Children & early adolescent literature books database
Overview
Database of books for eductors, librarians, media experts, and others who want to create their own database or seek books to recommend to readers, which will encourage reading and literacy for all, paricularly to encourage non readers to become readers. Books included in these lists are books which I have noted over many years that some readers, across a large range of varing interests, have read and commented on enjoying. While I would encourage those who have interests related to each book's topic to read them, I would not select many of them as required reading or for a read aloud to a whole class. Those I would select from my five star list.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Swiss Family Robinson | Johann David Wyss | 1813 | The Robinsons leave Switzerland to settle on the other side of the world. Sole survivors of a shipwreck, they make it ashore and the adventure begins. An adventure that tests their courage, cleverness, endurance, and faith as they struggle to survive and create their own on a tropical pardise. |
fiction adventure classic |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freckles | Gene Stratton Porter | 1904 | Great adventure story about a young boy hired to patrol the Limberlost forest and be on the look out for lumber poachers. Gene's description of the animals and plants is great for anyone who loves being outdoors. See also A Girl of the Limberlost 1909 |
realistic fiction mystery forest early 1900's lumber |
| Geronimo His Own Story | dictated to S. M. Barrett newly edited For Ward by Turner | 1906 |
One of the most extraordinary and invaluable documents in the annals of Native American history. The authentic testament of Geronimo who fiercely defended Apache land from Mexico and the United States. Between 1905 and 1906 he dictated his story through a native interpreter to S.M. Barrett, while he was a prisoner of war. Geronimo told his story, beginning with his telling of the Apache creation story. When Barrett posed a question, the only answer he received was, Write what I have spoken. Reprinted in 1970 Gen. George F. Crook later predicted we will decide that he was one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. See also -
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American Indians Native multicultural nonfiction |
| A Girl of the Limberlost | Gene Stratton Porter | 1909 | Great story about a young girl, Elnora Comstock, growing up in the Limberlost Swamp in Onabasha (fictional town maybe base, Geneva, Indiana) in the early 1900's. We learn she is an independent enterprising young women who raises herself as her mother is suffering from the death of her husband and Elnora’s father. The story beings in the summer, as Elnora enters high school. As a freshman. The plot describes her struggle to go to school using the resources of the Limberlost and her ingenuity. The healing of her family, from her father’s death, adoption of Billy, social settings in school, dealing with your desires, marriage, and her stedfast desire to resolve a failed engagement with grace and honor. Characters include: Mrs Comstock, Aunt Margret, Uncle Wesley, Billy, Bird Women, Philip, Polly, Edith, Hart, Freckles, & Angel. Gene Stratton Porter made the Limberlost Swamp famous in the early 20th century, where she lived for years on its periphery, wrote about it and its environment, which she lobbied unsuccessfully against its destruction. See more about her and the Limberlost. |
realistic fiction nature teaching adolescence family crisis single parent social life social classes environment marriage honor |
| The Black Dog Who Went into the Woods | Edith Thacher Hurd | 1910 | realistic fiction death (dog) | |
| Blackfeet Indian Stories | George Bird Grinnell | 1915 |
Grandfathers have told these stories to their grandchildren for generations. |
Native Americans anthology |
| The Boxcar Children #1 | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 1924 | Later edition 1942 |
realistic fiction |
| Last week my brother Anthony died | Martha Whitmore Hickman | 1925 | death fantasy fiction | |
| Freddy the Pig adventure book series | Walter R. Brooks | 1927 |  The first Freddy chapter book: To and Again is written. Stories of a group of barnyard characters who have different adventures in each book like the title of each book suggests.Walter writes 26 Freddy books from 1927 - 1958. In his third book, Freddy the Detective (1932). Freddy the pig, assumes the role as the main character, Simon, the rat, is introduced as the antagonist, and the detective role becomes one Freddy will often assume with the use of wit and logic to solve problems in other books. The stories have interesting plots, humorous dialogue, and a literary style unique in animal stories for when they were written and now. |
animal fantasy fiction humor chapter book |
| Millions of Cats | Wanda Gág | 1929 | Picture book with verse:Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.Once upon a  time there was an old man and an old woman who were very lonely. They decided to get a cat, but when the old man went out searching, he found not one cat, but ... Unable to decide the best, he brought them all ... So how did they end up with one cat to call their own? |
picture book cats rhyme |
| The Little Engine That Could | Watty Piper | 1930 |
A train filled with gifts for boys and girls breaks down. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to make it over the hill. |
helping others trying fantasy picture book |
| Farmer Boy | Laura Ingalls Wilder | 1933 | westward expansion homestead historical fiction | |
| The Good Master | Kate Seredy | 1935 | republished 1991 |
fantasy fiction |
| The White Stag | Kate Seredy | 1937 |  A 94 page illustrated epic told in the best traditions of Greek and Roman mythologies. The story unfolds the origins of a prophecy with all the trappings of gods and mortals, mystical creatures and fantastic animals all positioning to gain favor for their kind so they might have a better life. The quest for this better life for the Huns and Magyars leads to the rise of Atilla who leads them in a migration from Asia to Europe and into their promised land. Great story.How does it compare with history? Why has this story not been as popular as other Newberry award winners? Epic story about the migration of the Huns and Magyars (Hungarian) from Asia to Europe. God Hadur Old Nimrod, Mighty Hunter. Son of Cush the Great Leader. Sons of Old Nimrod. Brothers or sons - Hunor and Magyar Follow the White Stag. Hunor and Magyar ride to follow. Gone long time seven months. Sacrifice to Hadur to find what to do, but no animals. Sacrifice Taltos, his horse. Fire burnt path into mountains and a great eagle, holy bird of Hadur. Old Nimrod told prophecy. He will die, Hunor and Magyar will take his place and lead them near the promised land. Then there will be a greater leader (Atilla) that will take them to the promised land. Hunor and Magyar return. Saw promised land. One day to get there following the white stag and seven moons to get back. After much conquering meet moon maidens and white heron explained by Damos who sees future becomes blind and is now a prophet. Damos lights the torch of marriage for Hunor and Tunde and Magyar and Cilla. 12 moons later Damos named Hunor s son Bendeguz, the White Eagle. Fifteen years. After Hunor and Magyar are gone Bendeguz (the White Eagle) will lead and he will have a son that will be greater most powerful warrior of all the Red Eagle, and will lead them to the promised land. Bendeguz meets Alleeta who he asked if she hated him. She replied not now. They had a son and Alleeta dies in child birth. Bendeguz s heart turns to stone and he raises his son. That night Atilla is proclaimed by Demos as the Red Eagle with wings of blood and the greatest warrior who will lead them... After years of conquering, backs against the Carpatians and a renewed army closing in on them the White Stag of Hun legends - Stag of Hunor and Magyar leads them through the mountains to the promised land and finds the Sword of Hadur. Great |
fiction legend myth history survival republished 1965 Unit for book and Myths |
| Yellow Eyes | Rutherford Montgomery | 1937 |
In the high mountains lives Yellow Eyes and his mate, The Golden One. Tawny mountain lions move through the shadows of the forest. Rutherford Montgomery portrays animal life with animals acting only like animals. Not with Anthropomorphic or Anthropomorphism (where animals speaking as having human motivations, characteristics, or behaviors such as having human reasons for acting. |
animals, environment fantasy fiction |
| The 500 hats of Bartholomew Cubbins | Dr. Suess | 1938 |
Bartholomew Cubbins is a young peasant who is at the mercy of the unjust hands of King Derwin who abuses his power. | abuse of power magickings picture book |
| The Singing Tree | Kate Seredy | 1939 | Setting is rural pre-World War 1 Hungary. Outstanding pencil sketched illustrations. A story of how war intruded on life. When German orphans, Russian military POWs, and the "good master" is missing in action. Kate, her slightly older cousin Jancsi, and their friend Lily must grow up in a hurry. The kindness, common sense and good humor provided as they grew up gives them strength to see them through this time of trial. Originally published in 1939 and republished in 1967. 1939 and 1967 Sequel to the Good Master |
family rural Hungry historical fiction |
| By the Shores of Silver Lake | Laura Ingalls Wilder | 1939 | westward expansion homestead historical fiction | |
| The Noisy Book | Margaret Wise Brown | 1939 | science sound inside outside sounds | |
| The Long Winter | Laura Ingalls Wilder | 1940 | Pa making hay Laura wants to help does. Look muskrats thick mud walls hint winter. Errand to town. Laura go get part for broken mower. Carrie go too. Take short cut through slough almost lost come out at Wilder Brothers place. Both thick other not scared find out both are Fall of the year-rain stop mowing frost then clear pick potatoes, corn, tomatoes pumpkins pie surprise. October blizzard follow hay stacks to feed stack. Bring wood, puddle sing keep warm. Three day storm After storm (on the fourth morning) cold and snow inside, tore tar paper off roof. Pa don t like feeling of things (cattle not eat stand) Head froze ground. Found bird (Auk) Indian Summer take Auk lake flies south Pa worries about hard winter Muskrat again. Indian Warning-Big Snow come end every seven winter bad and 21st worst. Pa go to town at store building Settled in town-fix house start school Laura and Carrie scared Ma tells pa finally see good in town? Pa yes, but nothing by jack rabbits, Oregons the place Cap Garland Go school Laura and Carrie worried and Mary sad she not go Boy threw ball. Mary Pawer Minnie Johnson. Blizzard school Mr, Foster came-bumped into Mead s Hotel Cap Garland Fuller s three day s blizzard Almonzo claim 21 seed wheat worried train. Pa goes to Volga train stopped shovel through. Pa go clear track to Volga. Mr. Edwards visits walked 40 miles for Christmas gifts tin cup and candy for Laura and Mary. Mary $20. 12 alone another blizzard. 13 we ll weather the blast -40o 2 day blizzard. Mary won bible verse game Laura decided to help send her to college by teaching. 14 one bright day another storm supplies low no train. Three day storm, there night think here pass fiddle play no blizzard 15. no trains chores make braided rug 16.fair weather 30 foot drifts train get hay sled drifts stuck hard work trouble with grass 17. Seed wheat Almonzo false beck room for seed 18. Merry Christmas Gilbert went to Preston tomorrow and regular train next Blue suspenders Pa. Merry Christmas last load coal good train coming cloud in burn sticks of hay. 19. Where threes a will, Laura trust hay grind wheat with coffee mill. 20. Antelope stranger rush off. Almonzo s horse in so can t shoot, goes and gets her eat pancakes Almonzo. 21. Hard winter 4 pounds roast no train till spring. Pa tells story of train and why no more. 22. Cold and dark house buried in snow. 23. Wheat in the wall from Almonzo pail home. Seed wheat. 24. Not really hungry. Storm cold. 25. Free and independent Almonzo go south get wheat. Royal not alone I m going too. 26. Breathing spell. Almonzo and Cap go after wheat tomorrow can t do blizzards have to wait. 27. For daily bread 3rd night 3:00 blizzard stop Almonzo wakes wrong them see meet Anderson hadn t seen anyone since October. When went to town for supplies not sell go buy $1.25 per bushel after noon leave for town. 125 pound fast fall in switch lead go on. See blizzard cloud night fall we re in for it now. 28. Four day blizzard worry about boys can t get out run out of wheat. 29.The last mile made it so light hit town with blizzard Almonzo feet swollen sore four days stone shared $3 snack, Loftus how much chanfe haul $0 wolidn t do for you did for hungrey all mad back down sell 1>25 so ration out as needed. 30. It con t eat us grind wheat haul, hay, tickle silly if Laura hadn t helped haven would have next out. Chunook comes Spring 31 watching for the train. Icy dirt in drawers pich shovel too much water. |
westward expansion homestead historical fiction |
| Call It Courage | Armstrong Sperry | 1940 | ||
| Horton Hatches the Egg | Dr. Suess | 1940 |
Everyone laughs when Horton, an Elephant, offers to sit on Mayzie bird's egg while she goes on holiday. Horton's kindness and faithfulness are sorely tested when he, and the egg, are kidnapped and sold to a circus. However, in the long run he is rewarded. |
fantasy fiction responsibility family protection perseverance relationships |
| Blue Willow | Doris Gates | 1940 | Janey, her father, and step mother are unable to find permanent work and resort to migrating from job to job in the 1930 s. The title refers to a a blue willow plate that belonged to Janey s great great grandmother. A story of poverty and family hardship with a happy ending. republished1968 | historicl fiction |
| Indian Captive: the Story of Mary Jemison | Lois Lenski | 1941 | historical fiction Native Americans | |
| Adventures with a Microscope | Headstrom, Richard | 1941 | nonfiction science microscope | |
| Mythology | Edith Hamilton | 1942 |
The classic collection of myths that has delighted millions of readers with its timeless tales of gods and heroes. |
mythology |
| Adam of the Road | Elizabeth Janet Gray | 1942 |
1294 Adam Quartermayne wait for father, minstrel school Abbey St. Alban want out. Harp friend Perkin dog Nick. Perkin got in school priest father serious student till Nick trouble. Visit Dame Malkin and Nick here Roger Minstrel take with. I m Sir Edmunds man, go with him now too bad Perkins can t go. Horse Bayard leave ride. Roger tell story Adam ride in wagon hay sour notes, well out- meet Squire. Simon. Adam friends Boys club. Simon love Emilie wed Sir Gervase. Wedding many minstrels. All money Roger gambles dice lose money and Bayard- to Jenkin. London see Jenkins flip Nick for horse Bayard no done. Rain inn meal story Jenkin Bayard not know say good bye to much. Jenkin trade horse Nick claims, run off follow ask pilgrim Guildford. See Jenkin follow run swim ever separate from Roger. Meet nice lady spend might back castle Roger left in morning have to stay might castle. Gone to find Roger Fornahorn. Meet Merchant on through kings forest robbers Adam tree, last harp sheriff. Barleff knight follow feud knight Rideware castle goods and merchant ( Duan William) free back up chase knight got away. St. Gilesfair goes church miracle find Roger. Sees play fall of Adam falls off wall. Nursed back health be parish clerk! Meet Minstrel who saw father fight over dog with send out town think go London- Christina B. travel with. Loan harp hit town after curfew (steal lunch) caught scatter run, Adam good hear me . Guildford after Jenkin good help escape. Meet man road sing story chicken dinner, Inn hear Roger looking Bayard London. Leaves message stay tell go Ludlow pick you up May went with Sir Edmund and king rebellion wates. Run around town bump into Jenkin lost Nick in Gorhamburg find have both have a dog. Start out Dame Mulkin Nick there Perkin took met man if study Oxford look up man. On shoes wear out. Reach Perkin has Nick can t go Oxford. Help pa plow Adam will mend shoes and sew coat new clothes, shoes, bag pipes. So around Perkin time leave call office oh no go Roger can stay here no minstrel good you have done well son. |
historical fiction Medieval England |
| The Hundred Dresses | Eleanor Estes | 1944 | fiction acceptance | |
| Strawberry Girl | Lois Lenski | 1945 |
Birdie Boyer (10) can hardly wait to start picking. and family move to the Florida backwoods ready to farm and prosper. However, there is heat, droughts, cold, and the neighbors, the Boyers. |
historical fiction Florida |
| Pippi Longstocking stories and The Children of Noisy Village | Astrid Lindgren | 1945 | Born - (11-14, 1907 - 1-28, 2002) Also Pippi in the South Seas The Brothers Lionheart 1973 The Children of Noisy Village 1947 Wonderful old fashioned stories from a time when the most important task of a little girl was to play with her friends and the greatest problem was where the old hen laid her eggs. Children will see a life where the children of Noisy Village, know each other, are friends, and live a common day to day life. |
fiction Swedish author global |
| Stuart Little | E. B. White | 1945 | A classic adventure of a mouse (Stuart) born to a family of humans - his parents, brother - George , and cat - Snowball who all live in New York City. Stuart is shy and reserved, but likes a good adventure. His first adventure away from home finds him plenty of adventure, but will he make it back home? | animal fantasy fiction being little |
| It Looked Like Spilt Milk | Charles G. Shaw | 1947 | White on blue - guess what the forms are? Like clouds.. |
picture book concept book patterned language visual creativity puzzle observation |
| Blueberries for Sal | Robert McCloskey | 1948 | picture book realistic fiction Sal, mom, bear, adventure picking blueberries classic | |
| Wait Till The Moon Is Full | Margaret Wise Brown | 1948 | ||
| The Important Book | Margaret Wise Brown illustrated by Leonard Weisgard | 1949 |
Explores the important properties of different common objects with poetic phrases and vivid illustrations. |
picture book |
| The Boxcar Children #2 | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 1949 | realistic fiction |
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| The Door in the Wall | Marguerite De Angeli | 1949 | Robin s father was a knight away in service to the King in the Scottish wars. His mother was called to serve the Queen as her lady in waiting, as the Queen was very ill. Robin was left in the care of three servants for a few days until he was to be taken to Sir Peter de Lindsay to be inservice as a page before becoming a knight. Through a rather bizarre set of circumstances, illness that leaves Robin weak and his legs paralyzed, spilt porridge, bubonic plague, the robbery of John the Fletcher, and the good will of Brother Luke the circumstances take a turn for the better as Robin begins to regain some strength, a letter has been sent to his dad and returned, John go with the wynd teams up with Brother Luke and the three of them set out on a journey to Lindsay. With much adventure along the way as they avoid being robbed, get lost, and finally end up in time to have the castle surrounded in a siege. We aren t told what kind of person Robin was before he became ill. However, he either was or because of his illness become immature, impatient, selfish, and lacking in confidence. Through the story Brother Luke is steadfast in his determination to encourage and support Robin in finding a way to become confident and self sufficient. By concentrating on what Robin can do instead of what he can t and using the title of the book as symbol of hope in that if you follow the wall you will find a door. Robin finds several doors that lead him on a journey where he ends up back home knighted and reunited with his parents - studying with Brother Luke as his tutor. Pencil sketches. Robin s father was a knight away in service to the King in the Scottish wars. His mother was called to serve the Queen as her lady in waiting, as the Queen was very ill. Robin was left in the care of three servants for a few days until he was to be taken to Sir Peter de Lindsay to be inservice as a page before becoming a knight. Ellen brings him porridge and he knocks it into her. Thinking he will get something better. She doesn t return nor anyone else until a strange Friar, Brother Luke arrives with a fish dinner. He informs Robin that Ellen has the bubonic plague and can t come and the other servants have fled in fear that they might catch it. Robin tells of how John-the-Fletcher was set on and robbed and didn t make it till later. Having found him he sent for a physician who declared him free of plague, but paralyzed. Brother Luke tells him he has brought a horse and will take him to Saint Marks. The food wasn t any better, but because Luke encouraged him to carve wood. He has a reason to eat. Something to do. Whittles a boat and cross. Gets angry when Crookshanks calls him Crookshanks thinking it a joke about being lame. Luke talks about what different names mean. Pray for what you are thankful. Luke shows him tools - chisel and plane to carve better. doll, fish, and makes his own crutches, goes to town. Write a rather nasty letter to his father complaining of being left in the care of strangers and all but blaming his father for his problems. Sends letter with John Go in the Wynd Luke suggests make puppet - okay. Go fishing and kids there swimming. Teachers to swim. Says arms will get stronger and this will then enable you to go about on crutches. Robin upset - how be a knight? Father? Mother? Luke - even crutches can be a door in the wall. Brother Luke teaches him there is much he can do without his legs that is worthy and to overcome a challenge you must find a path and it will lead to a door in the wall. just need to be strong and be patient and trust that it will be there. Learn to swim and beat other boys in race. Move between benches and asks if he can make his own crutches. John Go in the Wynd a minstrel delivers a letter from father saying he should come to Lindsay with Brother Luke and John... Also says that what happened need not be told to your mom at this time. She has enough concern with an ill Queen. They set out on their journey, wrong fork, sleep outside in the rain aside a fallen tree and ate roasted apples - not so bad. Hope things not so bad as this from the wrong turn. Shepherd tells they can go through woods back to highroad. Arrive at an Inn next night. Settle in to room and Robin over hears men planning to rob them as they sleep. Fortunately they wait for the cock to crow. Robin wakes Luke, slip out window, trip up robbers with crutch, get away while tangled up, and spend the night in a barn and leave farthing day four arrive at Oxford. See fair in town. Stay with woodcutter and wife. Arrive Lindsay before gates closed. Greeted by Sir Peter and Lady Constance. Embrace. I will make a sorry page. Each of us has his place in the world. Finds way around, swims, make harp, befriends a dog. The Welsh are hammering at the gate. We are attacked. In the fog crept up and put an arrow in his back. We are surrounded. Waited, worked on harp. Lathe keys too big or little again, learned patience. And found that the harder it was to do something, the more comfortable he felt after it was done. ******** Food and water growing lower. Someone needs to go for help. Robin goes through little door, swims across river, dressed as poor shepherd, watchman sees, fakes being slow, goes to John s mothers, John summons brothers help. Arrive archers shoot, capture, free castle from seige. A few days before Christmas eve finish harp, parents, King, and Queen arrive. Celebrate, made knight, sing song and play harp for King. Mom is happy won t have to fight in war, can come home, and asks Luke to come to be his tutor. Thou hast found the door in the wall. |
