to be his biological father. Why else would his recently deceased Mama have kept all the flyers with the band's picture on them?
When he finally finds the nightclub where the Dusky Devastators play, the orphaned boy is disappointed to find that Calloway is old-- too old to be his dad.
But if he's not Bud's father, then who is the grizzled man, and why is he so mean?
Things to know: Subsections entitled "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself" are sprinkled throughout the story. Though Bud eventually realizes that lying isn't always the answer, he spends most of the story using deception to protect himself and get his way.
The abuse Bud endures at the hands of his foster parents, along with the daydreams the boy has of shooting them in retaliation, could be troubling to some sensitive readers.
Bud has conversations with another boy about vampires.
Just for you, Mom
by Jennifer Ryan
Two years into WWII, the women of England find themselves limping along in the kitchen. Food shortages are making it harder and harder to put dinner on the table. To bolster their resolve and encourage housewives to use the meager offerings in creative ways, the BBC announces a four-month-long cooking contest. Each month, contestants will be given a challenge. The woman who cooks the best food and earns the most points at the end of the contest will be named co-host of the popular radio program The Kitchen Front.
In the end, it comes down to four women. Audrey, a war widow and mother, needs to win to support her fatherless boys. Her sister, Gwendoline, wife to wealthy Sir Strickland, ought to win because of her superior rank. Professionally trained Zelda should win to secure her standing as a female chef in the male-dominated restaurant world. And Nell, orphaned kitchen maid, must win to escape the doom of the downstairs life.
In a not-so-friendly competition, four unlikely friendships will be formed.
Please note: This book is based on a real contest hosted by the BBC to encourage women to use their wartime food rations creatively. There is some mild swearing. After being abused by her husband for several years, one of the married characters kisses another man, but the would-be relationship ends immediately after, along with the marriage. Another character is found to be pregnant out of wedlock.