Picture Books
The Wall
by Eve Bunting
After searching along the wall, a young boy finds his grandfather's name--George Munoz, a fallen soldier. Together, he and his father make a pencil rubbing of the name as a keepsake and watch as other visitors find the names of their loved ones at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
The Pumpkin Runner
by Marsha Diane Arnold
Inspired by the true story of 61-year-old Cliff Young of Victoria, Australia, this is a long-shot tale about a silver-haired rancher named Joshua who enters a big city foot race. Decked in overalls and gumboots, with no professional training or racing experience, he's no match for the young racers who've gathered in Melbourne for the chance to win the $10,000 prize. But the crowds underestimate his life experience--his 50 years of hard work around his sheep farm.
In true living literature style, this book gently introduces young readers to the geography, topography, and culture of Australia.
Ox-Cart Man
by Donald Hall
This Caldecott Medal-winning book is an ode to family teamwork and togetherness. It's a heartwarming portrayal of the simplicity and common struggles of an earlier time. Through the slow, lyrical narration, the reader gets a glimpse of the work required to maintain a colonial farm each month and season. In addition to the moving text, the pictures reveal much about the fashion, technology, and living conditions of the day.
The Honeybee
by Kirsten Hall
This story follows the life's work of a honeybee and introduces a young reader to the industrious nature of some of God's smallest creatures. The second-person verse invites a child to follow a bee through every stage of honey production.
The colored pencil illustrations and hand-written text of this narrative non-fiction help to make the facts more appealing than that of the average science book.
Leveled Readers
Get a Hit, Mo!
by David A. Adler
Mo is the youngest and smallest player on the Lion’s team. No one expects much out of Mo. Not the coach, not the other players, not even Mo. In the final at-bat, with two runners on base, Mo gets two strikes. One more strike and he’s out. Will his third and final swing make contact? Can he win the game for his team?
This underdog story is a Level 2 reader with simple dialogue and is appropriate for emergent readers who have learned the majority of their special digraphs.
Jess and the Stinky Cowboys
by Janice Lee Smith
A cattle drive gallops into Snake Gulch and with them a horrible smell. Deputy Gussy and Deputy Jess must decide what to do with the cowboys who refuse to take a bath. For now, they must go to jail for breaking the No-Stink Law. Will Mayor Mike's firehose idea restore order or will the deputies be forced to keep the outlaws locked up?
This humorous Level 2 reader has four short chapters with pictures on every page.
Illustrated Chapter Books
Logan Pryce Makes a Mess
by Grace Gilmore
When times get tough, Logan's dad must find a way to make up for his lost farm income. He takes a short-term position stocking inventory at the general store and invites young Logan to join him. When Dad steps away, Logan decides not to wait for instructions but instead forges ahead on his own. He makes a big mistake and learns a valuable lesson in obedience.
This is the first of a six-part series about Logan Pryce, a 19th-century farm boy growing up in Maple Ridge, Illinois. With an illustration on every page, each book is perfect for developing readers. Much like the beloved Little House on the Prairie series, the Tales from Maple Ridge books are a wholesome look at life on the prairie but for a slightly younger audience.
Please note: Book 4 entitled The Ghost of Juniper Creek centers on the legend of a ghost that supposedly lurks around the edges of town. Logan and his friend Anthony set a trap to catch it. Turns out the "ghost" is really just the neighbor's missing cat. (Skipping Book 4 or any other title in the series will not affect a reader's experience. The books do not necessarily have to be read in order.)
The Night Crossing
by Karen Ackerman
To escape the Nazi Germans, Clara and her Jewish family must make a courageous climb over the Swiss Alps. After selling most of their valuables in order to purchase the necessary paperwork, they pack what little they have left and head out under the cover of darkness. The journey is long and at times frightening, but Clara is brave.
This is an excellent age-appropriate fictional introduction to the travesties of the Holocaust. Young readers will be introduced to some of the hardships without having to be inundated with any gory details.
Middle-Grade Novels
Winnie's Great War
by Lindsay Mattick
Readers who enjoyed the picture book Finding Winnie will appreciate this middle-grade which tells of the early life of the bear who captured the hearts of children around the world in A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh.
When his mother is killed by a hunter, a black bear cub is rescued by a young boy and eventually sold to Captain Harry Colebourn of the Canadian Veterinary Corps for $20. The Captain names his new pet Winnie after his hometown of Winnipeg in Manitoba. Soon after, he gets shipped to England to help care for the military mounts of WWI and the bear goes with him. When the fighting continues and Capt. Colebourn is called to the front, he must leave Winnie behind at the London Zoo. While there, the bear becomes a treasured friend to many zoo visitors including the four-year-old Christopher Robin Milne.