historical fiction medieval England renaissance and culture fear of failure patience self sufficiency |
| The Most Wonderful Doll in the World | Phyllis McGinley | 1950 | ||
| Ginger Pye | Eleanor Estes | 1951 | fiction |
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| Ape in a Cape | Fritz Eichenberg | 1952 | picture book concept book repetition of sounds | |
| Karen | Maria Killilea | 1952 |
A wonderful story of human courage, patience, and triumph. But you'll want to read it most for Karen's own words: "I can walk, I can talk. I can read. I can write. I can do anything." |
nonfiction orthopedic impairments celebral palsy health problems |
| Charlotte's Web | E. B. White | 1952 | One of the greatest children s story ever written. Hopefully every child either reads it or has it read aloud to him or her. It is truly a masterpiece of character and plot development that enthralls it readers and listeners. | animal fantasy death life cycle friendship giving |
| The Borrowers | Norton | 1953 | fantasy mathematics | |
| The Boxcar Children #3 | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 1953 | realistic fiction |
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| The Very Little Girl | Phyllis Krasilovsky | 1953 | fiction being little | |
| The Courage of Sarah Noble | Alice Dalgliesh | 1954 | historical fiction |
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| Andy Says Bon Jour | Pat Diska | 1954 | fiction new situations | |
| Squanto - Friend of the Pilgrims | Clyde Robert Bulla | 1954 | Native Americans | |
| Carry on Mr. Bowditch | Latham, Jean Lee | 1955 | This story is based on Nathaniel Bowditch who dreamed of attending Cambridge. However, he is forced into indentured servitude to a ship s chandler for seven years. He begins to teach himself mathematics, navigation, and other languages. At the conclusion of his servitude he found employment on another ship where he navigated and found many mistakes in navigation books. He wrote The American Practical Navigator which is claimed to still be in use today. He eventually became captain of his own vessel and found that he could teach the crew navigation so they could get better positions on their next voyages It is historical fiction as there are parts including dialogue and other information that isn t factual. While he improve on the mathematical calculation of the lunar distance method he didn t invent it. Newberry Award Winner, Navigation See more about Nat in the Yankee stargazer;: The life of Nathaniel Bowditch for 15 + years Not feel bad luck- father lost ship? How, Mary, Wm, horn, Essex Street Lizza. Nat- 6 found shilling live Grandma. Shake silver under full moon good luck- rain have wait a month. Nat buys expectations for 1 shilling 10% pilgrim Tom Perry. School boo Hab quit to help pa make barrels school bore wanted math problems. Pa writes note give big problem did get right who told you answer? No one beat tomorrow who? Had goes stand over watch do! Fantastic song. Shake hands on it. Pilgrim catches ship but Tom killed hero. Hal leaves on Freedom War over times bad. Nat school start pa needed no school, Pa late back river? Dr. Bently think smart- Mother dies. Father swear do better. 2 years granny dies. I ll do better swear Many. Indenture hopes and Hodges Chadley Years. Meet Ben Meeker bright becaloned like you. Stuck here 9 years Sam ah strong man sail by ash breeze now ship ahead full explain log. Winter he was 13 learned navigation found Cyclopedia read cover cover. Algebra 16- covered make almanac Mr. Morris Howard write me if get unindentured. Astronomy Prinsipid Latin learn. Sell Chandlery. Lizza falls dries Elizabeth brings present in Latin. Learns French now. Nat human like even with spite of your brains. Want stay on in room. Sammy die fever - Henry as clerk-venture $135, not command Henry. Since captain take if clerk and second mate clerk never does anything between post. 2 laws never break a law of the port you are in or never become a slaver. Ship out teach crew navigate going ashore cloths etc. galaxies. Long time load unload cargo Nat finds errors in navigation books Discover new way to take lunars. See many Dave s crew all die fever. Astred. Manila 4 crew 2nd. Mates other ships new green one troublemaker. Guns Portugal 15 Leam won t learn. Ocean on fire. Like fire flies. Nat says Learn? some crew scored good. I ll tell. Marrills Saturday I ll lay out my goin a ashore clothes then. War France hole ship home. Dave Farrel Howard Eliz. Talks as brother 17-24 of coarse simple problems of Mr. blunt- war tables yes ah you I d be as likely to pink on. Mathematics principid I did what college where no where! Red corn kiss marry Elizabeth. Supercargo. Learn 2nd mate Betsy- New gun man prince bah. Mediterranean convoy 400 ships some slow drop back protect scare 3 ships Elizabeth dies. Made fellow of American Academy of arts and science. Ship Astreo jump ship out ways anchor Batavia- men die like flies. Lupe follow seated finally knife 1 trade how throw knife for navigation, 8000 mistakes Moore- write own book No mistakes use terms all can understand. Tables to solve for all. Learn dies by mistake in Moore if use log lead and lookout no depend on book went aground. Write book over work many Polloy book book took book E. Marine Society 1/3 interest sealer love book now check figures. John sinks all soft thanks to god my thanks to books. Book sells in England- Master and supercargo on Putnam go commencement Harvard. Got degree w/o classroom- Mr. Morris tells MA. Leam back Betsy sunk go out to see pick up ship to donation go with Nat again. Leam broke leg. Typhoon fall asleep watch home months rain wind fog. Christmas day come in in fog. 72 hours dead reckoning and center Salem Harbor How do it? Impossible! By the book sailing and mathematics 2+2=4. |
historical fiction or biography mathematics navigation slavery |
| Two Lonely ducks | Roger Duvoisin | 1955 | loneliness, relationships | |
| The Enormous Egg | Oliver Butterworth | 1956 | ||
| Annie's Spending Spree | Nancy D. Watson | 1957 |
Nice story, outdated, but okay for young learners thnking about money values. |
decisions mathematics number value money coins |
| The Lonely Doll | Dare Wright | 1957 |
A lonely doll, Edith, meets a bear family and finds friendship. |
loneliness |
| The Cabin Faced West | Jean Fritz | 1958 | historical fiction |
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| The Witch of Blackbird Pond | Elizabeth George Speare | 1958 | Kit was raised in Barbados by her grandfather after her parents died when she was 3. His liberal ideas afforded her an education, encouraged her to be a free thinker, and allowed her to explore her environment which included the beaches where she learned how to swim. On her grandfathers death she was left without a home and headed north to New England where her Aunt lived in a very Puritanical community. Kits life is dramatically changed from one of leisure to having to learn how to endure a way of life that is demanding physically and mentally with structured thinking that she rebels against. Among those she befriends is Widow Tuper who is an eccentric lady that lives by herself. Anyone familiar with the history of New England and the witch trials can foresee a conflict in the making. The author writes about this historical time period with eloquent detail of the environment, the artifacts, and the religious and philosophical differences that people capable of questioning and taking risks surely were wondering about if they weren t capable to speaking up. Fortunately Kit is willing to take action and she is able to find cohorts of similar mind willing to risk action for positive change. 1687- Conn. Kit to America from Barbados Eatons own ship (Dolphin) live cast Nat Eaton s son Kit s age Kit s going upriver Wethersfield won t step ashore. Going back girl drops doll in H2O, Kit dives in Nat after, thinking can t swim, back alland. Go live out Mistress Wood Uncle Matthew W. tells witches float. Meets clergyman Puritan John Holbook. Kit s parents died when she was 3 raised grandpa and slaves, John you can read? Shakespeare s plays? Sin shame. Aunt didn t know she was coming. 7 tanks why, 3 daughters no money? How? Girls and Rachel all try on dresses for him Yowl? All back no gifts. Lets Mercy keep draft. Kit helps card wool. Kit really left. 50 yr. old men wanted to marry her. Hears Judith complain about her help as much as 5 yr. old. Why sleep with me? Go church 2 hrs ah over you mean 2 services? Rev. dinner loyal kin yes Matthew had democracy now turn over to governor Mr. Way. You ll Will lead only to Rev. Wm. Ashley ask call on Kit. &. Wm. and John come visit Sat. night. Come back again 3,4 times learn knit drudgery everyday soon came to look forward to Saturday. Widow Tuper- At Blackbird pond see when go weed onions has cats, says witch learn she can read and will teach. Go good till act play good Samaritan. Head master nev. Come bang meadow cry old women. Thomas built her house friend said. Brought coral ask about Kit. Must be what s in heart goes to Mr. E Kimberley and gives one more chance. Hannah Quaker chased Boston broken promise not to go back! No see Hannah sea fearing friend Nat. Prudence brings flowers Ma tells too stupid to read. Wants to meadow. Meets Hannah blueberry cake eat and horn book love. Kit see John and Mercy. Help Hannah thatch roof Nat walks home Matt forbids back. Judith going after Hohn but Hohn really digs Mercy. But when talk Matt all think Jud. And no one can say different. Wm wants kit no one get spring house done. Fall comes Dolphin sees. Nat gives bolt wool for Hannah to Kit to deliver. Gov. coming Nat s ship doesn t get wind. Charter missing. Wm. governor? Nat and 2 sailors put Jack O Lanterns in Wendy's house. Stocks never return punish- Prudence Kit make dress. Hannah late back John gone militia. Bulklley Gershon write support Gov. Last straw. John can no longer take All sick fever Hannah fault go burn out Kit taken woods. Must go uncle no miracle- Dolphin swim out took both on cat- Kit go too- no can t. Kit back for Mercy and find fever broke AM. Thanks Matthew for sticking up for her last night. Come accuse Kit witch take lack shed cruff sign complaint. Find book Prudence s name wrote to make ill but burn out in time why still well! Nat rescue with Prudence. Read old man Cruff finally puts wife in place. Got someone to read me Bible that no work devil old bag. Old lady Cruff seaman whip Wm. speaks out. Justice done. Ressined order. Too late Nat turns out. Wm. comes, new start? Changes? No! Can t good bye. John captured Indians. Wm. and Judith match. She and John interrupted. John ragged comes buries head in Mercy s lap. Wed. Wm.- Judy, John Mercy announced. John come agreement Bulklley and med. But he think by himself. Kit in Barbados no realize run no good need love. Spring Nat back new witch talk Unk. Matt named witch in honor of Kit. |
historical fiction courage Conn. America multicultural religious persecution witches |
| No fighting, no biting! | Else H. Minarik | 1958 | realistic fiction sibling fighting, relationships, bullying | |
| The Light in the Forest | Conrad Richter | 1958 | fiction Native Americans | |
| The Boxcar Children #4 | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 1958 | realistic fiction |
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| Onion John | Joseph Krumgold | 1959 |
Andrew J. Rusch Jr. center field-met onion John dump outside center field. Team picture in newspaper all fuzzy. Called and complained owner says you re so important. I ll watch you. O.J. speaks weird. Big game starting. Andy triple 2 RBI s- he misses fly to center three run. HR. 3-2- last of 6th, Andy hits HRwin 5-3- After game walk through dump talk OJ understand? Pat divides wants to. Understands O.J. take Eechee to understand O. J. O.J. left Valley Mts. In Europe. Didn t own land. N.Y. City no land move mud valley not his place _ Then Hessian Hell let brave rocks pile up make house. Cut grass $.35 hr. think enough and people let stay on hill. Working on making it rain. Explain O. J. rain method Dad while taking inventory at hardware store. Dad ok if know it s in fun, but have to believe it works. Ok out. Procession for rain good cedar trees, Song, River, Jump no forgot. Clear H2O stone-dump splash better idea Rain Forest and if won t finish John won t think he caused ok- dump in splash. Next day no rain, 3 days later rain. Go to stream burnt cedar tree O. J. second coat. Dad put O. J. tarp on back. Pick up overcoats collection from kids. Dad say you really believe O. J. like rain? Why tell casts nice? Dad He takes pride in it. Happy a lot of ways he is younger. Halloween party . Invite O.J. drive evil spirits oil smoke- Rotary saw mayor s ? Win _. Late back make gold 1:00 Mom Dad get O. J. out house. John s door off hinges go hardware store buy dad meets oh boy! No wait fine out to Hessian Hill look over house- Dad need new house build new Rotary club. All go back 14th century with O.J. or all bring him up to today. Rotary discuss-chip in how John upkeep. All pay $1 hour instead $.35 Vote yes O.J. day. Talk John through Andy- Dad out Bath tub- where put in house pheasant hunt. Bath upstairs screen down basement. O. J. day stants John tries be like rest. Build house stop shadows fall in foundation- ok. Covered insurance- John new name Mv. Claiblin. O.J. day done house finished O.J. is but friend dad . Hardware store- O. J.- Insurance- House warming goat. Fire- Hohn light stove newspaper no. switch but paper on stove look out morning back fire numbskull. Fire out O.J. in house says. Fire started insurance O.J. doomed need. House warming w/ goat save. New house insurance. No O.J. can t live like that! What? What we think s right and O.J. think s right are diff. All argue. Job at General Maneto- O.J. doesn t know what s best but later will. Run away. O.J. ran away hospital. Come see O.J. run away too no moon men? Trouble you help me, meet 12:00 piano factory. O.J. comes door bell as Andy _ way sown stairs caught argue Andy grown up, foolish, decide let him make his decisions. Argue O.J. stay well if fumigate Oak fire- No?? Why not ? O.J.goes . Fish drive, vote O.J. s house down he ll show fish drive- wait tell (no fumigate) till after fish drive. Day no O.J. Talk at fish drive Andy tells dad he s not a failure he wants to stay and be like him. Dad says don t decide forever wait, ok. 2 minutes after Andy and father turned bend of Musconetty Creek, thin column of smoke rose above hill west of serenity Mr. Kardles Cove- drifted toward town smell of oak fire. |
realistic fiction friendship being different Newbery winner |
| Harold and the Purple Crayon | Crockett Johnson | 1959 | Historical significant picture book |
picture book fiction |
| Peter Piper's Alphabet | Marcia Brown | 1959 | picture book concept book alphabet book repetition of sounds |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cricket in Times Square | George Selden | 1960 | animal fantasy |
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| Crystals and Crystal Growing | Alan Holden and Phylis Singer | 1960 | nonfiction science crystals | |
| Island of the Blue Dolphins | Scott O' Dell | 1960 | Survival adventure set in the Pacific. Based on a true story about a girl, Karana, that survives through the seasons until she is rescued. It is more than a survival adventure as she develops her personal understanding of her plight. Quality style and tone have made this book a classic. | historical fiction siblings Pacific Islands survival |
| Is it hard? Is it easy? | M. Green | 1960 | search for identity | |
| Kate can skate | Helen Olds | 1960 | realistic fiction learning a new skill | |
| Inch by Inch | Leo Lionni | 1960 | Measurement, inch |
concept book measurement inch mathematics insect worm science persistence |
| Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America | Theodora Kroeber | 1961 |
Ishi, the lone survivor of the exterminated Yahi tribe. For more than forty years, Theodora Kroeber's biography has captivated readers. In 2004 the 1976 deluxe edition, filled with plates and historic photographs that enhance Ishi's story and bring it to life, has been reprinted. Ishi stumbles into the twentieth century on the morning of August 29, 1911, when, desperate with hunger and terrified of the white murderers of his family, he is found in a corral of a slaughter house near Oroville, California. Identified as a Yahi by an anthropologist, Ishi was brought to San Francisco by Professor T. T. Waterman and lived there the rest of his life. Karl Kroeber adds an informative tribute to the text, describing how the book came to be written and how Theodora Kroeber's approach to the project was a product of both her era and her special personal insight and empathy. |
Native Americans legend |
| I Can't, said the Ant | Polly Cameron | 1961 | animal fantasy cooperation | |
| Hailstones and Halibut Bones | Mary O' Neill | 1961 | poetry collection | |
| The Bronze Bow | Elizabeth George Speare | 1961 | realistic fiction Holy lands Jerusalem Christian | |
| Hog Wild! | Julia Brown Ridle | 1961 |
Joss Melborne needs to raise money for his father's operation by driving hogs to Prairie Town. 232 pages of problems stand in the way. of this adventure. A bit dated, but a good action adventure. |
realistic fiction |
| Owls in The Family | Farley Mowat | 1961 | republished 1981 |
animal fantasy |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton ,Juster | 1961 | fantasy mathematics figurative language | |
| Let's Be Enemies | J. Udry | 1961 | Powerful emotions | |
| The Snowy Day | Ezra Jack Keats | 1962 | This book was the first book in main stream America that had an African American as a main character. Besides this historical significance the book is has relevance with young children that have experienced a first snow and sharing that experience and relating it to how it was communicated as a story in this book with pictures and text. How did it naturally unfold as a story with a beginning, middle, and end? How did the author add some style to make it more interesting and more of a story? Further explorations of the story elements of plot and style can be explored where the author sets up a surprise or interesting situation by having the main character put the snowball in his pocket. Would most children laugh when he put it in his pocket? How does that style affect the tone of the story? It was an event that readers could predict to add interest and possibly humor. Further discussion related to science experimenting with water and ice and exploration of the different tracks that the boy makes. How did he make them? Can you show how each was made? Can you show me how a snow angel is made? Can you design tracks of your own to challenge others how they might be made? A delightful story with historical significance, and colorful illustrations that can studied by children and used as examples for creating their own illustrations. | picture book realistic fiction snow African American Black experience multicultural tracks in the snow science solids liquids water cycle |
| Sad Day, Glad Day | Vivian Thompson | 1962 |
realistic fiction moving | |
| Mine for Keeps | Jean Little | 1962 | realistic fiction orthopedic impairments or health problems | |
| Snail, Where Are You? | Tomi Ungerer | 1962 | Wordless book | |
| On the Way Home | Laura Ingalls Wilder | 1962 | Setting by Rose Wilder Lane Year after year of bad crops mortgage bank takes land 1893- panic world depression Coxey s Arinies rob and steal out of work want to go Washington D.C. Rose tells how Ma and Pa had diphtheria and she read everything Pa work too soon paralyze. Ma and Pa work hard Pa provided and Ma sool go land in .. Big Red apples Ozarks. Ma save $100 bill hid writing desk never talk. Laura and family left July 17, 1894 Carrie Mary and Grace still there. Ma's notes of trip. Map and diary of trip through Nebraska, Kansas to Missouri. Arrive look high and low for farm find, but lost $100 Can't find for a few days, then find in a crack of the writing desk Buy farm. Man came food family and stoved Manly gave come cut wood tomorrow. Laura no thought never see. Work few weeks cutting wood and moved on sold in town and dept some. Build new house from things on farm. It is still there and picture in book. |
historical fiction South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Missouri history great depression westward expansion homestead |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | 1962 | Classic science fiction that predates or is the dawn of children and adolescent science fiction the quality of which has seldom been exceeded. The story explores the strength of family, friends, society, time travel, supernatural beings, among a balance of good and evil. Newberry Award Winner Meg main character Charles Wallace Calvin Mrs. Who, Which, and What Meg Murray, Father, The twins The Happy Medium Aunt Beast IT Principal |
science fiction tesseract time travel mathematics dimensions family being smart Activities |
| Sara Crewe | Frances Hodgson Burnett | 1963 | historicl fiction |
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| Aesop's fables | Ann Mc Govern | 1963 | collection of fables |
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| Amelia Bedelia | Peggy Parish | 1963 | realistic fiction, multiple meanings humor | |
| Down Comes the Rain | Franklyn M. Branley | 1963 | nonfiction |
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| Drop out | Jeannette Eyerly | 1963 | realistic fiction dropouts | |
| Polite Elephant | Richard Scarry | 1963 | Overly didactic and preachy |
animal fantasy manners |
