Picture Books
by Deborah Hopkinson
A young girl named Marcia Shaw loves helping around the house and prides herself on her chores, even though her biscuits usually turn out as hard as doorstops. When her mother gets pregnant and hires Fannie Farmer to help cook, Marcia feels resentful and replaced. She's eventually won over when Fannie invites her to help in the kitchen and teaches her to cook properly by writing instructions in a shared journal.
This is the true story about how some kitchen notes from the 1800s become the world-famous cookbook, The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book that changed American cuisine.
Please note: Jealous Marcia is not very welcoming to her new baby sister.
by Patrick Horne
To distract them as they wait for their hot campfire s'mores to cool down, the Goldilocks family goes for a hike in the woods. Unbeknownst to them, a curious little bear cub smells the delicious food and wanders into their empty campsite. Hungry, he samples the s'mores. After finding one that is "just right," he ends up eating them all. He then breaks a camping chair, smashes a collection of musical instruments, and accidentally puts out the campfire. The Goldilocks family returns to find the site in a mess. But what can they do? Their intruder is a bear.
This is a hilarious fractured retelling of the famous fairytale Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The Storm Book
by Charlotte Zolotow
The story starts on a quiet, dusty, and very hot summer day in the countryside. When the sky shifts and dark shadows roll in, a little boy becomes frightened and runs home to his mother. Lightning flashes and thunder rumbles loudly, but the boy is no longer afraid. He's soothed by hearing a gentle explanation of how the storm affects not just the countryside, but also a busy city and the nearby seashore.
This award-winning living book will introduce young children to complicated weather themes through a simple story.
A Boy Called Dickens
by Deborah Hopkinson
Twelve-year-old Charles dreams of going to school and making something of himself. However, his family falls deep into debt, and his father is sent to a debtors' prison. Charles is forced to move out on his own. He works grueling, long hours in a rat-infested shoe-blacking factory. Despite his miserable daily routine, Charles uses his imagination to buoy himself. He becomes a keen observer of the people around him.
This beautifully illustrated living book highlights how Charles's painful childhood experiences did not break him. Instead, they gave him deep empathy for the poor and provided him with the material he needed to write beloved books later in life.
Leveled Readers
by Patricia Lakin
Bud loves being covered in mud. It makes him look and feel great! He spends his time rubbing and scrubbing in the dirt to get as messy as possible. One day, when he sees other muddy cars heading into a building together, he assumes they too love mud and follow them inside. He's in for a shock when he sees suds instead of mud.
This level one reader contains three to five word sentences on each page.
by Kevin Henkes
One day while gardening with her mother, Penny the mouse receives a package in the mail from her grandmother. Inside, she finds a beautiful doll with pink cheeks, a pink bow, and a pink dress. Penny instantly falls in love with her new toy.
Penny excitedly introduces the doll to her mother, her father, and her baby siblings. However, when her father asks what the doll is named, Penny realizes she does not know. She wants the name to be absolutely perfect. Her parents give her some suggestions, but none of them feel quite right.
Penny decides to take the doll on a big tour around her house. Eventually, she takes the doll back out to the garden and remembers that it is the exact place where they first met. It's there, in the garden, that Penny has a sudden burst of inspiration and knows exactly what to name her new friend.
The publisher has deemed this three chapter book, a level 1 story. However, I think the robust word count makes it more appropriate for level 2 or level 3 readers.
Illustrated Chapter Books
Andi's Pony Trouble
by Susan K. Marlow
Andi wants a real horse more than anything in the world. She thinks she is not only big enough to ride on her own but also ready for the responsibility of caring for one. Unfortunately, her mother disagrees, tells her she is too young, and encourages her to ride a "pokey," worn-out pony named Coco. The trouble is, Andi is not very good at remembering to take care of Coco, which makes it hard to prove she can handle a bigger animal. Can she change her parents' minds and show them she's responsible enough to earn her dream horse?
This is the first in a six-book series about a young girl on a 19th-century ranch in California.
Doggo and Pupper
by Katherine Applegate
Doggo loves his quiet life. He likes his routine of eating, napping, and checking the trash. The household Cat even jokes that Doggo has become a bit boring. Everything changes when the humans bring home Pupper.
Pupper is full of endless energy, asks a million questions, and makes a massive, playful mess of the house. The humans decide Pupper's wild behavior is too much, so they send him away to "charm school" to learn some manners. When Pupper returns, he is perfectly well-behaved. However, Doggo notices that Pupper is no longer happy or playful. Realizing that the school took away Pupper's joy, Doggo steps in to help.
This is the first in a three-book series about the antics of an old dog and his new, young sidekick.
Please note: One page shows Doggo dressed in different costumes his owners bought for him, including a white sheet for a Halloween ghost and a pink tutu for a ballerina.
Parents, Be Aware
A Poor Excuse for a Dragon
by Geoffrey Hayes
When Fred is old enough to venture out on his own, his mom and dad give him a checklist titled "How to be a Good Dragon." The list tells him he must do five things: run amok, eat people, roar, breathe fire, and act scary. Though Fred wants to make his parents proud, none of these spooky tasks come naturally to him. He ends up making a horrible mess of the list until he finally gets help from a supportive shepherd, giant, and witch who help him be the kind of dragon he was meant to be--one that is quiet, useful, and eats waffles.
Things to know: When the dragon first meets the witch, she is casting spells.
Just for you, Mom
The Summer of You and Me
by Denise Hunter
Maggie’s husband, Ethan, died overseas in a military explosion. Now, five years later, just before the anniversary of his passing, Maggie decides to spend the summer at Seabrook—the beach town where the two met as children—to finally find closure, scatter his ashes, and prepare herself to get back into the dating scene again. Unbeknownst to Maggie, Ethan’s brother, Josh, has been secretly in love with her since they were teenagers. Now that she is ready to move on with her life, Josh plans to finally confess his feelings to her. But before Josh can say anything, Maggie spots a man at a local carnival who looks exactly like her dead husband. The man vanishes into the crowd, leaving behind so many unanswered questions.
Best in Show
A Long Road on a Short Day
by Eugene Yelchin
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.