Picture Books
by Jessie Haas
The summer grass has been cut and is spread out, drying in the sun. Gramps warns Nora that nothing is more important on a farm than hay. Without it, they can't feed their animals.
The calm day quickly turns stressful as the sky shifts from milky white to increasingly dark shades of gray. A severe rainstorm rolls in, threatening to soak and spoil the drying hay. The family must work together, racing against the clock, to get the harvest all in the barn before the sky unzips.
This living book will give young readers a look at one special aspect of life on a farm.
by Brittany Pomales
On the morning of his birthday party, young King Liam wakes up from a nightmare that his party will be ruined by something starting with the letter P. Unable to remember the exact menace, Liam uses his royal power to order that everything starting with P be removed. His tired royal advisor, Cedric, carries out the chaotic commands. They toss out pepperoni pizza, piñatas, parrots, and all pants (which Percival, the royal goat, promptly eats). The ban escalates until even people (including the princess and guests) are sent away on paddle boats because the word starts with P. Liam finally sits alone in his empty palace, realizing he has gone too far.
Please note: Though the king realizes that he has overreacted, he doesn't really learn his lesson. The book ends with the beginning of another overreaction about candles.
by Susannah Lloyd
Marcel, a large bird, and Steve, a small worm, are asked by the narrator to show the reader the concept of size. Trouble is, Marcel keeps eating Steve. Growing increasingly frustrated, the narrator breaks the fourth wall to scold Marcel and demand that he spit the little friend back out. Each time he is coughed up, an unbothered Steve simply adjusts his hat and carries on. Marcel gets a taste of his own medicine when he goes missing on the final page.
Young readers will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor of this metafictional book.
by Margarita Engle
In 1903, while visiting Paris, American socialite Aida de Acosta sees a man gliding through the sky in a dirigible. Though she's invited on board to be a passenger, Ada refuses. Instead, she determines to pilot one all on her own. Against social norms, she learns to operate the complicated controls and becomes the first woman to successfully fly a motor-powered aircraft. This is her story of bravery.
Leveled Readers
by Grace Kim
Peter Piper and Silly Sally travel to visit their friend Betty Botter. Along the way, they see some pretty unusual things like five fat frogs flying fast and a woodchuck chucking wood.
This whimsical story features a handful of well-known tongue twisters that will leave emergent readers wanting more. The publisher has deemed this a Level 3 reader. However, because each page contains only two or three sentences, I think it is more than appropriate for Level 2 readers.
by Joan Sandin
Carl Erik and his family complete their long journey from Sweden to start a new life in Minnesota. When his father travels to a distant town to find work, Carl must step up as the "man of the house" and find ways to feed his family.
He faces teasing from some of his new classmates while struggling to learn English and adapt to American customs. He also overcomes his initial fears and builds relationships with the local Indigenous neighbors, ultimately finding a sense of belonging and community.
This Level 3 book gives readers a peek into the life of a 19th-century immigrant family.
Illustrated Chapter Books
by Margi Preus
Driven by wanderlust, Jean Pierre, an enthusiastic red squirrel, sneaks onto a birchbark canoe crewed by eight French-Canadian fur traders. When the crew discovers the stowaway and threatens to turn him into squirrel stew, a kind voyageur also named Jean rescues him and lets him travel the rest of the way tucked into his pocket. When the canoe finally reaches the trading post at Grand Portage after a 1,200-mile journey, Jean Pierre makes a horrifying discovery: the men are there to trade for beaver pelts and furs from his fellow forest animals.
Heartbroken but determined, he teams up with a clever flying squirrel named Monique to organize a forest animal ambush and convince the men to quit the fur trade.
This living book will introduce readers to a little-known part of American history: the late-18th-century fur-trade industry.
Please note: Once Jean Pierre learns that the voyageurs trade furs, the story takes on a mild "protect the animals from greedy Europeans" tone.
Owl Diaries: Eva's Treetop Festival
by Rebecca Elliott
To celebrate the first day of spring, Eva pitches a grand idea to her teacher at Treetop Owlementary. She'd like to host a Bloomtastic Festival. The festival will feature a massive lineup, including an art show, a talent show, a fashion show, and a bake-off. Her teacher loves the idea but schedules it for the very next week. Determined and a bit bossy, Eva insists on organizing the entire event herself. With only seven days to prepare, she quickly becomes completely overwhelmed by the massive amount of work. Will she pull it off, or will she finally have to accept help from her friends?
This is the first in a light-hearted 24-book series about Eva, her family, and her classmates, designed to keep voracious readers turning pages.
Please note: When her brother leaves his stinky sock in her room. Eva calls him a Squirrel-head.
During the first half of the book, Eva thinks Sue is mean, but when both girls swallow their pride and learn to depend on each other, they form a genuine friendship.
Book 2 is called Eva Sees a Ghost. While the "ghost" turns out to be a snowy owl, Eva's teacher and school friends mention telling "ghost stories." One sentence mentions a squirrel zombie.
While the books are numbered, they are all stand-alone stories and can be read in or out of order. So, a child could easily skip Book 2 and not miss anything. I have not read the entire series.
Parents, Be Aware
by Jenn Bailey
Henry loves Classroom Ten because everything is always the same and predictable. He relies on a strict schedule where events happen on exact days. On Monday, his teacher, Mrs. Tanaka, announces a school parade for Friday, which means moving Share Time to the wrong day and dealing with loud instruments. Throughout the week, Henry feels stressed by the changes, the noisy preparations, and the anxiety he calls "stomach volcanoes." On Friday, Henry uses his Quiet Card to take a break in the classroom closet. Inside, he meets his classmate Samuel, who dislikes his heavy parade hat. Henry trades his loud tambourine for Samuel's soft, heavy hat (which blocks out noise), and the two boys happily lead the parade together.
Things to know: Henry directly disobeys his teacher several times but still gets his way. The text implies (but does not explicitly state) that Henry is autistic, which would explain some of his behavior but could cause confusion for some young readers who are unfamiliar with that particular diagnosis.
Just for you, Mom
by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
This sweeping historical fiction chronicles the extraordinary life of colonial patriot Abigail Adams. Narrated in the first person and meticulously grounded in over 1,100 of her preserved letters, the novel highlights her role not just as a supportive political wife to John Adams, but as a fiercely independent force who managed their farm, made lucrative financial investments, and raised her children amidst the backdrop of war, illness, and intense personal loss.
As her husband's most trusted confidante, she famously urged him to "remember the ladies" while offering fearless counsel. The story follows her onto the world stage as a diplomat's wife in Europe and eventually as the nation’s second First Lady, highlighting her trailblazing advocacy for women's rights, her battle against political foes, and the heavy personal sacrifices her family's long legacy of public service demanded.
Best in Show
by Brian Floca
The year is 1869. You gather with your family on a platform in Omaha, Nebraska, and board a great iron horse bound for San Francisco, California, where the rest of your kin awaits your arrival. The journey that once took months by horseback or covered wagon now takes only days thanks to the Transcontinental Railroad. This book is a narrative look at westward expansion and the changes that the railroad brought to the land and its people. The beautiful watercolor illustrations will give readers a peek at 19th-century American culture, the Native Americans of the West, national landmarks, and the expansive and diverse landscape of the United States.