| It's Like This, Cat | Emily Neville | 1963 | This is a story of a boy - Dave Mitchell- 14 who is growing up in New York City. The setting transports the reader through various places that would be familiar to adolescents that grew up in NY City in the 60 s. His love of a stray tomcat, complications he has with a 19 year old troubled boy, his adolescent beginning relationship with a girl, and the insight he develops for his father as a person as well as his father. While the setting may be dated the themes are universal and timeless. | realistic fiction relationships family |
| Where the Wild Things Are | Maurice Sendak | 1963 |
Max, a wild and naughty boy, is sent to bed without his supper by his exhausted mother. In his room, he imagines sailing far away to a land of Wild Things. Instead of eating him, the Wild Things make him their king. |
picture book fantasy stress monsters imagination |
| Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? | Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle 1964. | Picture book with torn paper in Eric Carl style. Using repeating question and different answers: looking at me … for a red bird, yellow duck, blue horse, green frog, purple cat, white dog, black sheep, gold fish, and brown bear repeats all. | picture book fantasy animals repeating pattern |
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| Fortunately | Remy Charlip | 1964 | patterned language | |
| Ishi: Last of His Tribe | Theodora Kroeber | 1964 | legend Native Americans | |
| One, Two, Where's My Shoe? | Tomi Ungerer | 1964 | wordless book | |
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Dahl, Ronald | 1964 | Paradox - The characters thought they were not getting anything from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but ended up having their bad habits changed. |
modern fantasy |
| A Bad Day | Ruth Holland | 1964 | bad days | |
| The Alphabet Tale | Jan Garten | 1964 | picture book concept books repeating sounds | |
| Harriet the Spy | Louise Fitzhugh | 1964 | realistic fiction sex roles series | |
| The Giving Tree | Shel Silverstein | 1964 |
Parable of a relationship between a growing boy and a tree. |
realistic fiction imagery love giving classroom management environment conservation science |
| A Baby Sister for Frances | Russell Hoban | 1964 | Frances feels living with her parents isn't as much fun as it used to be since the arriva of Gloria. So after dinner she packs a bag and runs away under the dining room table. |
picture book animal fantasy sibling rivalry relationships |
| The Good Bird | Peter Wezel | 1964 | wordless book | |
| One, Two, Three | Tomi Ungerer | 1964 | wordless book | |
| Arrow Book of Science Riddles | Rose Wyler | 1964 | ||
| Stepchild in the Family | Anne W. Simon | 1964 | Stepfamilies | |
| The Forgotten Door | Alexander Key | 1965 |  A story of a rural (Great Smokey Mountains) American family with family members who are strong minded and caring for all living things. The family is immersed in a maelstrom of action that descends upon them when they befriend a young boy. Jon (12), who appears to have amnesia, when they find him along a road, after being lost in the woods. In their desire to reunite the child with his family they discover his unique abilities. He seems to communicate with animals, jump six foot fences, and communicate with mental telepathy. Trusting too much in the goodness of humans, it isn't long until his abilities attract attention from unsavory elements in our society, who would take advantage of his abilities for their selfish benefit. Shortly before it is too late, the Bean Family (Thomas, Mary, Sally, & Brooks) recognize that their attempts to protect him may be far too limited to protect themselves and the child. Incredibly fun to read aloud to middle grade learners with its fast paced action packed thrilling plot that listeners won't let you stop until you get to the surprising heartwarming end. However, be sure to schedule time for the deep thought provoking discussion that listeners will surly want about stereotypes, discrimination, treatment of people who are different and how to deal with it all. A truly cutting edge plot that is timely for its time and now. Alexander Key also wrote Escape to Witch Mountain (1968) Disney movie 1975 & 1995. |
Modern fantasy realistic fiction science fiction peace helping humans multicultural aliens space visitors interdimensional travel bigotry stereotypes fear of unknown |
| The Noonday Friends | Mary Stolz | 1965 | rea;ostoc foctopm |
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| The Story Telling Stone | Susan Feldman | 1965 | Native American | |
| Just Me | Marie Hall Ets | 1965 | picture book |
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| Over Sea, Under Stone | Susan Cooper | 1965 | ||
| What whiskers did | Ruth Carroll | 1965 | picture book wordless book | |
| Camilla | Madeleine L'Engle | 1965 | realistic fiction |
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| The Abraham Lincoln Joke Book | Beatrice S. de Regniers | 1965 | collection of jokes Lincoln | |
| Why Did He Die? | A. Harvis | 1965 | Death | |
| Across five Aprils | Irene Hunt | 1965 | historical fiction war | |
| Tunnel Through Time | Lester Del Rey | 1966 | science fiction |
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| Nothing ever happens on My block | Ellen Raskin | 1966 | picture book imagination boredom bored | |
| A Country of Strangers | Conrad Richter | 1966 |
Chronicle of a White girl, captive of Native Americans, is rescued and returned, against her will, to her white home. Her reception and rejection of her and her Native son are themes in the story. |
historical fiction Native Americans mixed family |
| Sam, Bangs and Moonshine | Evaline Ness | 1966 | Samantha (Sam) a fisherman's daughter dreams rich and lovely dreams, which her father calls, moonshine. However, her tall tales bring disaster. From which she learns to distinguish moonshine from reality. |
picture book realistic fiction lying Caldecott medal |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | E. L. Konigsburg | 1967 | M-F letter to lawyer. Claudia Kincaid bored straight A run away injustice plot Jamie- money- break out Weds. Hide bus train Manhattan- go Art Museum. Museum lunch wonder out in part of team now. Hide restroom sleep bed. Next day steal paper make statue research item eat lunch part of group but not some people do this all too well Saxonberg. Wash clothes grey research Michaellangelo Bath fountain (close call restroom here moving angel. Bring Mona Lisa. See statue footsteps back velvet statue sit on 3 circles W no M. Write letter Museum send get P.O. Box Letter see Jamie's 3rd grade knew about and more lunch Formington, Mrs. F.- Buy ticket without asking price, take Taxi how find in bus and that s how Mrs. Fenters story. Get letter knew about and more lunch Formington. Mrs. F.- Buy ticket w/o asking price, Take taxi how find in bus and that s how Mrs. F enters story. Give step taxi broke at Mrs. F. traded safety for adventure. She makes them wait then turns around and asks if ones missing for a week? Want to know if carved that s our secret. Jamie tells while Claudia bathes. Plan run out like home but away. Tell me all about and I ll give ride home. No. Bargaining power, secret discovered? Make deal there s my files answer there find it 1 hour. Jamie start stop. List look nothing 6 men. Bologna where bought find paper by . Finding a secret can make everything else unimportant. Why not sell paper? @ need the secret more than the money. I ll will do it if you keep secret and tell how did it (museum) Claudia secret needs Jamie secret worth boodle. If all files secrets and secrets make diff. inside then Mrs. F. must be most mixed up I ve ever seen. Why planning fun and hiding all secret now has permanent secret. Why not give sketch. They ll question sketch and don t want doubt on what I know. Don t want to know for sure no I don t want to learn new too old. Not always learn just take a days or time to let what know rattle around. Keep kids saxonberg called keep and deliver. Make Mrs. F. Grandmother . Saxonberg their grandfather. She knows S. P. been her lawyer for 4 years (secret). |
realistic fiction mystery problem solving puzzles Newbery winner |
| The White Mountains | John Christopher | 1967 |
Tripods (huge three-legged machines) control the adults of Earth. However, children aren't slaves of the tripods. Will, never thought much about any of this until his time a s a child was about to end. He hears rumors that freedom may still exist in the White Mountains. One of a series. |
science fiction |
| The naughty bird | Peter Wezel | 1967 | wordless book | |
| The Outsiders | Susan E. Hinton | 1967 | realistic fiction adolescent bullies growing up | |
| Evan's Corner | Elizabeth S. Hill | 1967 | realistic fiction sharing relationships | |
| Moon Eyes | Josephine Poole | 1967 |
Kate, her father and little brother, Thomas (5), live in an impoverished state in a grand old house, Harvest chamber (wooded eminence) owned by the Pawleys for 200 years. Afteer his wife, Kate and Thomas's mother dies, he can't paint so decides to go away in the spring and leaves Mrs. Beer and her husband to look after them. In the great old house, with only Thomas for company, Kate is terribly lonely. Thomas draws, cuts paper figures, very intelligent, but didn't talk till age 5. So when Aunt Rhoda appears in the quiet village and introduces herself as a relative, Kate is more than happy to meet her. Thus, begins a deadly struggle for possession with Thomas as the prize. Statue with recent writing scratched in it. First we'll wait, then we'll whistle, then we'll dance together. Afraid writing on statue go with Mrs. Beer to her cottage Thomas tears out page of dog bird in mouth and Burns. Home see black dog in garden, talk Mrs. Beer find out Grandfather's second wife's cottage burn, leave weeks before had black dog eyes like the moon. Rhoda Cantrip comes back. Invite to tea shed has black dog. 2 Whisthing. Rhoda Cantrip comes to stay with Kate. Mrs. Beer jealous, Kate clean room scratches window sill dog? 3 star- trace think dog comes- Aunt Rhoda arrives garden in house blows window out- supper. Thomas behave badly bed- Invite Mrs. Byebegone to supper- Aunt Rhoda puts on show has 3 necklace. Rhoda- I've got Thomas you can't stop what's happening so join us for your own good. No No bed think dog master? Sneak down Rhoda uses book Mistress Bennet familiar with Black dog associated with the kingdom of darkness Aunt Blow out fire? Elizabeth Bennet witch what is Rhoda Cantrip? Go visit Sunday School happy leaf research myrrh home Thomas in bad temper. A Rhoda pond conjure dog Tom draw stars throw clod reflection dog away Rhoda Run house. Thomas whistle answer woods. III. Dancing writes Father Rhoda takes postcard Kate searches Rhoda s room notebook school cry talk Mrs. Byebegone- don t worry- shows book- finds- church window lead amulet and verse- sees Mrs. Beer- Quit Kate- finds Rhoda and Thomas picking herbs- flowers- house Thomas makes flower arrangement with his and flower Kate s John s wort- Shows A Rhoda toplease knock to floor smash run out. Dream Thomas crying wake A Rhoda dress scream you chase it out Thomas was crying takes to her bed. Whistling no school Thomas Aunt Pins flowers on dress lead in pocket take Thomas Block door touch leaf scream as burned leave. Whistling stops walk Kate Thomas chocolate church home no trace Rhoda bath bed no sleep hot noise window dog bed Thomas gone A Rhoda s Room hot dog glow Thomas won't join out by pool. Aunt Rhoda recites poem to huge moon balls of huge dog come take her away Thomas talks statue bird in Hand empty before statue writing gone. Mr. Rawley is refurning. Statue statue but underwater brother? Not sure? It's a statue. |
modern fantasy |
| The New Schoolmaster | Phyllis Naylo | 1967 | realistic fiction understanding | |
| A Boy, a Dog and a Frog | Mercer Mayer | 1967 | A boy and his dog go walking in the swamp. They spot a frog in the water. Can they use a net to catch him? |
picture book realistic fiction |
| Change, Changes | Pat Hutchins | 1967 | wordless book |
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| Jennifer Jean, the Crossed-Eyed Queen | Phyllis Naylor | 1967 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, Visually handicapped | |
| Too Much Noise | Ann Mc Govern | 1967 | science sound coral poetry | |
| Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones | Ann Head | 1967 | marriage | |
| Frederick | Leo Lionni | 1967 | While all the other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick daydreams the summer away. When dreary winter comes, Frederick, the poet-mouse, warms and cheers them with his words. |
animal fantasy classroom management belonging relationships |
| The City of Lead and Gold | Christopher, John | 1967 |
Second in the Tripods Collection (4): The White Mountains; The City of Gold and Lead; The Pool of Fire; When the Tripods Came | science fiction |
| Zeely | Virginia Hamilton | 1967 | realistic fiction African AmericanBlack experience multicultural |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Nitty Gritty | Frank Bonham |
1968 |
Charlie- Mom, Dad, skip school need money. Dad idea poor always poor. Blacks job only jobs for poor. No use getting educated - Charlie dreamer. Mr. Tora comes over good paper A+ should go to college if graduate but not go school. Flunk think father say no go college. Says got to get out of this place. Charlie the healer - dream about with U. Baron. Come horse pin. Favorite pull out lady give 5 hundred dollar bills. Tell Mom go with U. B. mom probably doesn t want kid tag along Cowboy at shine stand get mad U. B. says mad lose cool and cool win. Give burn shine. Breathing man - Leonard fast money ask Breathman, father tell U. B. come keep money but present? Get rid Charlie. Money sell blood. Play Raisin in Sun. Mon trust run off with money trusted. Charlie stupid to trust. Money not work out. U. B. Volkswagon chalky blue. Mayor Charlie-great U.B. U. B. business deal need money. Ask U. B. go with? I ll put my money on it. I don t know? I ll get money well maybe! Shine box kid? $50 no $75 no? Treasure hunt Lot sign deal $50 if quit. Rat Pack- Cowboy-smash bottles steal Brass Cu. Mr. Tora hold money Junk Cowboy fight Charlie hit first phone old money. $5 a smash Lady bug Lady bug- Blood Bank- Collect Lady bugs Fly away home. Sack rip fly out. The Nitty Gritty- need more money Mr. Tora- write Lady Bug story need $30 dollars. Breathing man Glimpse V. Baron doesn t want Charlie. The Brawl- worry fight animal blood- ceaser Come out fighting Captain teach-rooster- fight Shake bag-chicken fight Catch the R bus. Police raid- down town take R bus home $100 lady bug- Uncle oplit tells parents cops. Writes story lady bugs. |
realistic fiction easy read city life being poor |
| Escape to Witch Mountain | Alexander Key | 1968 |  Book - Later a Disney movie 1975 & 1995. |
Science fiction modern fantasy good evil |
| The White Lark | Agnes Sligh Turnbull | 1968 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| Tikki Tikki Tembo | Arlene Mosel | 1968 | fairy tale rhyme India | |
| Let the Balloon Go | Ivan Southall | 1968 |
A boy (12) handicapped by cerebral palsy and overprotected by his parents, he is left alone for the first time. To express his independence he does what he has been forbidden to do. |
realistic fiction orthopedic impairments health problems cerebral palsy realistic fiction |
| The Pool of Fire | John Christopher | 1968 |
Will Parker escapes from the City of Gold and Lead. Where he was a slave for an of alien Masters. He has discovered the Tripods' power and their plan to destroy the Earth. |
science fiction |
| The Littles to the Rescue | John Peterson | 1968 | modern fantasy |
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| Nicholas | Kempner, Carol | 1968 | realistic fiction curiosity being lost | |
| The adventures of paddy pork | John Goodall | 1968 | picture book wordless book | |
| Ramona the Pest | Beverly Cleary | 1968 | behavior | |
| There's a Nightmare in My Closet | Mayer, Mercer | 1968 | realistic fiction picture bookfears | |
| 1, 2, 3 To The Zoo | Carle, Eric | 1968 | picture book counting book mathematics counting number value | |
| If I were a mother... | Kazue Mizumura | 1968 |
A young girl reflects on the qualities of animal motherhood she would follow. Like a monkey that checks behind their child's ears, or the lion that teaches its children to be brave. |
picture book mothering qualities |
| Why the Sun and The Moon Live in the Sky | Elphinstone Dayrell | 1968 | African folk tale pourquoi |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin Seeds | Steven A. Yozback | 1969 |
A boy buys pumpkin seeds and no one wants to share them with him. Eventually feeds them to the birds. |
picture book rejection |
| The Boy Who Wouldn t Walk | Lois Kalb Bouchard | 1969 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, Blind | |
| The magic stick | Kjell Ringi | 1969 | picture book wordless |
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| Stevie | John Steptoe | 1969 | sibling rivalry | |
| The Cheerful Quiet | Betty Harvarth | 1969 |
Patrick searches for a quiet place away from his noisy large family. |
picture book needing privacy |
| Where the Lillies bloom | Vera and Bill Cleaver | 1969 | realistic fiction responsibility multicultural | |
| Where is Daddy? | Beth Goff | 1969 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Sounder | William Armstrong | 1969 | historical fiction multicultural | |
| A Girl Called Al | Constance Breene | 1969 | Overweight | |
| Masada | Gerald Gottlieb Adapted by Yigael Yadin |
1969 |
Professor Yadin: General 1948 won crucial battle: used forgotten Roman road across the desert. 1963-65 day at Masador. More Nostrum Our Sea - Mediterranean Sea Jews/God-no picture on statue: bewildered and unistated Romans, it was said that the holiest chamber in a Jewish temple was an empty room. Great Revolt: Brought down rejoice? Zealots: Masador-Hebrew-fort 100 yrs earlier Herod built. Fear people if Romans left and also feared Cleopatra from here 72 AD-drastic actions 15,000 force 1,000. 3. The Traitor Josephus : Romans: Already victory celebration: no records written. Wanted no one to know about that band of revolt. Record time autumn 72 to opening 73: Records Jewish historian Josephus year 66. brilliant general of Jewish forces Lalile- devote Jew but admired Romans and Roman way of life. Feared death turned sides. Wrote history The Jewish War Josephus probably also liar strange? True? Archeologist try to see. 4. Volunteers: People in Israel get as excited about Archeology as football letter volunteer. 4,000 applicants from 28 countries. Letter p. 18-19 of volunteers. Very chill night very hot day, rough long hours sunset. 5. Mt. in desert 1300 cliffs 1,900 long 650 wide 23 acres.. wells all around 18 high double with space inside could move in them inside 14 wide 30 towers, cliffs only climb 2 places east, west and very difficult east-make path. 6. Setting up camp west part- ramp up move heavy digging equipment up. Best site company but no-dig 2nd best wasn t so Israeli army bulldozed gullies leave near Silvas Company for new one overheaded call ferry and telephone. H2O? truck no good road pipeline. 7. Archeologists at work: slow proves of digging. Stage one lock in. 2. attach stone arrow battering yarn, paper, sword of flame earth behind batter make stronger fire wind turned Rome turn again. Morning attach. 8. Life at the dig: 60 mph winds soaked man, wed nights hot dogs. 9. the Hanging Palace there on north: blocks south wind and soaks most of sun during day light and middle lowest tier offer this protection. 10. The Royal Storehouse-behind white wall long narrow halls few doors-one 6 jar unbroken some 19 bc from Rome. 11. The Western Palace: mosaics on floor of palace Herod have torn up treasure hunters other not. 12. Water in desert: little rain when does tornadoes flash flood 2-Wadis when flash flood built dam aqueducts led to Cliffside 500 ft below summit Masador 2 huge from there carry up to summit in by slaves. Also collected rain H2O on summit. Today 1 aqueduct buried under ramp. Outdoor swimming pool. 13. A log soaked with blood. Masador held by Romans: Zealsts scoled cliffs and captured. Jerusalem war 5 years: batter down walls into city. Romans boated city stabbed to death everyone seen. Burned temple of Jews: one wonder of world destroyed. then gathered up able for slaves drove others into desert to stove 70 AD Jerusalem-rubble parades in Rome Coin: Judaea Capta 14. Zealots on Masada: even though Jerusalem fell: Zealots fought on: Masada: Judea desert. Obligation to God to drive out. Led by Elenza Ben Yair fought at Jerusalem. Lived in casemate room sin wall of citadel: lived very privatively=1000 then Zealot women: cosmetics eye make up bronze mirror, wood comb, perfume, rings, bronze, gold, necklace-glass precious stones gold breastplates set jewels, ancient dice. 15. Faith of the Zealots: ritual bathing pool, zealot schoolroom. Find synagogue-seat-scrolls buried under floor, 2 years. 16. Scrolls found Ecclesiastes: The wisdom of Ben Sira, Book of Tubilees. 14 scrolls. 17. The enemy trained professionals 20 years legion 5, 000-weapons. 18. The Siege-siege of Zotapata Silva built wall all around and posted centuries. 6 thick 2 miles long bridged and climbed mountains east section 12 towers 80-100 yds apart, 8 Roman camps 2 large 6 small total force 15,000 people slaves eat. 19. Central plane in citadel near intersection of North paths on summit 11 potsherd each name on it. Skeleton =20 potsherd shovel around armor young women. 20. The Lot: Josephus described camp on stay badly found as dig weird does change suddenly found fire evidence as shelter internationally smashed staff heaped in throne room King Herod and burned last hours assault. 21. Aftermath: Left garrison soldiers (silver did) behind 40 years and coins found. 5 century AD left 7 century AD no one till today. 22. Masada Shall not fall again. |
historical fiction nonfiction Jewish tradition |
| The Lotus Caves | John Christopher | 1969 |
Setting - The Bubble Marty- Born in Bubble on Moon- 25 yrs. Contract- buddy Paul Tall- strain Reform Earth Gravity. Send back 6 yrs. Early ask Marty Go? No stay- Moon The Great Ballon Crime- Meets stove. Creative all think. Tough-brosh-outcast-Orphan- Go together recreation room paint picture principal balloons fill hot air let out in dome- catch kept out recreation room 1 mo. A key to Adventure- find a key to a crawler take out on an adventure-head for station. 1st station- where 1st outpost of men to moon do look around find journal, worth it (trip?) The Impossible Flower- Read further find missing man. 1st. outpost saw flower went to investigate disappeared, go find crawler no flower or crawler climb to top ledge fall. A storm of leaves- Find Thurgood s Flower- in cave with air also his skeleton-trapped? A face in a dream. Explore down into cace think tree-Move-grow-brain? Lights out? Sleep? What else? Weird dream confess Trees-leaves Balloons-Mr. Shering- Awake-Light Bearded Man. The fruit of the Lotus. Man Thurgood 70 years old? 2068 Talk swim pool. Plant make communicate lights out sleep. The Worshipper- swim- Marty think how leave Steve not yet- Swim island-follow Thurgood see worshipping plant. The Hinge of Memory- Talk Thurgood get talk about boyhood in Vermont dark flashlight- Crowler food bring back Steve- wake feed-idea The Pearl- Talk Thurgood all day miss supper flashlight flash when dark keep up instead sleep talk into helping show way out where plant pushed out minerals go crawler about plough through plant wakes grows tendrils in way smash out Thurgood get nut goes through Mt. What? Pleant like oyster takes in sand surrounds to protect self but in process makes pearl. Plant defenseless against will? Can t bring back- discard food journal ect. Take lumps- Marty- when I m old will regret choice. |
