Picture Books
by Kate Messner
As the father and son glide over the snow, they see miles of nothingness. Everything looks dead and dormant. Little do they know that much is happening just below the winter white. Fat bullfrogs are sleeping, beavers are slowly gnawing through their stash of aspen bark, and a queen bee dreams of her new spring hive. This is one in a six-book series that highlights the Over and Under of different habitats around the world.
by Sophie Blackall
Before the days of digital navigation and automated lighthouses, keepers devoted their lives to ensuring the safety of ships near the shore. This is an intimate look at the bravery and sometimes boredom of one fictional keeper and his family as they weather the storms of life alongside the storms at sea. The Caldecott-winning illustrations help to illuminate an easily forgotten piece of nautical history.
The Only Woman in the Photo
by Kathleen Krull
Driven to prove that poverty is not a character flaw, Frances Perkins dedicated her life to providing practical help to the underprivileged and underserved of New York and eventually the United States. Her tireless efforts to improve working conditions for laborers, obtain voting rights for women, and provide charitable help to victims of the Great Depression caught the attention of then-governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. After his landslide victory in the presidential election of 1932, Roosevelt appointed Perkins to his cabinet, making her the highest-ranking female in US history at the time. Under her direction as head of the Department of Labor, the New Deal was executed. This is her story.
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
by Jane Barclay
As a young boy helps his grandfather get dressed for a Veteran’s Memorial service, he learns of the courage it took for the older man to head to the front lines of WWII at only 17 and about the pride and sadness that still lingers in the aftermath of the fighting. Throughout the discussion, the grandfather compares his feelings and actions to those of well-known animals.
Leveled Readers
The Long Dog
by Eric Seltzer
With the repetition of Dr. Seuss, this Level One reader uses the refrain, "This is a _____ dog," to describe dozens of different types of dogs, from wet dogs to dry dogs, young dogs to old dogs. Woven throughout the entire story, however, is the long dog.
Hill of Fire
by Thomas P. Lewis
Nothing ever happens in Pablo's farm village. Every day, he and his father wake up, tend their crops, and dream of a more exciting life. Then one day, the ground begins to rumble, steam rises, and lava flows, forming a hill of fire. Based on a true story, this Level Three book tells of an unexpected volcanic eruption in a Mexican cornfield in 1943.
Illustrated Chapter Books
Princess Cora and the Crocodile
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Her daily princess etiquette training has Cora feeling trapped. She longs for adventure outside. One morning, she opens a box to find a crocodile inside--a gift from her fairy godmother. The crocodile agrees to take her place as princess for the day, allowing Cora to experience the everyday fun of childhood. Trouble is, crocodiles don't make good princesses and soon the palace is in an uproar.
This Rapunzel-like story has all the traditional elements and innocence of an old-school fairy tale but the whimsy of a 21st-century story.
Please note: At one point, the crocodile bites the king in his trousers and "rear end" revealing a small swatch of his underpants underneath. Additionally, the crocodile is a male who dresses up as a princess. This is not a modern attempt at introducing transgender themes. It is simply the kind of play-acting often featured in fairy tales such as when the wolf pretends to be granny in Little Red Riding Hood.
The Sword and the Tree
by Clyde Robert Bulla
This Arthurian tale is full of high adventure, dangerous sword fights, and all the pageantry that comes with the noble knights of the Round Table. Shan, the son of the missing Lord Weldon must defend the castle against his devious Uncle Lionel who seeks to take over the kingdom. But is the boy up to the challenge? Or will evil prevail? And what of his father? Will the Lord of the castle ever return home?
Middle-Grade Novels
The Toothpaste Millionaire
by Jean Merrill
With lots of spunk, imagination, and some basic math skills, sixth grader Rufus Mayflower concocts a plan to become a millionaire. He joins forces with two friends to create, package, and sell homemade toothpaste at a fraction of the cost of the store-bought brands. The entrepreneurial trio face several setbacks along the way including racial discrimination, but they persevere despite the odds stacked against them.
Please note: At one point, one of the secondary characters mentions that she thinks adults are annoying because they don't believe kids are capable enough to tackle hard things.
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow
by Katherine Woodfine
Someone has stolen the Clockwork Sparrow from Sinclair's Department Store in London's Piccadilly Circus. All fingers point to Sophie Taylor, a young orphan girl newly employed in the millinery department. But when the formidable Barron and his boys begin to surface around town, Sophie knows there's more to the story than just a simple frame job. Will she be able to prove her innocence? Or will she take the blame for this underground crime ring?
