Picture Books
by Deborah Hopkinson & James E. Ransome
Like so many other folks, the young narrator and his father struggled through the Great Depression, saving pennies and collecting scraps of firewood. Each day, the boy watched the fearless steelworkers, known as "sky boys," labor high above the city, hoisting 60,000 tons of steel and stacking 10 million bricks with machine-like precision, slowly transforming the vacant lot on 34th Street and 5th Avenue. Then, on May 1, 1931, the pair paid the small fee and were among the first to ride the elevators to the observation deck. They stood for hours, looking out over Manhattan from the top of the world's tallest building, the Empire State Building.
by Louise Borden
After the father of his friend Johanna is arrested for sending messages to the Allies, ten-year-old Piet Janssen is tasked with guiding Johanna and her younger brother, Joop, to safety across the border in Belgium. The three children must skate approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) along frozen canals from their hometown of Sluis to their aunt's house in Brugge. To avoid detection by German soldiers, they must pretend to be innocent schoolchildren out for a casual skate while maintaining enough speed and strength to reach their destination. Piet draws inspiration from his hero, Pim Mulier, the first person to complete the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Towns Race), a prestigious 200-kilometer skating tour in the Netherlands.
This historical fiction depicts an interesting piece of WWII history and Dutch culture. While technically a picture book, the text is quite robust, making it a great read-aloud or read-alone for young kids and tweens alike.
by Matt De La Pena
CJ joins his Nana every Sunday for a bus ride through the city after church. One day, as they wait for the bus in the rain, CJ expresses disappointment that his family doesn't have a car like his friend Colby. Throughout the ride, CJ continues to question why he doesn't have certain luxuries, such as a music player like other boys on the bus. Nana patiently answers each question, helping him see the value in what he does have, such as the company of the bus driver and the live music from a fellow passenger. The "last stop" is revealed to be a soup kitchen, where Nana and CJ volunteer. By the end of the trip, CJ feels grateful for the opportunity to serve the community.
Home on the Range
by Deborah Hopkinson
Growing up on a Texas ranch, John A. Lomax was captivated by the songs of cowboys traveling the Chisholm Trail and began documenting these tunes. As a college student, John presented his collection to a professor who dismissed the songs of "plain, ordinary folk" as having no value. Discouraged, John reportedly burned his original childhood collection. Years later, with the support of a different teacher, John returned to his passion. He embarked on a cross-country journey to record and archive these vanishing oral traditions. Using a "clunky" Ediphone recording device, John traveled the West, convincing cowboys, gypsies, and regular people to sing for him. Through his efforts, hundreds of songs were preserved for future generations, including classics such as "Sweet Betsy from Pike," "Git Along Little Dogies," and the title song, "Home on the Range." This is his story.
Please note: One illustration depicts John recording in a saloon, with cowboys gathered around. In another scene, he is sitting with a gypsy who is said to have "wandered all over the West, telling fortunes and singing."
Leveled Readers
by Syd Hoff
Sammy is a curious and friendly seal living at the zoo. While the other seals are content, Sammy is bored and wants to see what life is like in the "outside world." The zookeeper, Mr. Johnson, lets Sammy leave for the day. While free, he explores the busy city. He eventually follows a group of children into school, where he learns to read, write, and play outdoor games. After a fun day, Sammy decides that although the city is exciting, he belongs at the zoo. He takes a taxi back just in time for dinner, concluding that "there's no place like home."
Each page of this Level 1 reader contains one to three sentences.
by Nathaniel Benchley
The year is 1775. Young Sam Brown lives on a farm with his family in Lexington, Massachusetts. At the time, America was still a British colony, but there was growing tension and unhappiness among the colonists. Late one spring night, Sam is awakened by the sound of church bells signaling that British soldiers are marching from Boston toward Concord to seize hidden weapons. Sam's father, a Minuteman, tells him to get his gun and join the local militia. Sam accompanies his father to the Lexington village green, where they wait through the night for the British to arrive at dawn. During the first encounter, a shot is fired, and a brief battle ensues. Sam's best friend, John, is shot in the leg, which deeply frightens Sam and makes him angry at the British. As the British troops return from Concord, the Minutemen use a new strategy, hiding behind trees and stone walls to shoot at the soldiers as they march back to Boston. At sundown, Sam returns home to sleep, ending the first of many days of the war ahead.
Though Sam Brown is a fictional character, many real people and places of the American Revolution are mentioned in this Level 3 reader.
Illustrated Chapter Books
by Cynthia Voigt
Teddy, Umpah, and Peng live on an island with other lost toys. One day, their quiet life is disrupted by the arrival of two new stuffies: a grumpy rabbit and a doll with royal ambitions. Will there be room in their circle for more friends, or will the inclusion of these outsiders change their community forever?
