Picture Books
Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer
by Carol Brendler
In this whimsical living book about a young girl determined to win a prize in the county fair for her "red wigglers," readers will sneakily learn all about the importance of good crop aerators. Because of Winnie's worms, Mr. Abernathy's corn stalks sprout taller, Mrs. Yamasaki's chickens lay bigger and better eggs, and Mr. Peasley's pups grow shinier coats. The final page includes instructions for building a backyard worm farm of your very own.
Knit Your Bit
by Deborah Hopkinson
In 1918, the Navy League Comforts Committee sponsored a three-day “Knit-In” in Central Park and invited women, men, and children of all ages to make woolen hats, scarves, mittens, and sweaters for the troops on the front lines of WWI. This is the fictional story of three boys who were challenged by their classmates to learn to knit and join the effort to outfit the soldiers for the biting cold of a European winter.
Alice Ramsey's Grand Adventure
by Don Brown
At the turn of the 20th century, cars were still in their fledging stages. Paved interstate highways were unheard of. That didn't stop Alice Ramsey who was determined to be the first woman to drive across the US in an automobile. This is the true story of her harrowing adventure.
Boxes for Katje
by Candace Fleming
Based on the true-life generosity of the author's mother, this book shows the hardships of post-WWII Holland and depicts how one American girl sent hope to a small Dutch community one care package at a time.
At the risk of playing favorites, I must confess that this is my most favorite picture book of all time. I read it aloud to my kids every year when we pack Operation Christmas Child boxes. I tear up every time I read it. Every.single.time.
Leveled Readers
See Me Run
by Paul Meisel
With an emphasis on both short and long vowel words, this Guided D (Kinder-1st grade) reader follows a rag-tag pack of pooches to a field where they dig. They dig and dig and dig only to discover a buried set of T-Rex bones!
The following sight words are included in the text: what and come.
Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams
by Avi
The year is 1635 and Puritan minister Roger Williams is on trial for preaching in favor of religious liberty. When he learns that the verdict will send him back to England, he flees the Massachusetts Bay Colony and seeks refuge with the friendly Narragansett Indians. With their help, he establishes the colony of Providence, Rhode Island, and paves the way for the separation of church and state.
Illustrated Chapter Books
A Grain of Rice
by Helena Clare Pittman
In this Chinese folktale, Pong Lo, a lowly farmer's son, seeks to win the hand of the Emperor's daughter. With patience and hard work, Pong Lo outwits the kingdom's brightest, becomes the wealthiest man in all the land, and proves he is a worthy husband for Princess Chang Wu. This is a great example of a living book that will not only teach a child about Chinese culture but will also reinforce basic math concepts.
by John Reynolds Gardiner
Everyone knows that ten-year-old Little Willy and his faithful dog Searchlight don't stand a chance against a Native American man named Stone Fox and his team of unbeatable Samoyeds. But when Grandfather falls ill and the responsibility of paying the taxes on the farm fall to him, Little Willie enters his one-dog sled into the state sled dog race in hopes of winning the $500 cash prize. This adventurous tale is loosely based on a Rocky Mountain legend.
Middle-Grade Novels
Glitch
by Laura Martin
Regan Fitz and Elliot Mason have loathed each other for as long as they can remember. They are both in training at the Glitcher Academy, a school designed to prepare kids to go back in time to stop nefarious time travelers from changing the timeline and dramatically altering history forever. But, when they are forced to become glitch partners, they must work together to stop the biggest time crime in Glitcher history.
While I didn't love the bickering that happens between the two main characters in the first couple of chapters of the book, I do appreciate the redemption that happens in their relationship as the story unfolds. It is a fast-paced, action-packed story that sneaks in quite a bit of history.
by Robert McCloskey
Armed with plenty of curiosity, a touch of moxy, and a pet skunk, Home Price foils the plot of 4 sneaky bandits. This charming Leave It To Beaver type misadventure features small-town Americana at its best and will leave readers in stitches...and craving a donut! Each chapter is a stand-alone story making this book a great first read-aloud for families.
The Nerviest Girl in the World
by Melissa Wiley
When a silent picture director comes to her ostrich ranch in Lemon Springs, California, looking for men willing to do dare-devil stunts for his upcoming films, Pearl assumes that she'll be watching her older brothers rope and ride. And she does. But when she rescues a runaway horse that gets spooked by a loud noise on the set one day, Pearl ends up landing a roll on the big screen too. She goes on to be one of the director's most prized talents. This book is loosely based on the life of 19th-century Nickelodeon stuntwoman Pearl White.
Please note: There are three old-timey western swear words sprinkled in the story including, "durn," "sure as heck," and "hells bells." In addition, the Catholic grandmother says, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" and makes the sign of the cross over her chest in one moment of panic.
by Walter R. Brooks
After reading a Sherlock Holmes novel, Freddy, an eccentric pig on Mr. Bean's farm, decides to open a detective agency. Freddy, along with his small band of animal sidekicks, not only inadvertently thwarts the plans of a team of burglars, but also finds a way to stop Simon and his gang of rats from taking over the barn. The story is a series of vignettes. Each chapter is a mini-mystery that all eventually climax with the trial of Freddy's dearest friend, Jinx the Cat, who stands accused of murdering a crow.
This is the third book in the Freddy the Pig series but it is arguably the most well-known of the bunch. Readers do not necessarily have to read the previous two books to appreciate this one.
Parents, Be Aware
by Patricia MacLachlan
Sylvie Bloom faces a summer of boredom on her farm in a small Wyoming town when the town sheriff, who also happens to be the husband of Sylvie's favorite teacher, invites her to take over his daily newspaper column. While observing the comings and goings of her town, she learns the real reason why her mother left a promising opera career: she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and has never regretted her decision.
This sweet story has recently made its way to several big-name curriculum company reading lists.
The writing is rather disjointed which could make the plot difficult for some younger readers to follow. The text includes several mentions of the names and lyrics of famous country singers including Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.
In addition, please be aware that the text contains the following lines:
'"Jack was a crow in his past life,' said my mother with a grin." (p. 55)
"Life is simple. We silly humans try to make it complicated and confused. Confucius said that better." (p. 112)
The Keeping Quilt
by Patricia Polacco
Small splashes of color light up every black-and-white sketch in this pictorial memoir. Award-winning author and illustrator Patricia Polacco reveals a very personal side of her life as she writes about the handmade scrap quilt her great-great-grandmother made after immigrating to America from Russia. The quilt was passed down from generation to generation and became the focal point of every major event in the family's history, ending with the birth of her own daughter who she swaddled with the threadbare remnants of the treasured quilt.
Things to know: While the original edition published in 1988 is one that my family has treasured for years, it ends with the birth of the author's first daughter.
The 25th-anniversary edition which came out in 2013, however, contains 15 additional pages that detail events in the author's life that happened after the first printing was released, including the lesbian wedding of one of her children.
The Sun and the Star
by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro
From New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series comes a new stand-alone spin-off title featuring Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, and his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. romantic relationship between the two demigods will be tested when Nico has to face off against a reformed Titan in the lowest part of the underworld. When Will insists on going with him, Nico is faced with the possibility of losing the person most precious to him. Can Will's light withstand the darkest dark?
Things to know: The book highlights the same-sex romantic relationship between two demi-gods and features many scenes in the "land of the dead." Since Nico is the son of Hades, he's essentially the offspring of the "god" in charge of Hell.