The first in a 4-part series, this story is Nancy Drew meets Edwardian England.
Please note: As part of the internal artwork of one of the flyleaf pages of the book, the publishers inserted a newspaper clipping that reports the facts of an unsolved murder. One line of the fictitious article reads, "The body of Mr. Daniel Mendel, 52, Clockmaker, was found at his workshop on Hoxton Square on Saturday morning last, his throat having been cut." While there is no mention of this "murder" in the actual text of the book, be aware that the clipping is read aloud at the beginning of the audio version. Additionally, since the book was originally published and recorded in the UK, chapter 20 of the audio version contains the word "a*s" which is not considered an obscene word in some parts of Europe. The publisher replaced it with the word "fool" in the printed American edition. One character says, "For God's sake..."
Old Wolf
by Avi
It is March--the starving time--in the mountains of Colorado. Nashoba must find food for his pack. But rival Garby is young and power-hungry. He longs to overthrow the older wolf and take control.
Casey is a 13-year-old boy who loves playing video games. His favorite is Bow Hunter, a hunting simulator that tracks kills, not deaths. Hunting seems harmless. But when Casey gets a real bow for his birthday, the game isn't quite as fascinating as real life.
Despite what it may seem on the surface, this book does not take either a "for" or "against" stance on hunting. It just seeks to show the viewpoint of long-time predator Nashoba who now finds himself as prey.
Please note: One line reads, "Old Lady Nature is making fun of us." In addition, "Oh my God!" is mentioned twice.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
by Avi
What could be worse than being orphaned and poverty-stricken? Being orphaned, poverty-stricken, and hunted for a crime you did not commit. To escape the evil clutches of John Aycliffe, the Steward of Stromford, Asta's son leaves the only home he's ever known. With the help of Bear, a traveling minstrel with a chip on his shoulder, the boy is determined to prove his innocence and learn why Aycliffe wants to arrest him. But in doing so, will he learn too much?
Please note: While not necessarily graphic or overtly violent, this story is about a manhunt and may be difficult for sensitive kids. Further, when the boy discovers his true identity, it's clear (although not explicitly mentioned) that he was conceived out of wedlock. In keeping with historical accuracy, the text includes several mentions of the superstitions and state religious practices of 14th-century England. For these reasons, Crispin and its sequels are more suitable for older middle-grade readers and young teens.
Parents, Be Aware
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
by Jill Twiss & John Oliver (under the alias of former Vice President Mike Pence's bunny, Marlon Bundo)
Touted as a Peter Rabbit for modern families, this book is a burlesque parody of the 2018 picture book Marlon Bundo's Day in the Life of the Vice President and its subsequent sequels by Charlotte Pence.
Things to know: In this twisted version of the original, Marlon Bundo falls in love with another boy bunny. The story ends with the pair getting married at a ceremony performed by a cat minister and her wife.
An Elephant in the Garden
by Michael Morpurgo
Inspired by true events, this is the story of how a mother and her two children rescue an orphaned elephant from the Dresden Zoo in order to protect it from the impending air raids of WWII. Not knowing the exact whereabouts of their husband/father who is fighting on the frontlines, the family must flee to the country. But how does one travel with an elephant? When they meet a Canadian navigator who'd been sheltering in an abandoned home, they make the choice to help the enemy. Now they must hide more than just an elephant.
Things to know: While this is a relatively clean book, its heavy theme of war makes it more appropriate for readers 10 and up. That said, I would not hesitate to recommend it to older tweens and young teens.
There are two instances of language in the final chapter of the book. An American soldier uses the words, "hell" and "d*mned."
Just for you, Mom
Famous for a Living
by Melissa Ferguson
From the writer of Meet Me in the Margins comes another clean, contemporary Rom-Com for the Instagram age. Cat Cranwell is a social media influencer. With millions of followers, she's the natural "it" girl for all the major lifestyle brands. Until one day, an app partnership goes awry. She's accused of financial fraud and becomes a social pariah almost overnight. Needing both a place of escape and a steady income, she agrees to leave her Manhattan apartment and work for her uncle as the new social media manager of Kannery National Park in Montana. Will she survive the rustic conditions of wilderness living? And more importantly, will she survive working alongside, Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger each and every day?