Picture Books
Roxaboxen
by Alice McLerran
Most folks would look at the hill of sand, rocks, and cacti as nothing but a scrub desert, but not Marian and her friends. With a little imagination, the neighborhood kids transform a small patch of earth into the make-believe town of Roxaboxen. Scrapping together broken boxes and abandoned treasures, they build homes, shops, and highways. Through the years, the children grow and so does the town. Pretend play can't last forever...or can it?
retold by Candace Fleming
When Thomas Jefferson set out to write the Declaration of Independence, he had no idea what kind of criticisms would come his way. Delegates of the Continental Congress made all kinds of suggestions, hoping to make the Declaration even better. Discouraged, Jefferson sought the consolation of friend and fellow patriot, Benjamin Franklin. To teach Jefferson a valuable lesson about the vacillating opinions of the public, Franklin tells him a story of a hatmaker whose attempt at making a store-front sign was thwarted time and again by the criticisms of the town's folk. This is Franklin's story.
Mr. Ferris and His Wheel
by Kathryn Gibbs Davis
The year was 1893. Chicago was chosen to be the backdrop of the World's Fair. France had dazzled thousands the year before by unveiling the Eiffel Tower; now it was America's turn. A nationwide contest was announced encouraging engineers to submit their best ideas. Blueprint after blueprint arrived only to be sent back by the judges. Until one day, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. hatched a plan to use a steel alloy--a relatively new material--to create a spinning structure the likes of which the world had never seen. Powered by two giant steam engines, Mr. Ferris called his contraption a Monster Wheel.
A Country Far Away
by Nigel Gray
Two boys. Their days are so different and yet very much the same. They go to school. They play with friends. They do chores. They live ordinary lives. One calls the United States home while the other resides in a village in Africa.
Told in first person, this simple story chronicles a day in the life of two different boys. The text appears in the middle of each page and is intentionally generic. One line reads," I helped my mom and dad. They were pleased." The beautiful illustrations reveal the differences and similarities of the boys in a way that does not make one life better or worse than another. Both lives are celebrated.
Leveled Readers
A New Home
by Tim Bowers
Matt likes his new home, but it's missing one important thing: a pal. When he sees Pam's hat fly away, he rushes off to grab it. This allows him to make introductions and the two become fast friends.
The left side of each two-page spread has one to two simple sentences. The right side has a large illustration, making this Level 1 reader a manageable book for early readers. With the exception of two more difficult words, friend and new, the sentences contain only one and two-vowel words.
The Bravest Dog Ever
by Natalie Strandiford
In the frontier town of Nome, Alaska, two children fall ill from a deadly disease called diphtheria. The local doctor does not have enough medicine to help the siblings let alone to prevent the spread of the sickness to the rest of the town. The closest hospital with supplies is over 800 miles away in Anchorage. So, the townsfolk do the only thing they can: they call upon Alaskan mushers to help.
This is the true story of Balto, the lead dog of one of the many sled teams that helped carry life-saving medicine across the tundra in the winter of 1925.
Illustrated Chapter Books
A Long Road on a Short Day
by Gary D. Schmidt
Early one winter morning, Samuel and his father set out on foot with a treasured Barlow knife in hand. Mama needs a milk cow to feed the baby. Papa says they'll use the knife as payment. But how can one lone knife buy a cow? At the first farm they come to, Papa promises the knife in exchange for two tin lanterns. At the next house, he trades the lanterns for a book of poetry. And so it goes--all day, Papa trades for larger and more valuable items.
Fans of The Ox-Cart Man will appreciate the premise of this delightful story. I especially like how the father acknowledges the son's contributions and allows the boy to make the final trade of the day. When given a choice to keep a prized pony and cart all to himself, he selflessly remembers the needs of his mother and baby sister, and barters for a milk cow instead.
by Poppy Green
What could be better than heading back to school to see your friends after a long winter break? The anticipation of meeting a new classmate! But when Sophie Mouse steps into the one-room schoolhouse of Silverlake Elementary, she's surprised to learn that the new student is a snake. Can she overcome her fears and be kind to someone who is different from her? Does she have room in her heart for one more friend? And if she has the courage to welcome a snake into her circle of friendship, what will her other classmates think?
This is the first in a 20-book series starring Sophie Mouse and her collection of woodland pals. All twenty books are quite clean and wholesome.
Please note: In Book 2 of the series, Sophie leaves a half-truth message for her parents in order to sneak away on a dangerous misadventure. She and a friend end up meeting a stranger and follow him into his house. The story ends innocently because the stranger has no ill intent. However, the plot may send the wrong message to impressionable readers about interacting with unfamiliar adults.
Middle-Grade Novels
by Jennifer Trafton
Henry is quiet and a bit of an outcast at school. Other than his best friend, Otis, he doesn't know how to relate to other kids his own age. But, once inside the safety of his bedroom, with chalk, pencils, or markers in hand, he becomes a brave knight, a space explorer, or a superhero. Henry is an artist with a wild imagination. But when the ferocious shape-shifting dragon he drew at home suddenly appears at school, Henry must summon his courage, learn to rely on the help of others, and use his hidden gifts to save the day.