science fiction future machines survival |
| Trouble River | Betsy Byars | 1969 | Television movie Movie available 1-Has an uneasy feeling-Dewey (boy) & grandma (rocking on porch) boy down river making raft grandma call to come eat. Grandma says I feel trouble. Indians around. Pa away and left raft- Rosey B- oar found with Pa earlier. 2- ready to take raft out-hear pony saw back of Indian in moonlight. Dewey attacked the Indian and dog drove him off. Saw red glow horizon Weicik s cabin? 3- Escape by moonlight-fix dog, talk more about Indians, Pa gone 1 more week. Gather things and go down river to Dargans. Take rocking chair. Down river Dewey works hard steering as grandma yells at. Finally make it to dead man s creek, sits down at back of raft and sleeps. 1-hour scrape aground. Grandma off and wade till deeper H2O Grandma complains. Unexpected stop - couldn t stop where wanted to eat, but later did when didn t- eat Dewey looks thinks sees smoke back at cabin Tragedy in Ashes - reach Daragins any time found ashes Wolves stop for night eat sleep dream Indians wake, growl, chari, Indians!! No wolves, growl, jump. Shoot, raft. Rapids help 2 men throw rope ask parents-Martin s, here, baby man saddle horse ready go. Indians- ruined houses, caught them, baby girl. All happy go find oar and someday I ll make another boat. |
historical fiction colonial life frontier life |
| Frog, where are you? | Mercer Mayer | 1969 | picture book wordless |
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| Sylvester and the Magic Pebble | William Steig | 1969 | Sylvester finds a magic pebble and makes a wish that puts a spell on him. Be careful for what you wish as it may come true. |
picture book wishing spells bad luck |
| Lisa, bright and dark | John Neufeld | 1969 | realistic fiction depression teenage mental illness |
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| Birds of a Feather | Baum, Willi | 1969 | picture book wordless book | |
| The Moon Jumpers | Janice May Udry | 1969 | ||
| Summer of the Swans | Betsy Byars | 1969 | Sara Godfrey is going through the worst summer of her life. She thinks everything is all wrong with her, her big feet, her orange tennis shoes, and the responsibility of looking after her brother. A powerful story about strained relationships with family and peers and an added responsibility of a special brother. As if adolescence isn t troubling enough without having an added concern and responsibility for Charlie. While this novel was written and set in the sixty s the issues are timeless and it represents a classic that has had enormous popularity over the years. A quick, easy, and heart touching read. Newberry Medal Winner Sarah is growing through adolescence accepting herself and her responsibilities for her brother. Sara Godfrey - Worries that all is wrong with her. She has big feet and didn t like her shoes so dyed them and they are now - orange. It s the worst summer of her life. Charlie dog Boysie Sis-Wanda Charles sucker talk tent Mother died 6 years Aunt Willie Sara 19 argue ride motor scooter to see swans. Talk about Charlie Pebych class retarded ride with Frank Aunt didn t want Frank ride see if safe. Sara said to old! Ha not 40. let go tells Sara you ll be next with bag on cycle not be looks hands Wanda prettier. Sara go see swans here to take Charlie Aunt gives rolls feed. Mary hair out come in see how cousin will cut it. Tells Aunt made dress not like she wanted. Charlie sits and watches his watch. Doesn t talk Writes alphabet Charlie starts to leave Sara comes Swans Wanda Frank tell Aunt go see baby home 11:00 Feed swans not want go 5 min ok Charlie sick when young high fever dedicated say radis Frank sleep Charlie kick wall Charlie has a button missing asks to sew it too busy tomorrow Shoes - baby blue die-puce. Look out window think swans down stairs door open air unlutch out Told never leave but that quiet still go see swans Lost dogs run scratch confused Charlie gone to hunt lake no Police why blame TV if sew button promise sis didn t watch. Watch birthday didn t want get couldn t tell time got birthday lost stolen Joe Milby found brought back no Aunt did Sara tell what she did to Joe? Fink sign on in school police. Call father won t come. Sam Dad come call tonight Look hill See Joe Milby play ball help? No thief Charlie point you no confused I didn t wait all boys say help tells swans confused hill cry back Mary s go look Mary tells time story boys take watch candy tease Sara come store didn t give watch back Aunt goes Joe s house accuses & finds out Sara & Mary walk up hill see Joe find slipper Mary go back tell searchers Joe go party Mary go Bennie Hoffman Joe maybe. Sara I go look, Joe wait I will do with you hair curlers I m sorry Charlie lost fear morning watch stop try wind break sleep On climb stop nine Call at top Charlie wake call out Find Charlie go home show watch broken can t wind Joe gives him his See swans leave lake but Charlie can t recognize Aunt Willie run Charlie run meet hug. Sara happy at time all summer not know why. Joe ask go Bennies Wanda Sara talk phone call did all night good won t come home tired weekend Life as series of steps Charlie one small difficult step. She just took big step father just |
realistic fiction handicapped growing up responsibility relationships |
| The Cay | Theodore Taylor | 1969 | Adventure story of Phillip (11) who lives on an Island with his mother during World War II. His mother decides to move back to the safety of Virginia and he is separated from her during when the ship they are on is sunk. He sustains a head injury that results in his lose of sight and wakes to find himself on a raft with a black man - a member of the ship s crew and a big tomcat. Days on the raft and months on a deserted island have Philip loosing his prejudice and learning to deal with his sightlessness. A great adventure story and story about overcoming fears. | realistic fiction survival race Black experience multicultural adventure |
| The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Eric Carle | 1969 | See Eric notes The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Most popular book this side of Peter Rabbit ... Eric called it A Week with Willi Worm with no transformation to a butterfly at the end. Publishing House- Philomel (World) and Ann Beneduce suggested to make it more sympathetic and worked for changes in the ending and title. Next, couldn t find a company that would guarantee the holes would line up. Found in Japan. Also a marketing decision to continue to reprinted it in small batches its first several years so as to built it a market. Eric has defended the use of a cocoon, actually only used in rare species, rather than the more common chrysalis. Children on a swing swinging high. helmets or seat belts. Why it is a book about HOPE. You can grow from an insignificant worn to become a big beautiful butterfly. Layering colored tissue paper on white board. First - A week in the life of a worm named Willi. Grew up in Germany during WW 2 - fits with his stark descriptions He hasn t eaten through anything for a long time. ... On Saturday he ate through one piece of chocolate ake, ... on e... one... Countries first picture book museum. Amherst Mass. Lives in Florida and very happy. |
picture book science mathematics butterflies number value |
| Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse | Leo Lionni | 1969 | A charming story that compares a living mouse and a wind up one. Have the children manipulate windup toys in groups. Observe a living mouse Discuss how they are alike and not alike Discuss how they are like other living things Ask how the wind up toys are like and unlike other nonliving objects. |
realistic fiction living non living science |
Books from 1970 - 1979
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish is Fish | Leo Lionni | 1970 |
A minnow and a tadpole are friends and inseparable, until the tadpole becomes a frog and explores the world beyond the pond where the fish can't go. When he returns to tell his friend of the extraordinary things he’s seen. The fish eye's view is creatively illustrated. Bird fish with wings Cow fish with utters Nice analogy for constructivist learning. What are the core concepts needed by fish to create a more accurate view of the world. |
picture book animals |
| Sound of sunshine, sound of rain | Florence Parry Heide | 1970 | realistic fiction physically handicapped blind | |
| Out! Out! Out! | Martha Alexander | 1970 | picture book wordless book | |
| The King who Rained | Fred Gwynne | 1970 | picture book concept book multiple meanings, words | |
| Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing | Barrett, Judi | 1970 | picture book concept book patterned language |
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| Frog and Toad are Friends | Arnold Lobel | 1970 | Spring The Story A Lost Button A Swim The Letter |
animal fantasy friendship mathematics buttons size attributes |
| The flying saucer full of spaghetti | Fernando Krahn | 1970 | picture book wordless |
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| Are You There God, it's Me Margaret | Judy Blume | 1970 | realistic fiction growing up | |
| Gladys Told Me to Meet Her Here | Marjorie Sharmat | 1970 | friendship | |
| Talking about Death | E. A. Grollman | 1970 | death | |
| A Bargain for Frances | Russell Hoban | 1970 | realistic fiction friendship | |
| No language but a cry | Richard D'Ambrosio | 1970 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, Autism | |
| Grover | Vera and Bill Cleaver | 1970 |
Grover (10) adjusts to the changes in his life after his mother dies. |
realistic fiction mother suicide |
| Sing Down The Moon | Scott O' Dell | 1970 | historical fiction Native American Navaho Spanish slavers | |
| The inspector | George Mendoza | 1970 | picture book wordless |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A boy, a dog, a frog and a friend | Mayer, Mercer and Marianna | 1971 | picture book wordless |
|
| Scat! | A. Dobrin | 1971 | death | |
| The lazy dog | John Hamberger | 1971 | picture book wordless |
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| Elephant | Byron Barton | 1971 | picture book wordless book | |
| Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation | Yoshiko Uchida | 1971 |
Yuki Sakane (11) is looking forward to Christmas when Pearl Harbor is attacked. Forced from her home and shipped with thousands of West Coast Japanese Americans to a desert concentration camp called Topaz, Yuki and her family face new hardships. |
Japanese-American historical fiction |
| Apt. 3 | Keats, Ezra Jack | 1971 | realistic fiction physically handicapped- blind | |
| Me Day | Joan Lexau | 1971 | realistic fiction bad day | |
| Over in the Meadow | John Langstaff illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky | 1971 | A couinting song for children based on the original version of Olive A. Wadsworth |
picture book science animals environment meadow poetry |
| Annie and the Old One | Miska Miles. Peter Parnall illustrator | 1971 |
Annie becomes deeply concerned when her grandmother tells that she will return to the Earth when she finishes the rug that is presently on the loom. Annie takes all kinds of measures to postpone the inevitable until she learns to accept her grandmother's beliefs and wishes and move forward in time. | ageism Native American accepting death realistic fiction picture book |
| The Blue Balloon | Frank Ash | 1971 | picture book wordless book | |
| The Don't be Scared Book | I. Vogel | 1971 | Powerful emotions | |
| I Have Feelings | T. Berger | 1971 | divorce | |
| One Fine Day | Nonny Hogrogian | 1971 | picture book Armenia |
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| Feelings | p. Dunn | 1971 | divorce | |
| Nobody Asked Me If I Wanted a Baby Sister | M. Alexander | 1971 | realistic fiction sibling rivalry | |
| Don't Worry, Dear | Joan Fassler | 1971 | realistic fiction being little | |
| Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh | Robert C. O' Brien | 1971 | NIMH has developed super rats capable of human qualities. The struggle of these superior endowed rats to find their way in the world to create their civilization is a classic animal tale with a science fiction flare. | animal fantasy science fiction adventure, working together |
| Mandy | Julie Andrews Edwards | 1971 |
Mandy (10) is an orphan who dreams of a place of her own. Climbing over the orphanage wall she explores the outside world and discovers a small deserted cottage. She works to make it truly hers, then, she gets sick and no one knows how to find her. Except a special friend she didn't know she had. |
Julie Edward's story realistic fiction biography |
| Shrewbettina's Birthday | John Goodall | 1971 | picture book wordless book | |
| The First Four Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder | 1971 | Everything will even up in the end, the rich have their ice in the summer but the poor get theirs in the winter. The First Four Years Laura Ingalls Wilder Harper & Row New York 1971 Begins where These Happy Golden Years Rocky Ridge Farm Mansfield MO Laura s house married to Alonzo Died 1957 page 90 Died 1949 page 92 Born 1885 Dakota Manly courting Laura - She doesn t want to marry a farmer. Tells three years, if not successful then quit and work in town. Farm two houses harvest dinner all men beans hard, pie sour. Bought two horses now plow then horse Trixie No Sunday buggy horses tried Manly horse Fly go horseback riders Five Indians came-smack. Blizzard three days Manly almost gets lost coming from barn. Laura P.C. Good crop McCormick Binder Hail-windows screen Wheat $3,000 ruined- Move back to homestead form tree claim so as to get $800 mortgage. It is better farther on only instead of further in space, it was farther on in time, over the horizon of years instead of the far horizon of the west. 2nd Year Cut hay sell Baley girl Rose Christmas sell hay clock Mr. Boast officed best Horse for Rose no Mrs. couldn t have baby. April Blizzard Dry year yield low price $.50 bushel most too bad considering year 3rd Year Diptheria Laura and Manly caught Royal. Manly s brother came to help. Dr take if lasy Manly woth too hard lags lost use and gradual improvement Dr. bills buyer homestead mortgage $200 so move back to tree claim, stroke paralysis still bother. Sell Laura s pony with school money buy half share sheep with Peter wheat and oats dry shriveled no good cut feed 4- years of Grace 4 years up you call this a success? Just one good crop and we ll be ok. (Mr. Sheldon) neighbor brought sack Woverly Wind- Dust storm-sheep good wool good-later cyclone-into cellar. Baley bog dies spasms-dry summer short hay many sheep fire summer grass for burning. She started stove and must been to close forming success depends on how you look at it. Stack but dry year surely next for fathers top. |
historical fiction westward expansion homestead |
| Hey Dummy | Kin Platt | 1971 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Go and Hush the Baby | Betsy Byars | 1971 | realistic fiction new baby | |
| Touch the earth: a self-portrait of Indian existence | McLuhan, T. C.. | 1971 | Native Americans | |
| The Tenth Good Thing about Barney | Judith Viorst | 1971 | death cat | |
| The Trees Stand Shining: Poetry of the North American Indians | Hettie Jones | 1971 | poetry Native Americans | |
| Leo the Late Bloomer | Robert Kraus | 1971 | realistic fiction growing up slow age relationships classroom management | |
| If I Built a Village ... | Kazue Mizumura | 1971 | realistic fiction stewardship | |
| Two Tickets To Freedom | Florence B. Freedman | 1971 | ||
| Do you want to be my friend? | Eric Carle | 1971 | picture book wordless | |
| Gobble Growl Grunt | Peter Spier | 1971 | Repetition of sounds | |
| The Memoirs of Chief Red Fox | Chief Red Fox | 1971 | Native Americans | |
| Martin's father | Margrit Eichler | 1971 | single parent families | |
| Look again! | Tana Hoban | 1971 | picture book wordless |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Upstairs Room | Johanna Reiss | 1972 |
Annie - When asks her father questions he answers with shh! for all talk related to Hitler. Lived Holland (Winterswijk) 20 miles from the German border. Father cattle dealer Ganses: neighbors 2 parents, old son, sister 2- Sini 16, (foarm) Rachel 21 (1939 graduated from teachers college) and Marie - sleep in maid. Uncle Bram- Cattle business with father Uncle Phil and Aunt Billa (who didn t speak to mom) Must help run away Jews. Why? German Poland Annie 2nd grade Father built house outside town (safe) invade Holland. Notice on tree Jews stop business (Sept) Marie quit because they were Jewish. Therefore, Sini quit to help mom. Rachel was fired. The principal said sorry but Now think go to America, but Uncle Bram-too late. Spring 1941 announcement no Jews allowed in public places, none in school, and then all need an I.D. as a Jew, and start a new school for Jew s Simi as teacher) Harassed at school and on the way home. Move to new house. When move to new house father gets dog Bobbie for her and Jews in town are taken away by the Germans. Put money inside coat. Could only shop from 3-5 when not much left. Had to wear a star on chest made from cloth. Some volunteered to go to labor camp. War with American now 1942 Women could now go to labor camps. Mom hospital not allowed any visitors. Annie had to go to the mayor to get permission to visit mom. Tree-kids camp, give furniture and Bobbi (dog) away. Trains sometimes not go to work camp, Concentration camp, letter for all family to report to train. Father gone. Miss Kleinhonte dies. Rachel s hair goes Reverend Zevall. Annie boy s haircut and sailor suit-bus to Enschede to meet Dini Hannink and bike to Usselo. Mom going to die. Lini dies hair red plucks eye brows. Annie cut hair, takes the bus, soldiers stop bus take a chicken and leave. Meet Lini will stay in one room day and night. Annie and Lini upstairs-Hannink. Mom died. Rachel mother house. Rachel s mother house. Suspect? Move cave new house for awhile two months indoors. Make a hiding place in closet, Opore, Johan, Oosterolds, Dientje. Birthday party for Opore. Afraid Germans come stay in closet all night. Annie go out night. Read in Underground paper about Jews being killed in ovens, trains... Rachel visits from ministers when see is staying, stops where Oostervalds lived ask directions, Johan worried that Oostervald wil blabber Normandy Beg to go outside, go sun strokes. found barn where 10 Jews were kept 10 taken and others thought hiding them were shot. Would Oostervald talk? so Johan got revolver from Heendrioks and shot Oostervald. Germans grab some people and say they will kill them if the killer isn t turned in. break fingers, shoot. Germans move into house. girls stuck on bed upstairs, Annie sneaks down. Johan- aunt, niece (Rikie), Dientjes niece go and get .. stay awhile then all pack and go. Johan scared. Germans taking all to the firehouse. Opoe-too dangerous for girls to stay here. Dientje has a place underground. Johanna came back mad and get them. Sini beg to go out, gets fake papers work as maid. Sini came xmas dinner Annie eat, noise, couldn t move tired legs. Germans take all horses and carts. Johan tells everyone 2 years girls keep not afraid asks for cigarettes and coffee Sini kisses soldiers. Canadians. Rachel came 1 week later to take Winterswijk Sini, no I am dating boy and Annie no I am just started to walk. Sini s boyfriend drove in his car to Winterswijk met father there. Opoe gave hat. Rachel and Sini left and later Annie goes to America. Later took her 2 girls there. |
historical fiction nonfiction Jewish Germans World War II Holland Poland |
| The Daddy Book | Robert Stewart | 1972 |
Describes a variety of activities fathers do at home and away. |
fathers |
| George and Martha | James Marshall | 1972 | fiction friendship | |
| Seven arrows | Hyemeyohsts Storm | 1972 | Native Americans | |
| The midnight adventures of Kelly, Dot and Esmeralda | John Goodall | 1972 | picture book wordless book | |
| A Day No Pigs Would Die | Robert Newton Peck | 1972 | realistic fiction rural farming | |
| The Ant and the Elephant | Bill Peet | 1972 |
The elephant is the kindest animal in the jungle, rescuing a giraffe, lion, and rhino, but who will return the favor when the elephant needs help? |
picture book helping others |
| Leap before you look | Mary Stolz | 1972 | Divorce | |
| A Month of Sundays | Rose Blue | 1972 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Jacko | John Goodall | 1972 | picture book wordless book | |
| The New Teacher | Miriam Cohen | 1972 | realistic fiction new situations | |
| Ira Sleeps Over | Bernard Waber | 1972 | picture book realistic fiction powerful emotions | |
| Julie of the Wolves | Jean Craighead George | 1972 | Miyax or Julie? Thirteen - orphaned and unhappily married she runs away. Hoping to become a modern teenager she is instead cast the fate of being lost on the harsh Alaska Tundra where she must remember a rely on the Eskimo ways to survive. However, the bleak landscape isn t enough to insure her survival without her reliance on a pack of wolves. This and later novel - Julie 1994 explore a struggle between modern and traditional Eskimo lives. | realistic fiction sex roles growing up Native Americans survival |
| On Mother's Lap | Ann Herbert Scott | 1972 | picture book |
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| 8,000 Stones | Wolkstein | 1972 | mathematics | |
| It's Not the End of the World | Judy Blume | 1972 | D\realistic fiction divorce | |
| Anti-Pollution Lab | Elliott Blaustein | 1972 | nonfiction science pollution activities | |
| Anansi The Spider | Gerald McDermott | 1972 | ||
| Unfortunately Harriet | Rosemary Wells | 1972 |
Accidents | |
| Old Dog | S. Abbott | 1972 | picture book death | |
| The Terrible Terror | Edith Battles | 1972 | Being nasty classroom management | |
| High Elk's Treasure | Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve | 1972 | Native Americans | |
| Jimmy Yellow Hawk | Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve | 1972 | Native Americans | |
| Nate the Great | Marjorie W. Sharmat | 1972 |
Nate the Great must get all the facts, ask the right questions, and narrow the list of suspects so he can solve the mystery. |
