Picture Books
by Caroline McAlister
Jack and his older brother Waren had wonderful imaginations. As children, they spent most of their days creating stories about brave knights, powerful steamships, and make-believe lands. But, when their mother dies, they are sent off to boarding school, and their stories are set aside. Years later, as war wages all around them, Jack, the youngest of the two, sets out to write down some of the childhood adventures that are still swirling in his memory.
This is the true life story of beloved author C.S. Lewis, known to his friends and family as Jack.
by Emily Jenkins
"Four centuries. Four families. One delicious dessert." This beautifully illustrated book follows four different parent-child sets through four different centuries, 1710, 1810, 1910, and 2010, as they use the tools available to them to make the exact same dessert: Blackberry Fool. Readers will peek into the past and learn that though clothing, home decor, and food prep have changed over time, beloved family recipes have not. The final page includes the ingredients and steps for making "a fine dessert.
by Kate Messner
Grandpa rides to remember Joe and Tom, two friends who never returned. I ride for Uncle Zach, who's currently flying planes. We join dozens and dozens of other riders along the Potomac River and snake our way through Washington, D.C., honoring fallen heroes. At the end of our journey, we stand before a memorial wall, looking at all the names and remembering.
This picture book, told in verse, is narrated by a young boy who describes how he and his grandfather, a Vietnam vet, ride a motorcycle in a great cavalcade to show their respects to the men and women who've lost their lives serving our country.
by Craig Brown
Every day, Anthony and his pack of trusty mules make their way from one end of the Grand Canyon to the other. In snow, rain, or sleet, they zigzag down tight switchbacks and steep slopes. Nothing will stop them. Their job is too important. They're carrying the mail!
This is a look at the modern-day mule train postmen who deliver mail to the village of Supai, located on the Havsupai Indian Reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Leveled Readers
by Margaret Wise Brown
Big fish. Little fish. Old fish. Young fish. I like fish. Whether in the pond, the stream, or the sea, I can always find a fish to like. Similar to the repetition of a Dr. Seuss book, each 3-5 word sentence of this Level 1 reader contains the words “fish” and “a fish in the…” The pictures feature children from a variety of ethnicities.
Aaron and the Green Mountain Boys
by Patricia Lee Gauch
When he declared his desire to help in the war effort, nine-year-old Aaron Robinson assumed he'd be able to join the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont with his father. Instead, he was forced to stay behind at the inn with Grandfather and Mother and deliver bread to neighbors and soldiers.
Based on a true story, this Level 3 book will give young readers an exciting peek at the formation of a homegrown Revolutionary War militia.
Illustrated Chapter Books
by Leslea Newman
Each morning, Japanese Professor Ueno takes the train to the university and arrives home again at exactly 3 o'clock. His loyal Akita-ken named Hachi, waits obediently on the train platform for his return. Through the years, daily passengers grow fond of the trusty dog and greet him as they enter and exit the station. One day, the professor doesn't return. Unbeknownst to Hachi, his master has died.
For the next ten years, the dog waits for the 3 o'clock return of the Professor. Townsfolk and train employees band together to care for the faithful dog. Word spreads throughout Japan and, eventually, the world, and a statue is erected commemorating Hachi's unwavering devotion.
This is the true story of a dog's love for its owner.
Please note: While explaining Hachi's death to a boy, the station master says that the dog has boarded a train to heaven and will meet the professor there.
by Eric A. Kimmel
To help his mother pay for rent, seven-year-old Louis works for a Jewish family at their junkyard. Every day, he rides a wagon around New Orleans collecting discarded junk. Like most people in the city, Louis loves Jazz. He dreams of one day playing the trumpet just like the legendary Joe Oliver. For now, however, he must be content with a toy tin horn. That is, until he's invited to celebrate Hanukkah with his boss, who gives Louis a special gift.
This narrative non-fiction about the early childhood years of famed jazz musician Louis Armstrong includes fantastic charcoal drawings that make the story leap from the page.
Please note: To get to work, Louis cuts through the town cemetery. The text mentions that, unlike his friends, he's not afraid of ghosts. He yells out, "G'morning spooks!" Additionally, when he hears Louis playing a horn in the street, one passerby says, "Lady Luck must be smiling on this dude."
Parents, Be Aware
Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash
by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
Willow Feathers is the adopted daughter duck of Beaver McBeaver. Curious and caring, she wants to be a detective. And lucky her, a strange round object has just landed in the neighborhood pond. It's rubber, has a tread, and seems to have come off a giant metal object from the road. Could it be from aliens? Willow joins forces with her forest friends to uncover the origins of this odd contraption and remove it from the water before it hurts the fish.
Things to know: According to the other animals, Weasel is the forest bully, so they yell and throw objects at him. While, at one point, he does end up stealing a bag of trail mix from a human, Weasel doesn't do or say anything that would warrant the ire of the others in the woods. One of the characters speaks of "ghost stories" but doesn't actually tell any. Additionally, there is one mention of seagull poop in the text.
Just for you, Mom
by Cathy LaGrow
In 1928, while at a church picnic in the woods, 16-year-old Minka is brutally attacked. She later discovers that she's pregnant. To protect her from public shame, her mother sends her to a group home many states away. Minka delivers a healthy baby girl but is forced to give it up for adoption. She then spends the next eight decades pining for her child. With only a black-and-white photo and a few memories to go on, she begins to pray that God would allow her to meet her daughter before she dies.
This is a haunting but true account of a mother's unrelenting love for her long-lost child and how God finally brings them together.