Based on diary entries and newspaper clippings, this book is a fictional retelling written by Capt. Colebourn's great-granddaughter that includes real photographs of her famous grandbear, the Captain, his diary, and Christopher Robin.
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig
by Chris Kurtz
Born in the pig pen like all her brothers and sisters, Flora was destined for a boring work-a-day life. But much to her mother's chagrin, she wants more. She wants adventure. She wants excitement. When she escapes the farm, she's lugged aboard a ship bound for Antarctica. She's put below deck and assumes she's been selected to join the dog sled team that will lead a group of explorers across the southern tundra. What she doesn't realize is that the captain plans to dine on roasted pig at the end of the voyage. When a shipwreck changes everyone's plans, Flora must prove she's worth more than just a ham dinner.
Please note: a couple of the middle chapters in the book describe Flora's attempts to rid the ship of rats. There are some sentences that might be difficult for sensitive readers.
Fish in a Tree
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally's been labeled many things: trouble maker, dumb, and weird to name a few. She's too embarrassed to admit that she can't read and so she develops many unhealthy coping skills to get by in school. After spending years hiding behind excuses, she meets Mr. Daniels, a substitute teacher who uncovers what's really going on. Ally is dyslexic. With his help, she not only learns to read but also learns what it means to be a true friend.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary
Ralph lives in the walls of The Mountain View Inn with his mother and siblings. He's never ventured farther than the second floor. But when Keith and his family arrive at the inn, bringing a toy motorcycle with them, Ralph not only gains a new friend but also the freedom to explore.
This is the first in a trilogy of books about Ralph and his misadventures.
Parents, Be Aware
Every Dog in the Neighborhood
by Philip C. Stead
Louis wants a dog. His grandma assures him, however, there are already plenty of dogs in the neighborhood. So, he does the only thing he can think of to prove her wrong. He writes a letter to City Hall and canvases the streets to take an accurate canine census.
Things to know: A same-sex couple is featured in two illustrations of the book.
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
by Kate DiCamillo
Leroy spends his days serving popcorn and pop at the concession stand of the local drive-in theatre. But what he'd really like to do is be a cowboy like all the heroes he's seen on the big screen. When he learns that a horse named Maybelline is being sold to the highest bidder, he decides to follow his dream. Little does he know that Maybelline isn't like any other horse. She's got a couple of peculiar traits that just might lead to trouble.
Things to know: Probably due to all the cowboy movies he watches, Leroy uses a bit of cowboy language including, "Dang nib it," "Gol' dang it," and "heck." In addition, he and another character repeat the phrase, "Take fate in your hands," several times.
Dog Driven
by Terry Lynn Johnson
Like her sister who was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease a few years ago, 14-year-old dog sled racer McKenna Barney has slowly lost her vision. So far, she's been able to keep her deteriorating sight from her parents. She doesn't want to be one more burden to them and she doesn't want to give up racing. When she enters a 3-day race across Lake Superior, she assumes that her experience and excellent dog team will be able to guide her even when her eyes can not. She's determined to win no matter what. Along the way, however, she meets a few other racers with equal determination and facing their own difficult life journeys. Will she make it to the finish line? Better yet, will she win and prove to everyone that blindness can't hold her back?
Things to know: This is a fast-paced, thrilling book that will introduce older middle-grade readers (10+) to the world of competitive sled dog racing. That said, the following words and phrases are repeated several times throughout the dialogue:
"Oh my god!"
"Crap"
"For god's sake"
"That sucks"
"Son of a monkey"
"I've gotta pee."
Just for you, Mom
Two From Galilee
by Marjorie Holmes
Similar to the Lineage of Grace or the Sons of Encouragement series by Francine Rivers, Two From Galilee is a biblical fiction that seeks to fill in some of the gaps of the love story between Mary and Joseph of Nazareth prior to Christ's birth. Holmes has taken some literary license in her portrayal of the earthly parents of Jesus, but it's obvious she has done her homework and has included the historically and culturally accurate courtship customs of an ancient Jewish couple.
Please note: I did not like the sequel to this book, Three From Galilee, nearly as much. I think Holmes went too far in her portrayal of an adolescent and young adult Jesus. Consequently, I never read the third book in the series, The Messiah. Book 1 can be read as a stand-alone, however.