realistic fiction |
| The Knitted Cat | Antonella Bolliger- Savelli | 1972 | picture book wordless | |
| Chocolate Fever | Smith, Robert Kimmel | 1972 | ||
| Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing | Judy Blume | 1972 | realistic fiction |
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| I see a song | Eric Carle | 1972 | picture book wordless | |
| Science Experiments you can Eat | Cobb. Vicki | 1972 | republished 1991 |
nonfiction science food activities experiments |
| Admission to the Feast | Gunnel Beckman | 1972 | realistic fiction death friend | |
| The Marrow of the World | Nichols Ruth | 1972 | Linda- adopted by Philip s Aunt and Uncle. Philip 2 years older. Call cousin, see ancient city, 40ft. down nothing but sandy bottom. Linda dream wolf_mts circle leave. Bog burn Linda. I knew women kept fire flies jar-sleep creep out lake figure otter for head man s body-merman_tail? Leave. Current stream pull boat where cabin should be lost shore for the rest night. Strange animal, stars all different, see wolf across lake-follow- boat Herne(mt. man type, deerskin, fur) Linda answer in strange language, Philip soon can speak language too notices transition-talk decide follow power of wolf Herue with. Up river row, talk enemy in forest not sure dad held prisoner till died kill now-Kyril Tessarion King and Wizard fought all evil. Cruel women witch Morgan_driven out_vanished she returned build palace forest animal claws felt safe-spent time planning regain lost power. Ramer Kyril pursued her into forest Lake Evaine and rather than surrender, she sank her castle in the lake. Wolf guided good or evil- eagle rope-go get-tree Herne current flow canoe away Follow wolf-shape shifter giant tree- wolf-man-go in Mistress awaits you- fire flies light in jar. You are Morgan the Enchantress? No Mother died by fire by Kyril. I m Ygerno-don t you remember sister. Linda only witch. Means prolong death. Marrow lost Lake Evaine. I too old you make journey for me. The Marrow of the World Witches no soul we die we perish- You get Marrow make me young either lake or dwarves stole get meet me Kyril s place. Then I ll send Philip back and give you sister what ever you want. Leave Wolf show way Linda send back. Arrive Lake- Mer People, down under bubble air find casket open gone for sport we let you come she s dying and can t hurt us remain unharmed. Ygerna- protected (came in dream) on to MTS. Why Ygerna s tree lined Cu? Fire fear. Didn t tell Linda-fear of what she was becoming. Hit head dragged down. Captured (bareth s Twin) Linda touched by child look cause chill with draw screaming. Huntsmen come-3d wolf remains toroh tease Linda- hit head rock fall- Herne threw from loft. Herne followed them force brought boat back not same took it. Followed H2O Linda spell light distance. Leo-Rest think trip show both worlds asks Linda which world is your home. Philip- Don t need witch. Go to King Kyril? No we will follow path laid out for us. Fight minds. Walks away. Go met King Dwarfs- show jewels take to Marrow-down down she has to pick up- earth taste small grain and reasons she lived to a great age- back Departing from Barkan- storm underground- haunted- Linda attack kill RIK Blood. Linda look like Ygerna- sleep fever-what power has she to survive this and H2O up? Philip tells. Your father-mother Morgan half witch. Sister Linda I ll not see mom. Tell her I love her- you will must see king. Split herne follows Linda. Philip go. King is Leo- Linda to witch- very pale, so when, bones, Herne frozen stops Leo you came all this way to protect her would you stop now. Look around torches. Gives Marrow- fulfill your bargin. What bargin? Your world? Ha you promised to restore, my strength you only brought one element need 2nd blood. I wouldn t let you live of your power. Hinged for Linda enter Philip fire. Back King I wanted to met you and check out and you cried a true witch never will. Remained many days. Made Herne. Ranger. Kyril Philip I go back Linda make up mind no human can. Force another not even out of love. White mark around wrist so never severed and if great need may reunite if not will see more deeply visions hidden sorrow and blessings. Wake Hoem didn t say good bye yes did (dream?) Look wrist finger prints Kyrils. |
modern fantasay |
| Spooky Rhymes and Riddles | Lilian Moore | 1972 | riddles | |
| Apples | Nonny Hogrogian | 1972 | wordless book |
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| Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day | Judith Viorst | 1972 | realistic fiction A bad day black and white sketches |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hang Tough, Paul Mather | Alfred Slote | 1973 |
Paul is a great pitcher when he is diagnosed with leukemia. His parents worry about his health and together they have to balance his health and desire to play baseball. |
realistic fiction leukemia |
| Harlequin and the Gift of Many Colors | Remy Charlip | 1973 | realistic fiction friendship | |
| Girls Can Be Anything | Norma Klein | 1973 | realistic fiction believing in yourself | |
| A Wind in the Door | Madeleine L'Engle | 1973 |
Charles Wallace main character 1. Charles Wallace s Dragons- Charles ill? Shot breaths goes dragons-Dr. mention mitochondria farandoles in came from prokaryocytes in eukaryotic cells-have own DNA and RNA symbiotic relationship depend on for OZ. Meg went to see principal about ChW school and fights mother working on the existence of Fornado s : Ch, we might sick: of his. Dragons? Few 2. A rip in the galaxy-farther a way: they saw away out in galaxy series that would indicate matter disappearing, Eat supper argue ChW condition Night Meg out snake, Louise scared drowned, or poof gone. Mr. Jenkins cabin Meg scream, go show ChW outside, listen, see drgaon. 3. The man in the night: I m a teacher and dragon Proginoskes a cerebrums Blajeny give assignments ChW-learn to adapt. Meg pass 3 tests1. you must describe what is Proginoskes will help you. Cabin wait Louise a colleague of Blanjeny she is a teacher that s why she is so fond of Sandy and Denny s one day they will be teacher s too. Back to house Dr. Louise there cocoa hot talk to Mr. Jenkins call teach ChW self defense. Adapt. Darwin? Be was he real? What is real? 4. Progenoskes . Tell progenoskes about Mr. Jenkins think its an?? So back to yesterday see talk father and mother have-father tell evil and write equation see rip in galaxy father tell . Must see Mr, Jenkins back to house breakfast Progenoskes letter. 5. The 1st test: see 2nd Mr. Jenkins? 3rd tell girl time think and they go into building. Echthroi start war they are smoking people not know who they are. Start out Echthori has won a battle when people don t know who they are they are open either to being X ed on Names. Must love Mr. Jenkins X himself if fail and Echtheroi ChW a little boy? Special Try name real Mr. Jenkins talk argue-ChW and Louise Ranger show myself. 6 The real Mr. Jenkins. Think what must take Charles home shoes for Cal, you treat him bad: he only see bad side of you and you him. Pick! House shrink cold rip slashed edges drawn together healed Mr. Jenkins fainted. 7, Metron Ariston Mr. Jenkins awakens all there Meg begs him to come they go to Metron Ariston looks like star rock, talk about size farondola to body: like body to galaxy. Love to create-hate to destroy-ChW whome carry led cold in Mondrion Solar System- an idea of Blanjeny talking to Sporos a farandala. See copy Mr. Jenkins not good sign small large nothingness un name or X all creation ChW farondoler are dying: won t sing? What do? When you get there you will know. Where? Mitochondria ChW! 8. Journey into the Interior: How help? We must live together in harmony or we won t love at all. Large galaxy see birth of star. Small brush with Echthroi and in ChW s mitochondria. Time heartbeat every 10 years rhythm of . Barankoloe can travel motion less motion. Must deepen if not victory for Echthroi s sporas holding back help. 2nd test. Try reach Mr. Jenkins pain she was being X ed . 9. Farandolae and Mitochondria save Meg but other farandolae were X ed Echthroi followed in Mr. Jenkins must reach found him. 10. Yadah-explain all Mr. Jenkins by plants feeling talk, of nail rider last ..sporos 11. Sporos- Mr. Jenkins sacrifices himself sporos deepens Echthrois ente. 12. 3rd talk to save him 12 a wind in the door save Mr. Jenkins go into him and Echthroi s and name Echthroi s no longer nothing- all saved. |
science fiction good vs. evil |
| Lordy, Aunt Hattie | Ianthe Thomas | 1973 |
By finding out what kind of day it is, as well as what kind of day it isn't, Jeppa Lee concludes it must be summer. |
Summer comes picture book |
| Bubble bubble | Mercer Mayer | 1973 | picture book wordless |
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| Black is Brown is Tan | Arnold Adoff | 1973 | realistic fiction African American Black experience multicultural experience multicultural | |
| Frog on his own | Mercer Mayer | 1973 | picture book wordless |
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| Pssst! Doggie | Ezra Jack Keats | 1973 | picture book wordless |
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| Joanna runs away | Phyllis LaFarge | 1973 | realistic fiction loneliness | |
| A Chocolate Moose for Dinner | Fred Gwynne | 1973 | concept book multiple meanings, words, | |
| Me too | Vera and Bill Cleaver | 1973 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| A Taste of Blackberries | Doris Buchanan Smith | 1973 | Tell me the main character for an A. First person Never learn the name of the main character |
realistic fiction death- best friends |
| Summer Of My German Soldier | Bette Greene | 1973 | historical fiction World war II multicultural | |
| Caddie Woodland | Carol R. Brink | 1973 | historical fiction revolutionary war | |
| My Daddy Lives in a Downtown Hotel | Peggy Mann | 1973 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs | Tomie de Paola | 1973 | realistic fiction death, family, relationships | |
| Skates | Ezra Jack Keats | 1973 | picture book wordless |
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| Drip drop | Donald Carrick | 1973 | picture book wordless | |
| The Princess Bride | William Goldman | 1973 | It is every bit as good as the movie. A classic. | fantasy romance good evil multimedia |
| If I Were a Cricket .... | Mizumura, Kazue | 1973 | animal fiction doing nice things | |
| The Slave Dancer | Paula Fox | 1973 | During the the 1840 s in New Orleans Jessie Bollier is playing his flute in the market. Afterward he is kidnapped and smuggled out to sea. Later he discovers his reason for being targeted is so he can play while the human cargo of slaves exercise on the ships return trip from Africa. Fox uses Jessie s experience to write about the atrocities that befell slaves on board such ships as they are transported to America. Not only does she write about the conditions of the slaves, but about the thoughts and feelings of the sailors who were willing or unwilling participants in this passage. While the story is realistic fiction and very plausible up to the ending. It is a children s book which usually requires a positive ending, however there are situations toward the end that move from plausible toward maybe possible. Still an easy read for middle school, a history everyone should know, and a story with a compelling plot and well developed characters where their struggle with their circumstances provide important insight into human nature. Newberry award winner Jessie Bollier Mother seamstress Betty ill sister mom important dress more candles Aunt Agatha father drown Miss snagboat Shanghaied Claudine played song for that noon and got The Moonlight Purvis home after bit I ll see to it. When? With luck 4 mo. Benjamin Stout Binim Af warns watch Nick Spark & answer everything captain asks even if must lie found illegal trade U.S. Britian all get port of take Cawthorne ehanges large cauldron, whip 9 knotted chords, Purvis steals egg flogged no Stout stole Speck Spark saw me, why didn t tell, Purvis? Time for captain to remind the men Africa listen to talks about legalities and illegalities how get shames load, dance, run slaves on board slump & die kick make drink, throw girl overboard, young boy Play for slaves, miserable lot, notice one boy watch. Refuse to play refuse order lash 5 times. Sadere Purvis coolly help blks give kids extra rations from theirs Spark drove women mad they threw over b. tells name boy. Sadere dies-fever Ned sick says wages of sin Park attact by blk. Strngh blk whipped hung arms Spark up shoo aim gun captian bound thrown over board walk 3 steps H20. killed 8 more dies life (kid down hold) throw him down after boy finds pass blks to him. DCuba Spaniard comes boys dress up dance drink Stout Spanish ship Capt finds American start throw all over board. Hide with boy in hatch storm hits close hatch long time hatch opens ship swamped. Beached grab most float kick toward shore long time. Old Blk Man find on shore who are Ras L Daniel Ras men take north leave Daniel Home & after back to mom & Betty Aunt changed on his return work dig canal then apprenticed apothecary N to R.I. Family fight civil war Andersonith 3 years family hate music could all blk dance. |
historical fiction prejudice African American black experience multicultural slavery |
| The Dark Is Rising | Susan Cooper | 1973 | ||
| True stories about Abraham Lincoln | Ruth Gross | 1973 | nonfiction Lincoln | |
| A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich | Alice Childress | 1973 | realistic fiction drugs written from different points of view multicultural | |
| Cathedral | David Macaulay | 1973 | nonfiction Europe, medieval, building, architecture, structures | |
| Grownups cry too | N. Hazen | 1973 | Powerful emotions, | |
| Benjamin and Tulip | Rosemary Wells | 1973 |
picture book raccoons bullying sex roles | |
| 41 Science Projects with Electrons | Alfred Bender | 1973 | nonfiction science, electron, activities | |
| Have you seen my cat? | Eric Carle | 1973 | picture book wordless | |
| Noisy Nora | Rosemary Wells | 1973 |
It's tough being the middle mouse. No one pays attention to Nora, so she decides to be noticed by making noise. Will the family find a noisy Nora better? |
picture book getting attention |
| The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring | Lucille Clifton | 1973 | Black experience | |
| The sleepless day | John Hamberger | 1973 | picture book wordless |
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| Morris Brookside, a dog | Marjorie W. Sharmat | 1973 |
Accepting friend's decision | |
| Things I hate! | Elizabeth Wittels | 1973 |
A boy describes, in verse, things he likes and dislikes. Such as shopping, visiting the dentist, going to school ... |
Seeing both sides of a situation |
| What can she be? (series) | G. Goldenreich | 1973 | Sex roles |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A hospital story | Stein, S. B. | 1974 | Illness | |
| M. C. Higgins the Great | Virginia Hamilton | 1974 |
Mayo Cornelius Higgins dreams of escape for himself and his family from their home beside a recently strip mine in their Kentucky town. Two strangers arrive at Sarah's Mountain. While they enable their dream? |
African American black experience multicultural |
| Betrayed | Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve | 1974 |
Describes the events of a Santee Indian raid on the Lake Shetek, Minnesota, settlement and the fate of the captives. |
Native Americans Minnesota Santee Sioux |
| Handtalk-an abc of Finger Spelling and Sign Language | Remy Charlip and Mary Beth Miller | 1974 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| Where the Sidewalk Ends | Shel Silverstein | 1974 | The most loved children's anthology of poems ever written. | poem anthology poetry |
| When thunders spoke | Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve | 1974 | Native Americans | |
| Thank You, Jackie Robinson | Cohen, Barbara | 1974 | realistic fiction death of a friend multicultural | |
| First snow | Helen Coutant | 1974 | realistic fiction death | |
| Philip Hall likes me. I reckon maybe | Bette Greene | 1974 | realistic fiction sex roles | |
| Sally Can't See | Palle Peterson | 1974 | realistic fiction physically handicapped blind | |
| Joey | Joseph J. Deacon | 1974 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, Cerebral palsy | |
| Watch out for the Chicken Feet in your Soup | Tomie de Paola | 1974 |
A young boy is worried about being embaraced by his old-fashioned Italian grandmother when his friend visits. However, when they get along so well, he gains new understneings of her. |
realistic fiction being ashamed of your family |
| Run, Shelley, run! | Gertrude Samuels | 1974 | Running away | |
| He's my brother | Lasker, Joe | 1974 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Don't Feel Sorry for Paul | Bernard Wolf | 1974 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| Figgs & Phantoms | Ellen Raskin | 1974 | ||
| Oliver | Kraus, Robert | 1974 | realistic fiction making your own decisions | |
| Greenwitch | Cooper, Susan | 1974 | ||
| My Brother Sam Is Dead | James and Christopher Collier | 1974 | historical fiction human cost of war American | |
| Two moral tales | Mercer Mayer | 1974 | picture book wordless |
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| Everybody Needs a Rock | Byrd Baylor | 1974 | realistic fiction safety recommended | |
| Frog goes to dinner | Mercer Mayer | 1974 | picture book wordless |
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| City | David Macaulay | 1974 | Story and sketches that accurately and with detail describe the construction of a Roman City. | nonfiction Europe Roman building, architecture structures |
| The Great Vitamin Mystery | Marvin Martin | 1974 | Short stories about discoveries of vitamins over the years. A pretty good read aloud that has good nutritional value as well as a perspective of science and its historical aspects. See | nonfiction science nutrition |
| Listen for the fig tree | Mathis, Sharon Bell | 1974 | realistic fiction physically handicapped- blind | |
| Clem, the clumsy camel | Virginia Mueller, | 1974 |
Clumsiness wisdom | |
| Squirrels | Brian Wildsmith | 1974 | ||
| Let's Marry Said the Cherry | N. M. Bodecker | 1974 | picture book concept book patterned language pattern book | |
| Free to be you and me | Marlo Thomas | 1974 |
Innovative book that celebrates diversity, challenges stereotypes, and encourages kids to be themselves in a joyful, positive manner, through a collection of songs, poems, and stories to be read aloud and shared with new generations. |
diversity, stereotypes, self, sex roles collection |
| Albert's Toothache | Barbara Williams | 1974 |
Albert, a turtle, claims he has a toothache, but turtles don't have teeth. So does he? |
taking children serious picture book |
| The Gorilla Did It | B. Hazen | 1974 | Powerful emotions, relationships | |
| Rosie and Michael | Judith Viorst | 1974 |
Rosie likes Michael when he's dopey and not just when he's smart. Michael likes Rosie when she's grouchy and not just when she's nice. That's how friends are. When Michael's parakeet died, he called Rosie. When Rosie's dog ran away, she called Michael. That's what friends do. Michael once sprayed Kool Whip into Rosie's sneakers. Rosie once put a worm in Michael's sandwich. They're still friends. |
picture book friends |
| Goodbye, Hello | R. Welber | 1974 | school | |
| Ben and Annie | Joan Tate | 1974 | realistic fiction hysically handicapped | |
| The Carp in the Bathtub | Barbara Cohen | 1974 | realistic fiction Jewish multicultural | |
| He Is your Brother | Richard Parker | 1974 | realistic fiction handicapped autism | |
| The Self-made Snowman | Krahn, Fernando | 1974 | picture book wordless |
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| Kitten for a Day | Keats, Ezra Jack | 1974 | picture book wordless |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Making of the Modern Family | Edward Shorter | 1975 | step families | |
| The Quitting Deal | Tobi Tobias | 1975 |
Mother and daughter help each other give up their habits of smoking and thumb-sucking. | goal setting behavior change |
| Your aunt is a which | Bernice Kohn Hunt | 1975 | concept book multiple meanings, words | |
| The Gray King | Susan Cooper | 1975 | ||
| The Hundred Penny Box | Sharon Bell Mathis | 1975 | Michael loves his great great aunt Dew and the stories she tells of her life as she reminisces with her old box of pennies. The survival of the box comes into question when Michael s mother questions its value. Timeless story about family relationships. | realistic fiction elderly, death, family |
| New York City Too Far From Tampa Blues | T. Ernesto Bethancourt | 1975 |
Tom (13) moves from Florida with his family. A young hispanic boy who tells his experiences living in Brooklyn and his friendship with an Italian boy who shares his passion for music. |
historical fiction Hispanic American |
| I'm Not Oscar's Friend Anymore | Marjorie W. Sharmat | 1975 | Friendship making up | |
| Tuck Everlasting | Natalie Babbitt | 1975 |
 Classic story about immortality. Winnie (11) is mysteriously introduced to the Tuck family. Who have discovered a spring that can impart immortality. She is befriended by a male family member - Jesse (17). The story is a philosophic expedition of the struggles of making choices and balancing emotions, spontaneity, common sense, desires, fear of the unknown, and everlasting life. The imagery with which the story is written is powerful enough to make this story a classic that deeply peruses the eternal subject of life and death and what choices we might make if we were able to choose.Book Film Prologue Mae Tuck set out to Treegap to meet 2 sons Miles and Jesse at the Winnie Foster-family owned Treegap and ran away. Words hub of the wheel. Fern s wheel. Sun hub or calendar. 1. Wood-owned by the Foster s own to center? Cow path around wood. If through-find Grant Ash and Spring disaster. 2. Mae go treegap meet sons; get ready take music box reflection not interest her same for 87 years. 3. Winnie-Foster runs away talk to toad 4. Winnie porch fireflies man Music elf says mother music box Winnie. 5. Winnie catches Jesse making spring-ma and miles come. 6. Kidnap Winnie-take to stream music box claims her. 7. Explain to Winnie that they had passed spring drank, no one dried fell tree head, hunters shot horse, cut knife, didn t get old backpack woods tree with T carved still same, shotgun blast. Live forever, you ll always be a little girl. 8. All go home take Winnie back tomorrow, but man in yellow suit was in bushes and heard it all. 9. Home meet Tuck. 10. Talk how get on meet every 10 years boys go their way move = every 20. 11. Eat, talk about strange man yellow Winnie says tell dad, wants to go home. Pond talk. 12. Talk about cycle of H2O-wheel and Tucks stuck in pond can t move. Winnie I don t want to die, but can t forever stuck like rocks. Pa horse I s stole. 13. Man yellow suit horse-fosters house-I know where they have taken the girl. 14. Winnie try sleep refuse nightgown, Jesse came down offers wait til you re 17 then drink marry me go around world enjoy it. 15. Yellow suit man trade child for the woods. Get constable? No Mr. Foster do it my way. 16. Yellow suit man-constable-go for girl talk tells his woods now constable say um? Doesn t say much else. 17. Winnie fishing with miles talk decides to keep secret throw fish back. 18. Eat pancakes-like party Winnie thinks 17 Jesse? Knock door yellow. 19. Yellow man comes talks of grams strange story of man and family never got older, goes school studies, but can t find anything, so back tracks their route and hers music box, follows hears stay when telling Winnie, is going to sell water much $ to select people. Grab Winnie and run Mae grabs shotgun and hit him over head. Constable coming sees this. 20. Constable takes over orders man to be taken inside take Winnie back and lock Mae up if man dies Mae : Winnie she must never. 21. Winnie-home-happy-man dies-no kidnap-Mae hung? No! 22. Winnie-outside-talks Jesse-gives bottle H2O drink 17 tells break out Mae window-Winnie says put her in to make think her 12:00 meet 23. Bed wonder sleep 11:55 wake leave. 24. window out-Mae good by remember. 25. 2 weeks didn t find Mae and... Constable found at breakfast home why whipped mom ! I loved them. Toad dog bottle H2O on Toad. Epilogue-Tuck come back Winnie died 1948 |
