Picture Books
Simon and the Better Bone
by Corey R. Tabor
"What a lucky dog I am to find the perfect bone," Simon thinks to himself as he carries his treasure home. He soon passes a pond and sees another dog holding an even better bone. He wags his tale and asks if the other pup wants to make a trade. But the other dog doesn't seem to want to share. Antsy to have the best bone, Simon drops the one he's carrying and watches as it slips below the surface of the water. Now, he is boneless.
Young readers will enjoy this reimagined version of Aesop's classic, "The Dog and His Reflection."
Noodles on a Bicycle
by Kyo Maclear & Gracey Zhang
The children of Tokyo come to the street edge each day to watch the demae--the bicycle delivery men--whiz past carrying trays of steaming noodles made from scratch by the city's two leading sobaya chefs. Each tower of ceramic bowls seems taller than the last and sways from side to side as the demae make their way around sharp corners and bumpy roads. Eventually, the children pretend to deliver their own imaginary versions of soba. For six special children, however, this isn't just pretend; it's a way of life. Their father is a demae, and they anxiously await his return home and the delicious noodles he'll bring with him each night.
This living book will teach young readers about a fascinating piece of Tokyo's food culture.
Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing
by April Jones Prince
Even after the best architectural minds spent fourteen years building the Brooklyn Bridge, folks still doubted whether a suspension bridge of that magnitude could be trusted. They recalled other bridges around the country that had collapsed under the weight of so much traffic. P. T. Barnum, performer extraordinaire, saw in their doubt an opportunity. In May 1884, he brought his circus to Brooklyn. Instead of putting his 21 elephants on a ship and sailing them down the river, he rode them across the questionable bridge. All twenty-one! And the bridge stood firm. Not only did this experiment help to build trust in the "Eighth Wonder of the World," but it also convinced a record-breaking number of New Yorkers to buy tickets to Barnum's remarkable show.
Papa and the Pioneer Quilt
by Jean Van Leeuwen
Papa has wandering feet. We've moved many times in my few years of life. Now, he and his feet want to take us all the way out west to Oregon Territory. We'll have to say goodbye to everyone we know and love. To remember our journey, I've decided to make a scrap quilt. I'll keep bits of fabric from people we meet and places we visit along the way. By the time we get to our new land, I'll have enough scraps to piece together a quilt...with Mama's help, of course.
This book introduces young readers to the hardships faced by early pioneers as they traveled west to create a new life for themselves.
Leveled Readers
by Lori Haskins Houran
Black cat. Gray cat. Rich cat. Stray cat. There are many cats, and they all seem to have one thing in common... they love to sing!
This Level 1 reader has repetitive text. Most lines pair a descriptive one or two-vowel word with the word "cat" to complete a rhyming couplet.
by Clyde Robert Bulla
Daniel wants to learn to carve wooden treasures, just like Henry Pettigrew, a recluse who lives in the valley and creates wonderful wooden sculptures. No one thinks Daniel will ever be as skilled as the famous artist. Despite their doubt, Daniel begins to carve a duck to enter into the upcoming fair.
On the day of the judging, Daniel sees everyone laughing at one particular fair entry...his duck! Heartbroken, he races off to destroy the wooden bird before anyone else can mock it. Someone goes after him, however, and encourages him not to give up on his goal. It's Mr. Pettigrew, and he assures Daniel that the duck is worth saving. He also persuades the young artist to keep trying!
Illustrated Chapter Books
The King's Cadets & Little Joe
by Joe Sutphin & Kevan Chandler
Little Joe is young, but he's determined to be brave and noble, like any King's Cadet. Brandishing a wooden sword, he follows his older brothers into the woods for grand adventures. Along the way, they meet other loyal followers of the King, who teach them to serve, speak the truth, and have courage.
Fans of Little Pilgrim's Progress will enjoy this follow-up tale, which features many of the same beloved characters and introduces several new ones. Each of the five stand-alone chapters opens with a verse and includes delightfully captivating illustrations.
The Secret Soldier
by Ann McGovern
Deborah Sampson wanted adventure. But as the daughter of an impoverished widow, the only way for her to see the world was to pose as a 15-year-old boy and join up with the colonial army. Like any common serviceman, Deborah, or "Bobby" as she was known, experienced the unimaginable atrocities of war. She soldiered on until her secret was finally discovered by a doctor assigned to treat her wounds.
This is the true story of a female patriot fighter during the Revolutionary War. At first glance, one might wonder if this book, originally published in 1975, supports gender confusion or transition. It does not. Deborah did not enjoy playing the part of a boy. She just wanted to experience, if only for a short time, the kind of lifestyle privileges that were afforded to males at that time in history. Once the war ended, she returned to her original life, married, and had children.
Please note: For obvious reasons, Deborah had to lie multiple times about her true identity. One paragraph of the text recounts a real encounter she had with a fortune teller. It reads,
"'I am not here to take your advice,' she said in the deepest voice she could manage. 'I am only curious as to what you will say to me.'
'You are an honest man,' the fortune teller told Deborah. 'I see in your future many adventures. But not all of them will be successful,'" indicating that Deborah did not necessarily trust the ability of the fortune teller to see the future but that she simply wanted to test the believability of her war-time disguise.