Fans of Winnie the Pooh will enjoy this delightfully slow-life story about the everyday adventures of a team of stuffed animals.
This illustrated chapter book is robust in length but innocent in content, making it a perfect title for young but advanced readers.
Blue Ribbon Blues
by Jerry Spinelli
Tooter Pepperday is struggling to adjust to farm life after having moved from the city with her family. To help her feel more at home, her aunt gives her a goat of her own and introduces her to a neighbor boy, the current reigning blue-ribbon goat champion. Determined not to be outdone by another farm kid, Tooter resolves to enter this year's competition. When her preschool brother stumbles upon a can of blue paint, however, Tooter's blue ribbon dreams are ruined. Or are they?
Please note: Tooter rolls her eyes at her mom. Later, when it seems like she will not be able to enter the goat contest, she tries to sabotage the neighbor's chances, but through a series of chaotic events, she changes her mind.
I appreciate Tooter's response to her little brother's impulsive decision to paint her goat. She could have been angry and sought revenge, but she didn't.
Middle-Grade Novels
by Beth Ferry
Toasty, Ivy, Ollie, and Arthur are the very unlikely housemates of 3 Ramshorn Drive. The foursome--a goldfish, two plants, and a spider--all live with the Tuppers, a pair of antique dealers and their young daughter.
The group soon discovers that Toasty's octagonal fish tank is a remarkable invention created years ago by an alchemist. What they don't know, however, is that the tank is worth a lot of money.
Facing financial trouble and a mountain of unpaid bills, the Tuppers become vulnerable to a nefarious antique collector determined to own the tank or else! Can the goldfish and his friends stop the crook from stealing from the family they've learned to love?
Please note: To prevent the thief from stealing the fish tank, Mrs. Tupper lies about its whereabouts.
The following lines appear in the text:
"Animals are people too."
"It felt like a good omen."
by Judith McQuoid
Davy Curath's mother works as a housekeeper for the wealthy Lewis family. She brings 12-year-old Davy to the house, hoping he will find work. But instead, Mrs. Lewis hires him to be a companion for her lonely 10-year-old son, Jacks.
Despite their vast socio-economic differences, the two boys bond over a shared love of stories, reading, and make-believe. Jacks introduces Davy to his vast library, and Davy, a gifted artist, begins to illustrate the stories they create together.
Their "wondrous days" of 1908 are threatened by harsh reality. Davy’s father is injured and cannot work, forcing the family into dire poverty. Simultaneously, Jacks’ mother falls gravely ill with cancer.
Davy is eventually forced to take a grueling and dangerous job at the Belfast shipyards (where the Titanic is being built) to support his family. Following his mother's death, Jacks is sent away to a strict boarding school in England.
Against all odds, the boys maintain a unique friendship.
This is a historical fiction about the early life of the famed writer, C.S. Lewis.
Please note: Davy's mom is leery of his relationship with the wealthy Jacks. In response, he hides books from her that Jacks has loaned him and occasionally sneaks out to meet his pal without her permission. In the end, she realizes that their "class" differences don't have to hinder the boys' friendship.
One character says, "G*d knows" as an exclamation.
The Mistmantle Chronicles: Urchin of the Riding Stars
by M.I. McAllister
The island of Mistmantle is inhabited by animals who live under the protection of the Heart. The evil Captain Husk and Lady Aspen plot to take over the kingdom, murdering the royal prince and framing Captain Crispin, leading to his banishment. Urchin, a foundling discovered during a meteor shower (the "riding stars"), rises from an orphan to become a courageous, loyal page who uncovers the conspiracy. He must fight to clear his mentor's name before the treacherous Husk seizes control.
Fans of Watership Down or Redwall will enjoy this book, the first in a series of six fantasy titles about the characters of Mistmantle.
Please note: The story's entire plot centers around the murder of the hedgehog prince. While it is not graphic, the idea of animals murdering other animals may be difficult for some young readers. Evil characters are eventually sent to a horrible dungeon where they will be forever, mimicking the eternal punishment of hell.
In one festival scene, the grieving king has slurred speech and is not in his right mind, leading readers to believe him to be drunk.
by Andrea Williams
12-year-old Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland is in a slump, not just on the field, but also at home. As a middle child, he often feels left out and forgotten. One evening, while at a game of his favorite MLB team, he gets separated from his family and is accidentally left behind. Each of his parents thinks he is with the other. Trapped inside the stadium, alone, he overhears two men plotting to ruin the next day's playoff game. It's up to Pumpsie and his new canine friend Campy to save the team from whatever the men are planning.