modern fantasy everlasting life philosophy |
| One Frog Too Many | Mayer, M. and Mayer, M. | 1975 | picture book wordless book fiction powerful emotions | |
| Mr. Brimble's Hobby and Other Stories | Eve Rice | 1975 |
Mrs. Brimble bakes a cake, little Willie Brimble finds a useful new word, Mr. Brimble takes up a disconcerting hobby, and Polly Brimble sets up an unusual roadside stand. |
realistic fiction common life events |
| To Live a Lie | Anne Alexander | 1975 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Tom Little's Great Halloween Scare | John Peterson | 1975 | ||
| Talking about Divorce and Separation | E. A. Grollman | 1975 | divorce | |
| Howie Helps Himself | Joan Fassler | 1975 | realistic fiction handicap Cerebral palsy | |
| I Like To Be Me | Barbara Bel Geddes | 1975 | Declares I like me no matter what. |
picture book patterned language self esteem classroom management |
| Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang | Mordecai Richler | 1975 | modern fantasy justice big people little people unjustice being youngTV program ... | |
| Naughty Nancy | John Goodall | 1975 | picture book wordless | |
| Two More Moral Tales | Mercer Mayer | 1975 | picture book wordless |
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| Rachel | Elizabeth Fanshawe | 1975 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| Glue fingers | Matt Christopher | 1975 | realistic fiction physically handicapped stuttering | |
| Anno's Counting Book | Anno, Mitsumasa | 1975 | picture book mathematics counting number value | |
| Who's Seen the Scissors? | Krahn, Fernando | 1975 | picture book wordless |
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| Lost | Lisker, Sonia | 1975 | picture book wordless |
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| The Egg Book | Kent, Jack | 1975 | picture book wordless |
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| Morris and his Brave Lion | Helen Spelman Rogers | 1975 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| After the Wedding | Colman, Hila | 1975 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Nonna | Jennifer Bartoli | 1975 | realistic fiction death grandmother | |
| Petunia's Treasure | Roger Duvoisin | 1975 | realistic fiction greediness, greed, relationships | |
| Please don't say hello | Phyllis Gold | 1975 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, Autism | |
| Small in the Saddle | Mark Alan Stamaty | 1975 |
Animals with hats and boots riding. |
picture book fantasy being small |
| Kelly's creek | Doris Buchanan Smith | 1975 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| Pyramid | David Macaulay | 1975 | nonfiction Egypt building architecture structures | |
| Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears | Verna Aardema | 1975 |  African folk tale |
picture book folk tale African myth mosquito insects |
| All kinds of families | Simon, N. | 1975 | Search for identity | |
| George the Babysitter | Shirley Hughes | 1975 |
Young man becomes the babysitter for three young children. | Sex roles |
| Thirteen | Remy Charlip | 1975 | picture book wordless book | |
| Strega Nona | Tomie de Paola | 1975 | picture book fantasy fable following directions spaghetti | |
| A Friend Can Help | Berger, Terry | 1975 | Divorce | |
| Songs of the Trees | Mildred Taylor | 1975 |
Set during the depression, Cassie Logan knows money is hard to get and food is short. So when Mr. Andersen tries to force Big Ma to sell their valuable trees, she knows they are worth a lot of money, but they have always been a steady source of comfort to her. She can't just sit by, because something tells her they need the trees. |
historical fiction |
| So Do I | Barbara Bel Geddes | 1975 | patterned language | |
| You Come Too | Robert Frost | 1975 | poetry |
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| Quick Science | Sherman and Nina Schneider | 1975 | nonfiction science | |
| The Purple Mouse | Elizabeth MacIntyre | 1975 | realistic fiction physically handicapped deaf | |
| Dragonwings | Laurence Yep | 1975 | historical fiction Chinese-American |
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| What is a Seal? | June Behrens | 1975 | concept book multiple meanings |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bowl of Sun | Wosmek, Frances | 1976 | realistic fiction physically handicapped seeing impaired | |
| Becoming | E. Faison | 1976 | Death | |
| Dig-Drill, Dump-Fill | Tana Hoban | 1976 | picture book wordless |
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| Like Me | Alan Brightman | 1976 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Tracy | Mack, Nancy | 1976 | realistic fiction physically handicapped Cerebral palsy | |
| I Love You Mouse | John Graham | 1976 | picture book concept book patterned language | |
| Hiccup! | Mayer and Mayer | 1976 | picture book wordless |
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| Railheads and Potato Eyes | Cynthia Basil | 1976 | concept book multiple meanings | |
| A boy called Hopeless - By M. J. | David Mellon | 1976 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Ac-hoo! | Mercer Mayer | 1976 | picture book wordless |
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| Eliza's Daddy | Lanthe Thomas | 1976 |
realistic fiction remarriage stepfamilies | |
| The accident | Carol Carrick | 1976 | Death dog | |
| Deep in the forest | Brinton Turkle | 1976 | Wordless book | |
| What about me? | Colby Rodowsky | 1976 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Corn is Maize - The Gift of the Indians | Aliki | 1976 | historical fiction Native Americans corn history food | |
| Hattie Rabbit | Dick Gackenback | 1976 | animal fantasy being ashamed of your family friendship relationships | |
| hist whist | e.. e. cummings | 1976 | poetry |
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| An Edwardian Summer | John Goodall | 1976 | picture book wordless book | |
| Yagua days | Cruz Martel | 1976 |
A Puerto Rican boy living in New York makes his first trip to Puerto Rico where he learns about yagua days. |
Hispanic American |
| A Button in Her Ear | Ada B. Litchfield | 1976 | physically handicapped | |
| Crow Boy | Taro Yashima | 1976 | Chibi means little Not my notes C. Nester notes Crow Boy by Taro Yashima is a story of a little boy who is timid and small and made fun of by his classmates. He is very close with nature and his surroundings. With the help of a good teacher, he is able to gain confidence and when he performs crow calls in front of the school, he wins over his classmates' respect. The story is written in the 3rd person viewpoint; however whenever the classmates are mentioned the reader is included. For example, "in our class," "we were in the 6th grade," and "Every one of us cried." This makes the reader a part of the story, but not the protagonist; it forces us to ridicule the main character and learn to appreciate him as well. There is very little text, as the illustrations tell the story. The title page provides the setting with the title written on a blackboard, with Japanese words beside it. We now know the story takes place in a Japanese school. The illustrations are done in detail but not perfect. The lines are jagged, not smooth; the illustrations look like Japanese writing or pictures you might see in a Chinese restaurant. The first picture already places a burden on Chibi. He is hiding from the others, under the school, and already the other children are looking at him -- all of them, through the windows, noticing he is different. The following page is similar -- the teacher on the left page, the children above Chibi on the right, all of them looking down on him, and Chibi, all alone in the corner, so outcasted that he doesn't even get a colored background, it's as though he doesn't exist. Chibi is all alone when the children study and play; even on class trips, he is at the end of the line of children, forgotten. The next page shows Chibi creating his own world, crossing his eyes. This is depicted by circling him in a yellow frame; in his world he is in the spotlight. He sees the other children as the strange ones with his eyes crossed. The next 2 pages show six frames of how Chibi looks at the world. There are no people in any of these frames, a foreshadowing of the fact that Chibi lives out away from people in the country. It also shows how intently Chibi studies his surroundings. When he is on the playground he is alone but above him, in his mind, he pictures the origin of the faint sounds he hears -- a bicycle, wagons drawn by animals and men, and other sounds. He carefully studies nature even though the other children taunt him. To Chibi, school is important; he goes in the rain or sunshine, just as he goes if he is made fun of and alone or not. After five years go by, Chibi is still there and the students have a new teacher. They all want his approval because they all think he is wonderful -- just like the teacher from Chrysantmemum, Mrs. Twinkle -- they raise their hands up for him to notice them. Mr. Isobe takes the children out to the fields and nature and notices how much Chibi knows about nature. Mr. Isobe begins to notice Chibi's talents and praises his small accomplishments. Soon we see timid Chibi standing behind him, far different from when he stood alone. Chibi is suddenly in the spotlight. He's on the stage, in the center of the pages, at the top, while the other students are now isolated in the white of the page on the bottom. Chibi performs his talents of imitating crow calls of all kinds -- now expressing those tiny details he learned to master. Everyone pictured him out in the country all alone with nature. Mr. Isobe explains to the children how he travelled a long way to school every day and a long way back, just as Chibi's journey to become acknowledged was long and hard -- but he stuck to it!! The classmates and people began to respect him and called him Crow Boy. He is now on the bottom to midpoint of the page but for once as large as everyone else and facing the reader, looking the reader straight in the face. The school is behind him. All of the others now face him, with their backs to the reader, and he is on the top half of the page showing dominance. The book ends with the Crow Boy heading out with confidence to become a man. -- C. Nester, Lit 395, Spring 2000 See |
picture book realistic fiction visualization activity third person |
| Much Bigger than Martin | Steven Kellogg | 1976 |
A little boy thinks of all sorts of methods for him to grow bigger than his bossy older brother. |
picture book being bigger |
| Max | Rachel Isadora | 1976 |
On Saturday mornings Max walks with his sister, Lisa, to her dancing school on his way to the park for his weekly baseball game. One morning Max is early, and Lisa's teacher invites him to join the class. Max discovers that dance and baseball make a good combination. |
picture book sex roles |
| Seven Years From Home | Rose Blume | 1976 |
An adopted boy's emotional struggle to find his real parents and himself. |
adoption |
| Lizard Music | Daniel Manus Pinkwater | 1976 | New Jersey boy follows clues to an exciting adventure with Lizards. 1: mom-dad argue: Colorado get away, Sister Leslie (17) - go trip Cape Cod be back before mom dad. Type 10 letters on Leslie s stationary; love Leslie mail one a day. Watch TV., Sci Fi, lizard band sister fell asleep on couch 2: Try smoking- look listening no lizard show. Go to Hogboro. Chicken man gets on bus- dancing chicken does tricks. 3: Walk town old album modern lizard quintet play Mozart in pad locked store. See chicken man. 4: Claudia chicken doesn t like rain joke about lizard. Then look in baseball glove little green lizardman.(Introduce as Victor) Run rain home soaked. Empty pockets: note Herr Doktor professor Horace Kupeckie PLT. D. (The Chicken Man.). 5: parents call: watching TV: Roger Mudd with lizard on shoulder. Man on street interview: chicken man say hello to Victor. 6: Make list call tv WLIZ station off air, ask Roger Mudd had a lizard on shoulders? Chick buzz Hogboro record cover gone, tape where had been. Bus lizard poster thought real visit zoo ad on bus. 7: Soda fountain Shane Fergassen- watch liz with chick man. # chick man. 8: Zoo Buss. Cab pulls up $1.00-$1.25 Charles Swan-chicken man? Home eat supper-watch TV talk about jail cook dishes watermelon we ve been invaded by pod people. 9: Clairify people pod- no pod. Lizards all channels call C.M. p. 76 names: appointment, explanations no charge Hogboro zoo reptile house, TV lizards pack up go. Quiz you bet your duck feet lead bed. 10: 10:00 mom called woke submarine honk honk dive. Leslie story up late movie, creepy date, call work no. Goes zoo 2 hrs reptiles-guard talk alligators Jones gone outside house chicken man, talk, smoke, 15 names which like best Charles Swan. We have been invaded by people from another planet not people creatures Charlie said. 11: Pod people not from space- Earth people who? Think about it? Pod? Lizards outer space Home pizza Charlie deliver anchovies parents and Leslie don t like eat TV lizards snowy can t see off sleep up. Swim suit garbage bags off to drugstore-Charlie didn t find out Leslie went off and left him - only a matter of time. ____ hasn t heard from Charlie yet. Checks TV channels for lizard broadcasts and tell me when they come Save money for a yellow life raft and looking for a real intelligent chicken. 12: Invisible Island- bends light chicken will guide 12 miles. Force field around, but isn t over TV signals get here-island floats and floated near Hogboro that s why you get picture now. Lizard men live there chicken jump; swim clothes bag under force field holes boat sink Charlie under. Victor? Pull under by ankle. 13: Charlie tells Victor your crazy not listening to guide swim back to Hogboro. Pigeons big as horses Lizard men comes to meet. Charlie never had been here before? How know-Claudia-chicken? Isn t Fergusson with you? How know that? We ve been watching you on TV you re the most popular show on TV. Island diamond hard-Thunderbolt City Human TV popular with lizards watch 1,000;s at a time. Different setup cylinder spin blk rock see all shows and people watching them. Down Volcano cloudy-fog moist all liked Claudia-excited them. 14: Chicken over all doors farmhouse but none on island. Claudia celebrity stay over night Claudia popular they not so? TV close eye cylinder Charlie? Victor no! 15: Must leave tonight because predict island float 100 miles off. Split tour. House ideas. Shouting lock in house of egg. (Reyonld 1st left and said stranger come, egg hatch, leader do all sorts of goods things, conquer pods, field fall apart, and house of ideas open flood world make pod people better. ) House of Memory. House of plants- 16: Go to house of memory see memories snake ect. Come back yelling playing neeble neeble neeble. English egg hatched, leave crowded home. 17: See Charlie ___ had medal on ribbon little yellow fuzzy chicken Claudia. I don t know how to raise chickens so me and Claudia will be staying on. I want to too, but know parents, besides you know the legend. The Island gets easier to see so you come back. I ll see to it personally. Only tell Shane Fergusson others think nuts pass board run with it: H2O shield. Turtle Shore. Bag squirrel to our friend Victor, We will never forget you. Reynolds and the Gang. 18: Leslie home few days later mom and dad home on schedule-silver left buckle Indians lizard in turquoise. Didn t find out Leslie went off and left him: only a matter of time. Shave hasn t heard from Charlie yet. Checks TV channels for lizard broadcasts and tell me when they come. Save money for yellow life raft and looking for a real intelligent chicken. |
modern fantasy television alien invasion |
| The Missing Person's League | Frank Bonham | 1976 | science fiction adventure ecology | |
| Rotten Ralph | Jack Gantos | 1976 | animal fantasy cat being nasty relationships | |
| Hist Whist | E . E . Cummings | 1976 | poetry |
|
| Moving day | T. Tobias | 1976 | powerful emotions | |
| It's not fair! | Robyn Supraner | 1976 |
picture book a new baby |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anpao: An American Indian odyssey | Jamake Highwater | 1977 | Native Americans creation | |
| Frozen Fire | James Houston | 1977 | Native Americans | |
| Anna's Silent World | Bernard Wolf | 1977 | realistic fiction physically handicapped- hearing impaired | |
| A Summer to Die | Lois Lowry | 1977 | realistic fiction death of a sister | |
| Big Bad Bruce | Bill Peet | 1977 |
Bruce, a bear bully, never picks on anyone his own size until he meets a small and very independent witch. |
picture book bullies |
| Alligator's Toothache | Diane De Groat | 1977 | An alligator with a toothache who is afraid of the dentist. |
wordless book |
| The Grouchy Ladybug | Eric Carle | 1977 | picture book time size shape friends mathematics | |
| I Have a Sister-My Sister Is Deaf | Jeanne W. Peterson | 1977 | physically handicapped | |
| Noah's Ark | Peter Spier | 1977 | based on a seventeenth-century Dutch poem |
wordless book pairs |
| Night of the Kachina | Nichole Salas | 1977 | Native Americans | |
| Horses, Airplanes, and Frogs | Mark Parker | 1977 | realistic fiction physically handicapped blind | |
| Harry and the Terrible Whatzit | D. Gackenback | 1977 | Powerful emotions | |
| One Old Oxford Ox | Nicola Bayley | 1977 | picture book concept book pattern bookrepetition of sounds | |
| My brother Steven is retarded | Harriet Langsam Sobol | 1977 | Physically handicapped Mental retardation | |
| Jon O., a special boy | Elaine Ominsky | 1977 | nonfiction physically handicapped | |
| Anno's Journey | Anno, Mitsumasa | 1977 | picture book wordless book | |
| Miss Nelson is Missing | Harry Allard & James Marshall | 1977 | realistic fiction appreciation school classroom management | |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson | 1977 | Story where Jess (10) learns about possibilities beyond his own backyard when he is meets Leslie. A true story about friendship, dreaming, creativity, and how we can become what we experience. Figurative language | realistic fiction death of a friend, relationships, fantasy, growing, maturation |
| The Pinballs | Betsy Byars | 1977 | realistic fiction foster children, relationships | |
| The Surprise Picnic | John Goodall | 1977 | picture book wordless book | |
| Ramona and Her Father | Beverly Cleary | 1977 | realistic fiction sex roles | |
| Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes | Eleanor Coerr | 1977 | ||
| Castle | Macaulay, David | 1977 | Story and sketches that accurately and with detail describe the construction of a medieval castle. Great resource. | nonfiction Europe medieval building architecture structures |
| More Spaghetti I Say! | Rita Golden Gelman | 1977 | A monkey asks monkey to play, monkey refuses too busy with spaghetti, second monkey discovers spaghetti and |
mathematics |
| A cane in her hand | LAda B. itchfield | 1977 | realistic fiction physically handicapped visually | |
| The Seeing Stick | Jane Yolen | 1977 | realistic fiction blind | |
| Oops! | Mercer Mayer | 1977 | picture book wordless |
|
| I'm terrific | M. Sharmat | 1977 | Search for identity | |
| David and dog | Hughes, S. | 1977 | Sibling rivalry, relationships |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| That's What Friends Are For | Ronald Kidd | 1978 |
Two inseparable thirteen-year-old friends are confronted with death when one is diagnosed with leukemia. |
death of a friend |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 1978 |
Sixteen people are called to the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. A game loving millionaire brought them together for this last game! |
Riddle game family relationships mystery realistic fiction |
| Mitchell Is Moving | Marjorie Weinman Sharmat | 1978 |
After sixty years in the same place, Mitchell the dinosaur, decides it's time to move. His neighbor, Margo, dreams up ways of stopping him, but can't. Two weeks later, Mitchell's in a new home, but not as happy as he thought he'd be. |
picture book dinosaur moving |
| Toby Lived Here | Hilma Wolitzer | 1978 |
Toby hopes she and her sister will be reunited on her thirteenth birthday. It doesn't happen and she enters foster care. |
foster care adolescence |
| Rocking chair rebellion | Eth Clifford | 1978 |
A teenager retells her involvement with the residents of the Maple Ridge Home for the Aged and their revolution. |
elderly picture book |
| Between Friends | Sheila Garrigue | 1978 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Pancakes for Breakfast | Tomie de Paola | 1978 | Wordless book | |
| Squaw Man's Son | Evelyn Sibley Lampman | 1978 | Billy Morrison's father sends his wife and son to live with her tribe, the Modocs. |
historical fiction Oregon Native Americans |
| Wheelchair Champions, a History of Wheelchair Sports | Harriet Savitz | 1978 | nonfiction physically handicapped | |
| Shark Lady | Ann Mc govern | 1978 | Science, ocean, shark | |
| Stanley and Rhoda | Rosemary Wells | 1978 |
Three short stories where Stanley uses his tactics to handle his toddler sister. |
Being a big brother |
| A Swiftly Tilting Planet | Madeleine L'Engle | 1978 | Charles Wallace main character |
science fiction good and evil |
| Welcome Home, Jellybean | Marlene Fanta Shyer | 1978 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Tintin | Translated by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner | 1978 | Three volumes The Adventures of Tintin Tintin in America Cigars of the Pharaoh The Blue Lotus |