Middle-Grade Novels
Jack: the (Fairly) True Tale of Jack and the Beanstalk
by Liesl Shurtliff
Jack longs for adventure. When his father is snatched up from the neighbor's cabbage patch by what appears to be giants, the young boy is sure to find plenty of it. As the grandson of the famed Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk, this Jack is somewhat familiar with the hazards of sneaking up on the larger-than-life giants that lurk beyond the clouds. Despite the dangers, he must locate his missing dad and protect his family.
With little sister Annabelle in tow, Jack soon learns that the giants have stolen much more than he ever thought possible. Together, the siblings risk life and limb to take back what is rightfully theirs.
Please note: Jack steals the king's hen to help feed his family, friends, and neighbors.
by Robert Lawson
Little Georgie Rabbit has always lived with his family on Rabbit Hill. Trouble is, since the owners of the farmhouse moved out, the garden has stopped yielding a harvest, and the animals have struggled to survive. Rumors begin to circulate that a new family has purchased the land. What will they be like? all the critters wonder. Will they revive the farm, providing food and shelter for its many four-legged tenants? Ever the Southern gentleman, Father Rabbit sends Georgie on a mission of hospitality. But when tragedy strikes, all the animals of the Hill, including the Rabbit Family, must lean on one another.
Tweens who grew up reading Old Mother West Wind or Peter Rabbit will enjoy this imaginative look at talking animals and the communities they build.
The Secret of Honeycake
by Kimberly Newton Fusco
Orphaned 11-year-old Hurricane McAdams Pierce is used to wearing trousers, running along the shore of her coastal Maine home with her dog Brodie Bear, and tagging along with her older sister Bronte as she does odd jobs to make ends meet. But when Bronte comes down with tuberculosis, the same disease that killed their mother, Hurricane is uprooted and sent to live with her prim and proper Aunt Claire, who she barely knows. The formality of Aunt Claire's high society circles puts an immediate strain on their growing relationship. But with the help of a WWI veteran currently employed as Aunt Claire's chauffeur, a young fish seller, a hesitant stray cat, and a declining economy, Hurricane and Aunt Claire realize just how much they need each other.
Fans of Sweet Home Alaska will enjoy this charming 1920s-era domestic fiction. Please note: Aunt Claire says, "Lord knows" and "Good Lord" two or three times.
Listen to the Moon
by Michael Morpurgo
When a mysterious mute girl is found washed up on the shores of a small island town in Great Britain during WWI, the townspeople naturally become wary. She is practically mute--saying only one word, "Lucy"--and is carrying a German blanket. Could she be the daughter of an enemy soldier? Despite the many what-ifs, Alfie and his family take her in and grow to love her as their own. Little do they know that she has survived one of the country's greatest wartime tragedies.
While quite clean, this book does contain heavy themes of war and loss and is best suited for 10+.
Parents, Be Aware
The Minstrel in the Tower
by Gloria Skurzynski
When their father was off fighting in the crusades and their mother, Lady Blanche, was gravely ill, Alice and her brother, Roger, set out alone to find their long-lost uncle, Lord Raimond. While en route, they are kidnapped by two thieves who hope to hold them for ransom. Will they be able to escape? And if they do, will their uncle agree to take them in?
Things to know: Early in their journey, the pair meets a grumpy woman and her daughter, who are on their way to sacrifice at the shrine of Rocamadour, a Catholic chapel built into the cliffs of southern France. The text also includes the following lines:
“What could it have been used for, he wondered. A prison? A place to worship moldy old gods? A defense against barbarians.”
“‘We could get strung up for stealing game, Simon,’ said one, a limping, fishy man. ‘We’ve done lots worse things they could hang us for, Odo,’ answered the other.”
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
by Dana Alison Levy
This is the story of four adopted brothers and their two dads. The boys could not be more different from one another, and the fathers do their best to nurture their individual gifts, personalities, and even cultural backgrounds.
The story is an exaggerated misadventure that follows the family through a calendar year. While it's low on plot, it's heavy on character development and filled with all the social hijinks you'd expect in a coming-of-age, puberty story. Part of the book is semi-epistolic, as it is told through texts and emails. It's been referred to as a modern-day All-of-a-Kind Family or Little Women.
Things to know: This is an example of an "inclusive" novel. Most of the characters, including the ancillary secondary characters, exemplify a specific nationality, sexual identity, or religion. It is full of slang language, such as "dude" and "sick." Perhaps the author's own Amazon content warning best describes the content: "This book contains cat barf, turtle pee, and some really annoying homework assignments."
Just for you, Mom
The Fountains of Silence
by Ruta Sepetys
In 1957, Madrid, Spain, was a divided city. When 18-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas oil tycoon, arrives with his family, he sees a luxurious vacation destination — a city of parties, wealth, and the societal elite. But as he peers through the viewfinder of his camera, hoping to shoot a winning photo for an American photography contest, he sees an entirely different Madrid. He discovers a nation of impoverished people all suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. With help from Anna, a hotel employee, Daniel uncovers a horrific secret that has plagued the country for decades.
The author included excerpts from real documents, radio broadcast transcripts, and government interviews to help add threads of historical accuracy to the fictional storyline that weaves the book together.