Baseball fans will enjoy this book, which reads like a ballpark-themed adaptation of Home Alone.
While not a "Christian" book, it mentions a belief in God and the power of prayer a handful of times.
Please note: Like Kevin McCallister from the smash hit 90s movie, Pumpsie does not have a great relationship with his siblings. There is quite a bit of name-calling between him and his oldest brother at the beginning of the story. He later uses the word "hate" when describing their mutual feelings for one another to a third person. That said, like in Home Alone, the siblings act lovingly toward each other in the end.
Because he is trapped inside a stadium overnight, Pumpsie takes food from the concession stand to feed himself and his dog companion. He also takes a promotional t-shirt from a storage closet.
The following words are sprinkled in the text: sucks, crap, heck. Additionally, one character says "Thank God," but uses it as a genuine expression of gratitude.
Parents, Be Aware
by Maribeth Boelts
Just after a mother cocker spaniel gives birth to six puppies, a witch steals one of them. Naming it Pupunzel, she locks it in a tower where it begins to grow long golden fur. Devastated, the momma dog sets off to find her stolen pup.
This Level 3 reader is a reimagined retelling of Grimm's Rapunzel.
Things to know: The witch flies about on her broomstick and uses a magic hairbrush to make the dog's fur grow longer.
by Gary D. Schmidt
Herc and his older brother, Achilles, are the sole survivors of a car accident that killed their parents a year prior. Achilles has left his globe-trotting writing career to return to Cape Cod to raise Herc and run the family’s plant nursery.
At his new school, the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences, Herc is assigned a year-long project by his tough-as-nails teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer. He must reenact the Twelve Labors of Hercules from Greek mythology in a modern context and write 150-word reflections on each. Lacking mythical monsters on Cape Cod, Herc finds real-world parallels.
Through these tasks, Herc gradually moves from emotional isolation and sarcasm to finding strength in his community. He bonds with his brother, befriends his "vampire" neighbor (Achilles' girlfriend, Viola), and gains a deeper understanding of his teacher's "tough love".
Things to know: Because the plot centers on the story of the mythical Hercules, there are several mentions of mythical gods, traveling to hell and back, and slaying creatures.
In one scene, the boy Hercules kisses his childhood friend Elly.
The following words and phrases are included: j*ck*ss, jerkface, freaking, stupid, shut up, dumb*ss. Additionally, when referring to an interaction with a teacher, one character says, "Why did he just talk to us like he has a stick up his butt?"
Just for you, Mom
by Heather Kaufman
Following her mother's untimely death, young Martha is thrust into a maternal role, raising her siblings: the studious Lazarus and the "wild and rambunctious" Mary. She finds a brief spark of hope in a first love with a lowly shepherd named Uri, but her father's disapproval and further hardships cause her dreams to "crumble into dust." Years of duty and disappointment leave Martha guarded, weary, and defined by her burdens.
Time passes, and eventually a friend begs Jesus of Nazareth, a new teacher, to heal her husband. Martha recognizes this "carpenter-rabbi" from a story in her past. As Martha witnesses Jesus' miracles and experiences His compassion, her hardened heart begins to heal.
As the first book in the Women of the Way series, Up From Dust, reimagines Martha’s journey from a burdened childhood to her life-changing encounter with Jesus.
Best in Show
by Judith Berry Griffin
Phoebe, the daughter of the local tavern owner, gets sent to George Washington's house to be a housekeeper, or so she's supposed to pretend. In reality, she's been sent there as a spy to thwart a plot to poison the colonial general. Loosely based on the true story of Phoebe Fraunces, of Fraunces Tavern in New York City, who saved the life of General George Washington during the Revolutionary War, this book will not only teach young readers about a pivotal time in the nation's history but will also leave them on the edge of their seats.
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Alone in the woods one day, curious Otto stumbles upon three eccentric sisters who tell him of a prophecy that concerns a harmonica. But it's not just any harmonica. It's an enchanted harmonica that will connect Otto with three daring children from different parts of the world before, during, and after the World Wars: Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California. One part fairytale and three parts historical fiction, this epic story is best enjoyed in audio. Music plays a central role in the plot and is masterfully woven throughout the recording. Additionally, the audio contains a broad cast of voice-over actors who depict the international and regional dialects of the heroes and heroines with excellence.
Please note: The first few pages of the book mention a witch and a few magical elements. Neither plays a prominent role in the story nor is depicted in a glamorous light. Each of the three historical portions ends rather abruptly, mid-tragedy. While all four stories come to a favorable end, the sudden jolt of plot in the middle of each climax may be alarming to some sensitive readers/listeners.