adventure comic art graphic novel before they were called that fiction picture book art |
| The Popcorn Book | De Paola, Tomie | 1978 | History of families, Black experience The history of popcorn |
historical fiction popcorn science mathematics history |
| The Snowman | Raymond Briggs | 1978 | picture book wordless book | |
| A Big Fat Enormous Lie | Sharmat, Marjorie W. | 1978 | realistic fiction picture book lying truth | |
| The Girl Who Married a Ghost and other Tales from the North American Indian | J. Blerhorst Curtis Ed. | 1978 | Native Americans | |
| Six New Students | Franz Brandenburg | 1978 | Six Fieldmice (children) find their new school more enjoyable than they anticipated. |
animal fantasy new situations classroom management relationships new students |
| My Trip To Alpha 1 | Alfred Slote | 1978 | ||
| Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday | Judith Viorst | 1978 | Pencil drawings and a story about Alexander who finds if very difficult not to spend money. His Grandparents give him and his brothers a dollar each on Sunday and the story begins on where the money goes. An interesting tale that adults might enjoy more than young children as it takes a bit of maturity to get the humor or not see the story as didactic and preachy. | picture book realistic fiction money mathematics adding number value money |
| The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses | Paul Goble | 1978 | Picture book Native Americans | |
| Bill and Pete | Tomie De Paola | 1978 | picture book crocodile taking care of your self self-sufficient classroom management | |
| The Biggest Christmas Tree on Earth | Fernando Krahn | 1978 | picture book wordless |
|
| Feeling Free | Anne N. Baldwin | 1978 | relistic fiction mentally handicapped Down's syndrome | |
| An Egg Is to Sit on | Christine Tanz | 1978 | patterned language | |
| The Stupids Have a Ball | Harry Allard | 1978 | realistic fiction being stupid | |
| Sideways Stories From Wayside School | Louis Sachar | 1978 | mathematics | |
| The 13 Clocks | James Thurber | 1978 | ||
| Freight Train | Donald Crews | 1978 | picture book concept book colors trains | |
| The Enormous Crocodile | Roald Dahl | 1978 | picture book animal fantasy crocodiles humor tricks | |
| The Great Gilly Hopkins | Katherine Paterson | 1978 | realistic fiction foster children | |
| The World Between Two Rivers | G. M. Bataille, D. M. Gradwohl, & C. L. Silet | 1978 | nonfiction Native Americans | |
| Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry | Mildred Taylor | 1978 | Second novel in a series: Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Let the Circle Be Unbroken The Road to Memphis Logan family Cassie |
historical fiction African American Black experience multicultural |
| Beauty: A Retelling of the Story Beauty & The Beast | Robin McKinley | 1978 | fairy tale |
|
| Jamie's Tiger | Jan Wahl | 1978 | realistic fiction physically handicapped deaf |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running Scared | Jane Morto | 1979 |
The latest mistake Dave (15) makes is stealing a car for which he is sent to Juvenile Hall where he meets Pat, a counselor determined to help. |
realistic fiction stealing learning disabilities |
| A Scale Full of Fish and Other Turnabouts | Naomi Bossom | 1979 | picture book concept book atterned language | |
| Fast Friends: Two Stories | James Stevenson | 1979 |
friendship | |
| Two Places to Sleep | Joan Schuchman | 1979 |
After his parent's divorce, David lives with his father and visits his mother every other weekend. |
picture book divorce |
| The Big Dipper Marathon | Jerome Brooks | 1979 | Physically handicapped, polio | |
| Laura's gift | Dee Jacobs | 1979 |
Identical twin sisters (13) cope with strict regulations at their private school and a crippling disease, which has stricken one of them. |
relistic fiction orthopedic impairments or health problems |
| Changing images of the family | Tufte, Virginia and Myerhoft, Barbara eds. | 1979 | Stepfamilies | |
| Hi, Mrs. Mallory | Ianthe Thomas | 1979 |
A young girl explores her friendship with an elderly neighbor. Illustrations are in two colors. |
picture book |
| My Sister s Silent World | Catherine Arthur | 1979 | realistic fiction physically handicapped and hearing impaired | |
| The blond brother | J. Geibel | 1979 | prejudice, relationships | |
| Sport | Louise Fitzhugh | 1979 | divorce | |
| Go well, stay well | Jones, T. | 1979 | maturation, growing up | |
| Great Gorilla Grins | Beth Hilgartner | 1979 | concept book repetition of sounds | |
| Literature by and about the American Indian | Anna Lee Stensland | 1979 | Native Americans | |
| Zoophabets | Robert Tallon | 1979 | Repetition of sounds | |
| Anno's Animals | Anno, Mitsumasa | 1979 | picture book wordless book | |
| Robot-bot-bot | Krahn, Fernando | 1979 | picture book wordless book |
|
| The Neverending Story | michaek ende | 1979 | Translated by Ralph Manheim |
shy mystery fantasy |
| Love and Tennis | A. Slote | 1979 | Maturation | |
| A special kind of sister | Smith, Lucia B. | 1979 | picture book wordless book physically handicapped | |
| Tramps like us | Morgenroth, B. | 1979 | Rebellion | |
| My first love and other disasters | Pascal, F. | 1979 | Maturation, love | |
| The Two of Them | Aliki | 1979 | picture book wordless book death grandfather | |
| The S. S. Valentine | Terry Wolfe Phelan | 1979 | picture book wordless bookphysically handicapped | |
| The Young Landlords | Walter Dean Myers | 1979 | fiction |
|
| Fridays | P. L. Gauch | 1979 | Love, relationships | |
| Clunie | Peck, R.N. | 1979 | Friendship | |
| The quiet revolution; the struggle for the rights of disabled Americans | James Haskins | 1979 | nonfiction handicaps | |
| My brother is special | Maureen Crane Wartski | 1979 | mentally handicapped | |
| The Case of the Vanishing Boy | Alexander Key | 1979 | By Roland W. Coryell (Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, Russia or Mt. Vernon, ME USA) - Despite the current abundance of mindcrime and psionics on the market today, I keep finding myself drawn back to this one, now dogeared smudged from rereading. Intelligent science fiction in a kid's book is not something I'm used to turning up - and this book got me through grade school when the only alternatives on my budget were my father's Jung and Kipling. There's no comparison here to Kipling or his ilk - the language is comfortable but not flowery - but in terms of story, as well as a place to come back to, this book remains a good friend. Besieged as we are these days with family values and violence on the telly, my daughter will find this book on her shelf when she begins reading - coffee stains and all. Should I happen to find it at a yard sale or somewhere online, a second copy will join (but not replace) the one I keep under my bed with the family photos and computer manuals All Five people rated 5 stars |
science fiction |
| The disappearance | R. C. Guy | 1979 | Alcoholism | |
| Stepfamilies | Fredrick Capaldi and Barbara McRae | 1979 | Stepfamilies | |
| The rose-colored glasses | Leggett, Linda and Linda | 1979 | realistic fiction isually impaired | |
| Breakfast in the Afternoon | Cynthia Basil | 1979 | Compound words concept book | |
| Gator Pie | Mathews | 1979 | mathematics | |
| Like it is: Facts and Feelings About Handicaps From Kids Who Know | Barbara Adams | 1979 | nonfiction handicaps | |
| The 329th Friend | Sharmat | 1979 | mathematics | |
| Rockfever | E. Rabinowich | 1979 | Drug abuse | |
| My other-mother, my other-father | Harriet Langsam Sobol | 1979 | Stepfamilies | |
| Blue Sea | Robert Kalan | 1979 | picture book concept book big bigger biggest little littler littlest mathematics | |
| Growl When You Say R . | Muriel Stanek | 1979 | realistic fiction hysically handicapped Speech impediment | |
| Tex | Susan E. Hinton | 1979 | realistic fiction abandonment | |
| All Together Now | Sue Ellen Bridgers | 1979 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Feeling free | Mary Beth Sullivan | 1979 | nonfiction handicaps | |
| Where does the teacher live? | Paula K. Feder | 1979 |
Three students discover where their teacher lives. |
realistic fiction curiosity |
| Chief Joseph Leader of Destiny | Kate Jassem | 1979 | Most Americans don't recognize Chief Joseph as a Native American that tried to live in peace, until the United States government tried to move him and the rest of the Wallow band of Nez Perc, off their reservation they were given in perpetuity. Rather than fighting or surrendering he attempts to escape to Canada in 1877. This is the story of how he out maneuvered the U. S. Calvary by traveling 1,800 miles before the army is able to summon troops via telegraph to surround him in Montana. Where he surrendered. His speech has become famous for these words - "Hear me, my chiefs.See National Geographic images to support the book |
historical fiction Native American , I will Fight no more forever chief Joseph war peace pride , relationships |
| Passenger | T. Keneally | 1979 | abortion and pregnancy | |
| Flicks | Tomie de Paola | 1979 | picture book wordless |
|
| A space of His Own | S. Brachan | 1979 | identity | |
| The Sick Day | Patricia MacLachlan | 1979 | realistic fiction sex roles | |
| The running back | McKay, R.W. | 1979 | delinquency | |
| Eric needs stitches | Marino, B. | 1979 | illness | |
| Tyrannosaurus Wrecks: A Book of Dinosaur Riddles | Noelle Sterne | 1979 | riddle book |
|
| Felita | Nicholasa Mohr | 1979 |
Felita's parents promise she will love their new how. Only her grandmother, Abuelita, knows Felita will miss her Puerto Rico and her best friend Gigi. Her new neighbors taunt and tease her and her family because they are Puerto Rican. |
Hispanic Puerto Rico historical fiction |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Slug Who Thought He Was a Snail | Penny Pollock | 1980 |
Sam, a slug, is convinced by a snail that he is a snail without a house, so they begin a search for Sam's lost shell. |
picture book being yourself |
| Once I Was a Plum Tree | Johanna Hurwitz | 1980 |
Gerry's (10) family name was Pflaumenbaum. Which means plum tree in German.Now, it's jusy plain Flam, which means nothing. Gerry is growing up in the Bronx after the Second World War. We are assimilated. Gerry's father tells her. But Gerry struggles to belong to a particular community and to the world. |
historical fiction Jewish |
| A Dog Called Kitty | Bill Wallace | 1980 |
Ricky (10) overcomes his fear of dogs and loss. |
realistic fiction, fear of dogs, death of a pet |
| The masquerade | S. R . Shreve | 1980 | Responsibility | |
| Home alone | Eleanor Schick | 1980 | Latchkey children | |
| The hitchhikers | P. Thompson | 1980 | Unwed mother | |
| One More Thing, Dad | Susan Thompson | 1980 |
Introduces the numbers one through ten as Caleb collects various items to take on an outing. |
picture book counting book sex roles |
| Only love | S. D. Sallis | 1980 | Death | |
| Sleepwalker | E. T. Ellis | 1980 | Belonging | |
| The New Boy is Blind | William E. Thomas | 1980 | nonfiction physically handicapped- blind | |
| Goodnight, dear monster! | Terry Morris | 1980 | picture book wordless book | |
| The turbulent term of Tyke Tiler | Gene Kemp | 1980 | realistic fiction physically handicapped speech impediment | |
| Instant parent | Suzy Kalter | 1980 | stepfamilies | |
| Shadows On The Wall | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 1980 | ||
| Break in the Sun | Ashley, B. | 1980 | divorce | |
| If You are A Hunter of Fossils | Byrd Baylor | 1980 | poetry verse fossils science Nebraska | |
| Bird at the Window | Truss, J. | 1980 | abortion and pregnancy | |
| Fables | Arnold Lobel | 1980 | fable |
|
| My friend Jacob | Lucille Clifton | 1980 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| Jacob Have I Loved | Katherine Paterson | 1980 | Story about a girl that grows up on Rass Island in the Chesapeake Bay during the 1940 s. where families earn a living on the water is fading with each passing year. The story is told in the first person by Wheeze from the time she is 13. It is an incredibly powerful soul baring narrative of her feelings about herself, her sister, her mom, her dad, her grandmother, and several close inhabitants of the Island. As she grows up, ever the romantic, it seems she always wants what she can t have and the story captures her frustration and pain as she matures through adolescents and begins to realize she has more choices for what she chooses if she is willing to accept responsibility. An interesting story about human nature and a way of life that has faded away. Rass Island - I love the Island although for much my life I did not think I did. It is pure sorrow that once my mother leaves there will be no Bradshaw there. Bradshaws lived here for more than 200 years Wheeze - Caroline - twin sister told gifted, went to mainland for music lessons, write a book. Father wounded in war came back and her mother the school teacher fell in love. Younger fragile twin so mother spent time nursing her at hospital and neglected me... I was oldest by minutes and the only minutes that I was ever the center of attention. I had chicken pox and father referred to as old scar face and wondered why I burst into tears. Father needed a son and I prayed I would turn into one... Mother Susan Pearl Harbor summer 1941 McCall Purnell would board my skiff and go crabbing. I was 13 he was a year older. I had delusions of beauty and romance he was pudgy, spectacled and totally unsentimental. He didn t have any friends save me. Hiram Wallace - Captain left for college, came back sailed in storm cut mast - fear lightening- laughed at. left returned... SPY check visit talk jokes.... Cal ... Wheeze afraid if loose her only friend Cal to him. Wrote poem for contest Win contest send a check for $25 and leave the rest to us. . Tore up threw in water. ... 42... Hurricane Captain looses house.. stays with us.. Carline with me Moves into old ladies house while in hospital, out back, where stay? Get married for convenience. Wheeze could never adjust to the fact they were married went to visit with others then couldn t do that... AUnt..ie Braxton Stroke fall break hip... Died Grandma - nuts accused him of killing her with rat poison and Me of helping... Father sent us to our room. Ran out of $ for Caroline s lesson, I had $50 hid and said nothing. Cal dropped out of school and father took him on ... I was jealous of Cal as he was entering the world of men that I would never be able to Visit Captain sis and I wouldn t be proper for either to go alone, play poker and I was glad to beat her butt. Captain missed her singing and she missed her lessons. Trudy left $ I couldn t use it. Music school in Baltimore and enough for Caroline to go... Romans 9:13 Jacob I have loved, but Esau have I hated. --- Jacob asks for Esau s birth right and gets it. --- Mal. 1:3 Please don t mind too much Weeze it means so much to me.. She looks in Bible verse and shows me... God said.... OH so it isn t everyone else picking her over me, it is god. Mom came to talk sense to me about sending me to school in Critchfield.... I wouldn t use my seneses and argued that if she left - after I told her to- then she didn t care and God didn t either.... She left.. Took over fatehr s crabs. after Call left. Helped father crabbing and it was the happiest time of her life. Mom teach since frozen in and couldn t leave. Captain helped with math (didn t want him to) 44 D day Hitler suicide, Call - letter, graduated by passing exam and got highest grade ever. Caroline also - offer to Julliard not home for summer go to Peabody... Parents disappointed, but not me. Hiroshima Grandma change from mom being scarlet women to argamendom end of the world Cal come home.. The go see the captain together... I asked Caroline to marry me... Go to school... Grandma... tells her that she loved the captain he left she waited two years didn t come back and then she married her Grandpa. Could we invite him to christmas dinner? Talk about chopping down mast. OH it is so good to be old .. Youth is a mortal wound. the are happy. Captain tells Sara Louise you were never meant to be a women on this Island, A man perhaps. Never a woman. You can do anything you want... If you just know what it is.. I want to be a doctor. Mom and dad left and when came back they were happiest ever.. Grandma wouldn t quit.... Mother and daughter finally talk. Mom tells her she chose to be here.... Wheez - I willnever stay here and rot like grandma. University of Maryland. nurse... PRE MED too many returning vers... can t catch move pots... went to Kentucky nurse midwife. Ended up in Truitt... clinic in middle of no where... Man asked where you come from U of Kentucy... NO PLACE HOME WHY HERE? Went out house call to tend one of 3 kinds.... look on face when held kids....I knew I would marry Joseph Wojtkiewicz. Told her she was born and raised for Truitt. Has child when father dies.. Caroline goes she can t and mother goes to NY Need to go back and read chapter 1 |
historical fiction relationships Chesapeake Bay |
| In my sister's eyes | G. Posner | 1980 | realistic fiction abortion and pregnancy | |
| The Gift-Giver | Joyce Hansen | 1980 | ||
| Where the elfking sings | J. Wolkoff | 1980 | alcoholism | |
| Superfudge | Judy Blume | 1980 | realistic fiction |
|
| Term Paper | A. Rinaldi | 1980 | love | |
| Far from home | O. Sebestyen | 1980 | identity | |
| Mom's house, dad's house: making joint custody work | Isolina Ricci | 1980 | stepfamilies | |
| A shadow like a leopard | M. Levoy | 1980 | delinquency | |
| Through Grandpa's Eyes | Patricia MacLachlan | 1980 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, blind | |
| The Night Swimmers | Betsy Byars | 1980 | realistic fiction single parent families | |
| The Wuggie Norple Story | Daniel Manus Pinkwater | 1980 | concept book relative size bigger smaller same mathematics | |
| Just between us | S. B. Pfeffer | 1980 | suicide | |
| Gimme an H, Gimme an E, Gimme an L, Gimme a P | F. Bonham | 1980 | dating | |
| Four days | G. Goldenreich | 1980 | abortion and pregnancy | |
| Truck | Donald Crews | 1980 | picture book wordless book trucks vehicles | |
| The gift of the sacred horse | Paul Goble | 1980 | Native Americans | |
| Try your hand | Jane Thayer | 1980 | multiple meanings | |
| Immigrant Kids | Russell Freedman | 1980 | nonfiction picture book immigration | |
| Tunnel Vision | f. Arrick | 1980 | realistic fiction suicide | |
| Arthur, For the Very First Time | Patricia MacLachlan | 1980 | relationships | |
| Solitaire | Liu, A. | 1980 | anorexia Nervosa | |
| The Sixteen Hand Horse | Fred Gwynne | 1980 | picture book concept book multiple meanings, words | |
| Nick Joins in | Joe Lasker | 1980 | realistic fiction mainstreaming wheelchair | |
| Sir Andrew | Paula Winter | 1980 | wordless book | |
| The Knight and the Dragon | Tomie de Paola | 1980 | picture book conflict resolution friendship win win situations getting along problem solving | |
| Button eye's orange | Jan Wahl | 1980 | realistic ficton physically handicapped | |
| The Butterfly Girls | B. Elfman | 1980 | unwed mothers | |
| Tough choices | S. R. Mendonca | 1980 | self | |
| Early disorder | R. Joseph | 1980 | anorexia Nervosa | |
| The Gray Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher | Molly Bang | 1980 | picture book wordless book | |
| Bring to a boil and separate | H. Irwin | 1980 | family relationships | |
| Pop's secret | M. Townsend | 1980 | death | |
| It's Not My Fault | Franz Brandenburg | 1980 | realistic fiction sibling fighting, classroom management, relationships | |
| People | Peter Spier | 1980 | Spier begins with an explanation of the vast number of people on the Earth, that they come in all sizes and shapes, in many colors, even the different parts: ears, noses, lips, hair, and that they all began life as very small. He goes on to illustrate different clothes, customs of play, tastes, varieties of homes, pets, things people like doing, ways of communicating, celebrating, their foods, work, being rich, poor, powerful, weak, different social organizations, and that we all must die. The book has a reference book appearance that is well illustrated and colorful as well as a story running through it with a powerful theme of difference and diversity makes the world an exciting place that is consistently change which we are all a part of for a limited time. Illustrations of people around the world. Celebrates diversity. |
nonfiction multicultural people culture differences multicultural |
| Animals Should Definitely Not Act Like People | Judi Barret | 1980 | picture book animals | |
| Window Wishing | Jeannette Caines | 1980 |
A sister and brother spend a vacation with their fun and unconventional grandmother. | picture book lack experience |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlene | Greenfield, Eloise | 1981 | realistic fiction handicapping conditions | |
| Johnny's in the Basement | Louis Sachar | 1981 | realistic fiction |
|
| Handmade ABC: a Manual Alphabet | Linda Bourke | 1981 | nonfiction physically handicapped finger spelling | |
| Tiger Eyes | J. S. Blume | 1981 | realistic fiction death | |
| Lucretia the unbearable | Marjorie W. Sharmat | 1981 |
picture book hypochondria | |
| Second star to the right | D. Hautzig | 1981 | realistic fiction anorexia nervosa | |
| Let's remember Corky | P. D. Fine | 1981 | death | |
| The Writing on the Walls | Lynne Reid Banks | 1981 | family relationships | |
| Three Days On A River In A Red Canoe | Vera B. Williams | 1981 | A first person documentary with the author (who isn t identified), mom, aunt Rosie, and cousin Sam who buy a red canoe from a yard sale along with two paddles and life jackets. They buy provisions and head to the river. The book is illustrated with colored pencil sketches as if done by the author as a diary or travelogue or documentary of the trip. It is accompanied by a narrative of the trip. Illustrations include the scenery, drawings of the four characters during different times of the trip, illustration of their portage, how to tie a two half hitch, recipe for making stew and dumplings, how to pitch a tent, travel through different kinds of weather, illustration of 8 different kinds of fish, moose, ducks, geese, swans, their canoeing under bridges and into a lake, fishing, and of course back home to end their trip. An interesting book with great illustrations and information for young children the have been camping or are eager to go. | picture book trips river canoe |
| Tales the Elders Told - Ojibway legends | Basil H. Johnston | 1981 | Native Americans | |
| Down By the River | C. S. Adler | 1981 | child abuse | |
| Herbie's troubles | Carol Chapman | 1981 | realistic fiction bullies | |
| Thump and Plunk | Janice Udry | 1981 |
Two sibling ducks, Thump and Plunk, can't resist thumping and plunking each other in this frolicking, tongue-twister story. | picture pbook fighting |
| My Mom Travels A Lot | Caroline F. Bauer | 1981 |