This is a whimsical tale of friendship, forgiveness, and the importance of creativity.
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 of the siblings 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 growth of the family and are equally enjoyable.
Adventures with Waffles
by Maria Parr
Originally written in Norwegian, this is a coming-of-age story about Trille and his best friend Lena, the girl next door. They live on a small island off the coast of Norway and have an idyllic childhood filled with outdoor adventures, imaginative capers, and lots and lots of waffles. Things couldn't be more perfect for Trille until one day, he learns two things that completely shake his world: Lena and her single mom are moving to the mainland and his beloved Great Aunt--the waffle maker--has passed away. Understandably, Trille is not sure he can handle so much change. He must find a way to keep Lena from leaving.
This is a modern story written with the same wholesome undertones as the cherished favorites Charlotte's Web and The Boxcar Children.
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
by Marguerite Henry
At first glance, Little Bub looks like nothing special--just an orphaned colt given to Justin Morgan, a Vermont schoolmaster, as payment for a debt. But Joel Gross, Mr. Morgan's favorite student, sees in Bub some extraordinary potential. Under Joel's loving care and faithful training, the castoff horse begins to outpace all the other mounts in town and eventually the entire country.
This underdog (or underhorse) classic is based on the true story of how an everyday workhorse became the sire for America's most celebrated stallion breed, the Morgan.ifferences and similarities of the boys in a way that does not make one life better or worse than another. Both lives are celebrated.
Parents, Be Aware
Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children
by Jonah Winter
Irate about the working conditions for children in mills and factories, Mary Harris Jones, known as Mother Jones, took to the streets to demand child labor laws and the formation of unions to help protect young workers. Together with one hundred boys and girls, she marched from New York City to Teddy Roosevelt's summer home in Long Island urging the then-president to enact change. Although few improvements were made in her day, Mother Jones ignited a revolution against injustice, the effects of which are still being felt today.
Things to know: Mary Harris Jones was a spitfire. A self-proclaimed "h*ll-raiser," she was labeled the most dangerous woman in America by many politicians in the early part of the 20th century. Sensitive readers should be aware that while accurately written, the first-person narration of the story often portrays Jones as hostile, rebellious, and vulgar. There is one use of "Heck, no!"
by Kevin Henkes
Billy has never been a nervous kid. But when he falls and bumps his head, he grows anxious about starting second grade. Will the giant lump affect his ability to learn? To make friends? With the help of a supportive teacher, a trusted best friend, and even his pesky little sister, he not only survives plenty of misadventures and missteps but thrives all year.
Things to know: On the plus side, the author has accomplished something with this book the likes of which haven't been seen in middle-grade lit since Beverly Cleary's Ramona series--portrayed a very young boy accurately without having to rely on trite tropes like an obsession with sports, crude language, or gross humor. The protagonist is a three-dimensional boy with real feelings, fears, and reactions. (Nowadays, most well-written boys in kid lit are usually 10+)
That said, Billy's inability to control his feelings, often at the risk of his relationships, was unsettling. His parents were always quick to acknowledge and talk with him about how sad or mad he was, but they never addressed his poor behavior or gave appropriate consequences for his actions.
Additionally, the entire premise of the book is based on a conversation Ms. Silver, Billy's teacher, has with her students about the Chinese zodiac or classification system that attributes an animal to each calendar year.
Parents should know that Billy views his younger sister as "the enemy." He struggles to resist the constant urge to hit or pinch her. Additionally, there are brief mentions of a pearl having supernatural powers, Billy imagining a scary zombie-like monster to keep himself awake one night, and a classmate having two mommies.
Typically, a 240-page book would be marketed to middle-grade readers, but because of the age of the main character and because of the simplistic plot sequences, the publisher has deemed this book appropriate for 7-8-year-olds.
Just for you, Mom
The Italian Ballerina
by Kristy Cambron
Present Day- Delaney Coleman has just lost her beloved grandfather Courtney Coleman, a small-town doctor and WWII veteran when she receives a strange message from a family in Italy demanding she return a vintage suitcase from her grandfather's estate. Confused and grief-stricken, she travels to Italy to sort out the mistake only to discover there's more at stake than just a timeworn piece of luggage. Its return will unlock the history of dozens and dozens of forgotten Jews.
1943- Famed British Ballerina Julia Bradbury and her dance partner must take refuge in Fatebenefratelli Hospital on Timber Island in Italy after their train car is bombed. While there, Julia lends a hand to the doctors and priests as they care for patients suffering from Syndrome K. When two US medics are smuggled in along with a young Jewish girl, Julia must make some decisions that will change the course of all of their lives.
This incredibly clean dual-timeline historical fiction is a sweeping saga that will introduce readers to a lesser-known portion of WWII history.