Mother always comes home. |
picture book sex roles |
| Let the Circle Be Unbroken | Mildred Taylor | 1981 |
Second novel in a series about the Logan family. Cassie realizes what it means to grow up black and powerless, but her family stand together, with courage, love and understanding against prejudices. |
historical fiction Mississippi southern America |
| The Voyage Begun | N. B. Bond | 1981 | realistic fiction aging | |
| The Silly Riddle Book | Western Publishing Company | 1981 | riddles | |
| Martin is our friend | Eveline Hasler | 1981 | mentally handicapped | |
| Secret lies | S. Sargent | 1981 | abandonment | |
| Jim meets the thing | Miriam Cohen | 1981 | realistic fiction fear | |
| Hello ... wrong number | M. Sachs | 1981 | self | |
| Traffic, a Book of Opposites | Maestro, Betsy and Guilio | 1981 | concept book opposites | |
| The outsider | C. L. Reece | 1981 | belonging | |
| The Balancing Girl | Berniece Rabe | 1981 | realistic fiction handicapping mainstreaming wheelchair | |
| How I Put My Mother through College | C. Gerson | 1981 | divorce | |
| The Stupids Die | Harry Allard | 1981 | realistic fiction being stupid | |
| The Night after Christmas | James Stevenson | 1981 |
A teddy bear and a doll are tossed in the garbage after being replaced by new Christmas toys who are befriended by a stray dog. |
picture book rejection |
| A handful of stars | Girion, Barbara | 1981 | dating | |
| Chernowitz | F. Arrick | 1981 | prejudice | |
| Lou in the Limelight | K. E. Hunter | 1981 | sex | |
| Take Another Look | Tana Hoban | 1981 | wordless book | |
| Jump, Frog, Jump! | Robert Kalan | 1981 | picture book frogs food chain humans and nature trapping | |
| Now One Foot, Now the other | Tomie de Paola | 1981 | realistic fiction elderly, family, relationships | |
| Sleeping Ugly | Jane Yolen | 1981 | Pretty is as pretty does | |
| More than One | Tana Hoban | 1981 | mathematics | |
| Fellowship of the Seven Stars | N. Veglahn | 1981 | rebellion | |
| Jumanji | Chris Van Allsburg | 1981 | picture book modern fantasy ggames | |
| I'm Still Me | Lifton, B.J. | 1981 | family relationships | |
| Your First Garden Book | Marc Brown | 1981 | nonfiction science gardening life science | |
| This Child is Mine | C. Strong | 1981 | unwed mother | |
| Your family, my family | Drescher | 1981 | search for identity | |
| Friends Till the End | T. Strasser | 1981 | dating | |
| Sunshine | Jan Ormerod | 1981 | realistic fiction sex roles | |
| Please Don't Kiss Me Now | M. J. Gerber | 1981 | sex | |
| I HaveTtwo Families | Doris Wild Helmering | 1981 |
Patty describes her feelings about her parents' divorce and the new living arrangements . |
realistic fiction divorce |
| Jenny and the Tennis Nut | Janet Schulman | 1981 |
A little girl, not ready for tennis, is good at gymnastics. |
realistic fiction being what you want to be |
| Angie and Me | Rebecca Castaldi Jones | 1981 |
Jenna (12) is treated for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and comes to terms with her illness. |
orthopedic impairments health problems |
| Jump Ship to Freedom | James and Christopher Collier | 1981 |
Young Daniel Arabus and his mother are slaves in the house of Captain Ivers of Stratford, Connecticut. By law they should be free, since Daniel's father fought with the Revolutionary army and earned enough in soldiers' notes to buy his family's freedom. But Daniel's father is dead, and Mrs. Ivers has taken the notes from his mother. When Daniel steals the notes back, Captain Ivers forces him aboard a ship bound for the West Indies. Can he jump ship in New York, and travel the long and dangerous road to freedom? |
historical fiction |
| Nobody's Fault? | Patricia Hermes | 1981 |
Emily likes to play baseball and tease her brother, but her happy life is interrupted when her brother has a fatal accident. |
Death of a brother |
| The Secret Everyone Knows | Cathleen Brooks |
1981 |
alcoholism |
|
| Daddy and Ben together | Miriam Stecher and Alice Kandell | 1981 |
Ben and Daddy fend for themselves while Mommy is on a business trip. |
picture book sex roles |
| The Summer Cat | Howard Knotts | 1981 |
A small boy realizes he can't keep a cat he loves, when it belongs to someone else. |
picture book giving up something you love |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard | Bernard Waber | 1982 |
Rather than take sides when his owners break up, a dog strikes out on his own to find a new home. |
picture book divorce |
| Where Do I Belong?: A Kid's Guide to Stepfamilies | Buff Bradley | 1982 | stepfamilies | |
| Child of the morning | Corcoran, Barbara | 1982 | realistic fiction physically handicapped, Epilepsy | |
| You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye | Patricia Hermes | 1982 |
Sarah (13) fears something is wrong before her mother is diagnosed with incurable cancer. Story of family coping with loss. |
death of a family member father realistic fiction |
| Footfalls | E. Harlan | 1982 | sex | |
| Miss Nelson is Back | Harry Allard | 1982 | picture book school classroom management | |
| Who Sank the Boat? | Pamela Allen | 1982 | picture book science sink and float density | |
| Sonya's Mommy Works | Arlene Alda | 1982 |
While Sonya's mother is working, she has to adjust to many situations. |
fiction sex roles |
| So what? | Miriam Cohen | 1982 | realistic fiction disappointments | |
| The Animal, Vegetable, and John D. Jones | Betsy Byars | 1982 |
Clara and Deanie are thrilled about spending summer time with their father after their parents divorce. However, when they arrive he is living with a girl friend and her son. When tragedy happens they all get it together as a family. Typical Betsy Byars easy to read, interesting page turner. |
remarriage stepfamilies |
| Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar | Mitsumasa Anno | 1982 |
Explores multiplication and factorials |
factorials math mathematics |
| Won't know till I get there | W. W. Myers | 1982 | aging | |
| The Rabbi's Girls | Johanna Hurwitz | 1982 |
Moving to a new town, the birth of a sister, and the death of her rabbi father make 1923 a bittersweet year for Carrie Levin (11). |
historical fiction Jewish |
| The Happy Funeral | Eve Bunting | 1982 |
A Chinese-American girl pays tribute to her grandfather as she helps with the preparations for his funeral. | Chinese-American |
| The king of the seventh grade | Barbara Cohen | 1982 |
Thirteen-year-old Vic hates Hebrew school and is not excited about his upcoming bar mitzvah, until he is told he can not be in either. |
Jewish |
| Animals Born Alive and Well | Ruth Heller | 1982 | Animals, science | |
| Friends | Helme Heine | 1982 | realistic fiction friendship, relationships | |
| Mama One, Mama Two | Patricia MacLachlan | 1982 |
A young child lives with a foster family until her own mother is well enough to care for her. | children book foster children |
| Tough love | Phyllis & David York | 1982 | substance abuse treatment | |
| The pig-out blues | J. Greenberg | 1982 | self | |
| Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! | Manes, Stephen | 1982 | Milo Crinkley wanted to be perfect. A book in the library fell on his head. It was titled Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! by Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish. First lesson, things are not always what they seem. Day one broccoli ... nothing more to fear the rest of your life, no fear of embarrassment Second don t eat ... proves you can do something if you want to. Will power. Third do nothing... perfect is never doing anything wrong - which means never doing anything at all. Perfect is boring. |
realistic fiction being perfect, fiting in, making mistakes, fear, embarrassment, self-help classroom management confidence |
| Promises Are for Keeping | A. Rinaldi | 1982 | abortion and pregnancy | |
| Harry is a Scaredy-Cat | Byron Barton | 1982 | nonfictioni fear | |
| Teaching with Eggs | Alfred Devito | 1982 | nonfiction science eggs activities | |
| Moonlight | Jan Ormerod | 1982 | realistic fiction sex roles | |
| Snow | Isao Sasaki | 1982 | picture book wordless book concept book |
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| Mud Puddle | Robert Munsch | 1982 | picture book rumor keeping clean mud dirty clothes | |
| Arabella and Mr. Crack | Dick Gackenback | 1982 | realistic fiction frustration | |
| First the egg | L. Moeri | 1982 | responsibility, sex | |
| The creepy thing | Fernando Krahn | 1982 | picture book wordless |
|
| Just Us Women | Jeannette Caines | 1982 | realistic fiction African American Black experience multicultural | |
| Skinny-Bones | Barbara Park | 1982 | realistic fiction |
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| Dicey's Song | Cynthia Voigt | 1982 | third person Dicey Mother abandoned her because she is mentally ill, hospitalized, dies. Change for adjusting to new life, grief, friendships |
realistic fiction elderly emotional mental illness Newbery award |
| Fox and his friends | Edward Marshall | 1982 | realistic fiction little sisters/responsibility | |
| Eight ate | Marvin Terban | 1982 | concept book skills homophone pairs | |
| Signs of a Friend | Linda Bourke | 1982 | realistic fiction physically handicapped deaf | |
| Captain Hook, that's me | Ada B. Litchfield | 1982 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| The good giants and the bad Pukwudgies | Jean Fritz | 1982 | Native Americans | |
| The BFG | Dahl, Roald | 1982 | modern fantasy giants | |
| She's my sister: Having a retarded sister | Jane Claypool Miner | 1982 | realistic fiction mental retardation | |
| Happily ever after... almost | J. Wolkoff | 1982 | divorce | |
| The Indian in the Cupboard | Lynne Reid Banks | 1982 | modern fantasy getting along prejudice violence Native Americans | |
| A Chair For My Mother | Vera B. Williams | 1982 | realistic fiction saving for something | |
| Sweet Bells Jangled Out of Tune | Robin Brancato | 1982 | realistic fiction elderly | |
| Peter Spier's Rain | Peter Spier | 1982 | wordless book | |
| Have you seen this girl? | S. Dodson | 1982 | child abuse | |
| What's next | Robert Wood | 1982 | patterned language predictions | |
| Miss Rumphius | Barbara Cooney | 1982 | 
When Alice was a little girl she helped her grandfather paint the skies in his paintings, listened to his stories, and wanted to travel to faraway places. When she told her grandfather this he would say that is very well, but you must also make the world more beautiful. When she grew people called her Miss Rumphius and she did travel the world. The story is about her travels and how she did achieve her grandfather's goal of making the world more beautiful, and then the they called her the Lupine Lady. |
realistic fiction environment self growth seeds planting lupins beauty |
| Amanda Pig and Her Big Brother Oliver | Jean Van Leeuwen | 1982 |
Series with three levels. This book has four progeressive stories. |
being little series |
| Anno's Britain | Mitsumasa Anno | 1982 | picture book wordless book | |
| Mitzi and the Terrible Tyrannosaurus Rex | Barbara Williams | 1982 |
Mitzi isn't sure she wants her mother to marry Walter whose younger son (3) thinks he is a dinosaur. |
realistic fiction remarriage stepfamilies sequel |
| Clementina's Cactus | Ezra Jack Keats | 1982 |
Ezra's only wordless picture book. Clementina and her father go for a walk in the desert where Clementina finds a lone cactus, all shriveled and prickly. She will discover something beautiful hiding inside that thick skin. |
picture book sex roles |
| The Divorce Express | Paula Danziger | 1982 |
No one wants to ride The Divorce Express. Especially, Phoebe. It means she will leave her New York City apartment, and her boyfriend, every Sunday night to spend the week in the country with her dad. It means she has to start a new school, make new friends and watch her father go on dates. And neither place will feel like home. Then her mother has an announcement. |
realistic fiction divorce |
| The Fall of Freddie the Leaf | Leo Buscaglia | 1982 |
Freddie, a leaf, grows and matures surrounded by his fellow leaves. He experiences Spring, Summer and Fall, with all of their beauty and majesty. When Winter comes, it is time for him to fall, to die. Eventually he is the last leaf on the tree, stubbornly clinging to life. But eventually he falls and sees the splendor of his tree home for the first time, and although he does not know continue in the circle of life. |
picture book death |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Trip | Ann Jonas | 1983 | picture book concept book read it forward and backward art visual black and white pattern | |
| The Happy Dog | Hideyuki Tanaka | 1983 | wordless book | |
| Raising a Mother Isn't Easy | Elisabeth McHugh | 1983 |
A Korean orphan (11) is adopted by a single woman. Then she decides her new mother needs a husband. |
Single parent families sequel |
| Harry's Visit | Barbara Ann Parte | 1983 |
Harry doesn't like visiting his Aunt Betty and Uncle Charlie. Strange food and play with their daughter Judy. However, things change when their older son Jonathan invites him to play with him and his friends. |
picture book new situations |
| Dear Mr. Henshaw | Cleary, Beverly | 1983 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Sunday's Child | Mebs Gurdrun | 1983 |
Ten-year-old Jenny's new foster mother dosen't live up to her expectations until Jenny discovers |
foster children |
| Thirteen Days of Halloween | Carol Greene | 1983 | mathematics | |
| The Best Bad Thing | Yoshiko Uchida | 1983 |
Rinko is asked to spend a month helping Mrs. Hata, during her summer vacation. One disaster after another during until Rinko discovers things are not always as bad as they seem. |
historical fiction Japanese-American |
| Marianna May and Nursery | Tomie de Paola | 1983 |
Young girl is told to keep her white dress clean. How can she be a kid? Ah! solution... |
realistic fiction sex roles |
| My friend Leslie | Maxine Rosenberg | 1983 | nonfiction physically handicapped multiple handicapped | |
| What's Left? | Judi Barrett | 1983 | patterned language predictions science concept book left right position | |
| The Celery Stalks at Midnight | James Howe | 1983 | modern fantasy |
|
| The Secret Annie Oakley | M. Heidish | 1983 | realistic fiction child abuse | |
| Above and Below Stairs | John Goodall | 1983 | picture book wordless book concept book above below |
|
| Naya Nuki: Girl Who Ran | Kenneth Thomasma | 1983 | Native American adventure freedom slavery | |
| Mysteries & Marvels of the Animal World | Karen Goaman & Heather Amery | 1983 | nonfiction science animals | |
| Mighty Mizzling Mouse | Friso Henstra | 1983 | Wordless book | |
| One Day in the Desert | Jean Craighead George | 1983 | picture book nonfiction science desert environment | |
| Anna's Mysterious Multiplying Jar | Anno & Anno | 1983 | picture book concept book mathematics multiplication | |
| Katharine's Doll | Elizabeth Winthrop | 1983 |
Molly and Katharine are best friends, until the doll, Charlotte arrives. Oh! the ups and downs of friendships. |
picture book friendship fighting |
| Just Go to Bed | Mercer Mayer | 1983 | realistic fiction picture book |
|
| In The Woods | Ermanno and Puricelli, Luigi Cristini | 1983 | picture book science woods environments | |
| The Story of a Little Mouse Trapped in a Box | Monique Felix | 1983 | picture book wordless book | |
| It won't happen to me | McGuire, P. | 1983 | Abortion and pregnancy | |
| The One Hundred Thing about Caroline | Lois Lowry | 1983 | realistic fiction single parent families | |
| Hiawatha | Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth | 1983 | Native Americans | |
| Children of the Wild West | Russell Freedman | 1983 | nonfiction frontier picture book | |
| The Sign of the Beaver | Elizabeth George Speare | 1983 | Outstanding historical fiction about a Matt (13) who travels with his father into the frontier to clear land, build a cabin, and begin to set up their family homestead. When the father determines that he can not wait any longer to fetch his wife and younger children he leaves Matt to await his return. While he is away his return will be delayed till the coming spring. Matt unaware of what lies ahead has a mishap with bees and is saved by Attean and his grandfather (Native Americans). Matt wants to give the boy his book Swiss Fmaily Robinson , but the grandfather has a better idea. He wants Matt to teach Attean to read. Neither of the boys are thrilled with the arrangement, but over the subsequent days that exend into the winter and spring the boys build a strong relationship where Attean teaches Matt Native American ways that become critical for his survival and Attean learns English and how to read. An accurate slice of history and a tribute to humanness that when individuals are involved in shared experiences they can overcome prejudices. | historical fiction Native Americans prejudice multicultural |
| Mill | David Macaulay | 1983 | 
Story and sketches that accurately and with detail describe the construction of historical artifacts. |
nonfiction Europe building architecture structures |
| A Place To Come Back To | N. Bond | 1983 | realistic fiction responsibility | |
| T.H.U.M.B.B. | T. Ernesto Bethancourt | 1983 |
Story of how two friends arranged for The Hippest Underground Marching Band in Brooklyn to march in New York's Saint Patrick's Day parade. |
Spanish American |
| Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? | Bill Martin Jr. | 1983 | 
Classic pattern book and many children s first book. I see a ... looking at me. See everyone knows this book. |
concept book language patterns colors animals |
| Jamberry | Bruce Degen | 1983 |  |
picture book poetry song rhyme |
| Up a Tree | Ed Young | 1983 | picture book wordless book | |
| The Bigger Book of Lydia | M. Willey | 1983 | anorexia nervosa | |
| The Game of Silence | Louise Erdrich | April 2005 | Continuing story of Omakays, Little Frog, an Ojibwa from the first book in the series: The Birch Bark House (1999). The series follows an Ojibwa family on an island in Lake Superior beginning in the summer of 1847. First book Grandmother s Pigeon, takes you through a year with all the seasons. Omakays is 8 winters old. Very good cultural and historical view. |
Native American |
| Burning City | Ariel Dorfman and Joaquin Dorfman | May 2005 | Simmering summer of 2001 in New York City. Heller is the youngest employee of a messenger delivery service that delivers bad news orally. He is the best deliverer of bad news and is allowed to deliver by bike instead of roller blades. He is drawn into a wildly diverse cast of characters and learns to relate to people in a whole new way. | |
| Henny Penny Retold | Jane Wattenberg | 2000 | 
Retell with very descriptive figurative language |
picture book concept book The Sky is Falling rhyming alliteration figurative language |
| Plant Life | Barbara Cork | 1983 | nonfiction science plants | |
| The Witches | Roald Dahl | 1983 | modern fantasy |
|
| A solitary blue | Cynthia Voigt | 1983 | divorce | |
| The Double Life of Pocahontas | Jean Fritz | 1983 | historical fiction Native American Pocahontas | |
| The Legend of the Bluebonnet | Tomie De Paola | 1983 | legend fiction folk tale Native Americans legend, folk tale | |
| A Snake is Totally Tail | Judi Barrett | 1983 | picture book concept bookrepetition of sounds | |
| Anno's U. S. A. | Mitsumasa Anno | 1983 | picture book wordless book | |
| Peter Spier's Christmas | Peter Spier | 1983 | picture book wordless book | |
| Mysteries & Marvels of Plant Life | Barbara Cork | 1983 | nonfiction science plants | |
| Ten, Nine, Eight | Molly Bang | 1983 | realistic fiction fathers daughters | |
| The Story of Wounded Knee | Conrad Stein | 1983 | historical fiction Native American multicultural prejudice | |
| Stepdog | Marlene Fanta Shyer | 1983 |
When Terry's dad marries Marilyn, Marilyn's dog suffers from jealousy. | picture book remarriage stepfamilies |
| Posy | Charlotte Pomerantz | 1983 |
Posy and her father reminisce about what she did as a little girl. |
picture book sex roles |
| Angel Child, Dragon Child | Michele Surat | 1983 |
Ut from Vietnam is kind and sensitive as her classmates discover. |
picture book Vietnamese American |
| Molly's Pilgrim | Barbara Cohen | 1983 |
Molly is a recent immigrant struggeling with her new life. As her first Thanksgiving approaches she helps her third-grade class discover that it takes all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving. Vide tape available |
realistic fiction Jewish |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risking Love | Doris Orgel | 1984 |
Dinah Moskowitz (18) uses therapy to confront her past relationships, especially those with her divorced parents and her boyfriend, to move on. |
realistic fiction relationships divorce |
| Grace | Liesel Moak Skorpen | 1984 |
A cruel practical joke leads Sara, a lonely sixth grader, into a secret, sometimes difficult, but rewarding freindship with Grace, a proud old woman who is afraid her daughter will put her into a nursing home. |
realistic fiction elderly |
| Going Home | Nicholasa Mohr | 1984 |
Sequel to Felita Felita's going to Puerto Rico. Excited about the trip she finds it isn't at all what she expects. Her uncle's small village is boring, and none of the girls want to be friends with an outsider. By summer's end she has new friends and better understanding of her homeland. |
realistic fiction Hispanic American |
| Anno's Flea Market | Mitsumasa Anno | 1984 | picture book wordless book | |
| In the year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson | Bette Lord | 1984 | realistic fiction Chinese-American multicultural | |
| Here come the Purim players | Barbara Cohen | 1984 |
The joyful tale of Purim beautifully illustrated. Purim, (Hebrew: “Lots”) English Feast of Lots, is a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, in the 5th century bce, were marked for death by their Persian rulers. The story comes from the biblical Book of Esther. |
picture book Jewish |
| Ramona Forever | Beverly Cleary | 1984 | realistic fiction latchkey children | |
| Jim's dog Muffin | Miriam Cohen | 1984 | realistic fiction death dog | |
| Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird | Jean Little | 1984 |
Young Jeremy and Sarah learn to cope with their grief and drastically changed lifestyle during their father's battle with cancer, which forces their mother to sell their house and return to school full time. |
realistic fiction death of a family member - father |
| Everett Anderson's Goodbye | Lucille Clifton | 1984 |
Story of a little boy who goes through the stages of grief after his father's death. |
realistic fiction death of family member - father |
| A little love | Virginia Hamilton | 1984 | inferiority | |
| Uphill All the Way | L.. Hall | 1984 | delinquency | |
| Chicken and Egg | Back, Christine & Olesen, Jens | 1984 | ||
| A better safe than sorry book | Gorden, Sol & Judith | 1984 | Sexual assault prevention | |
| Buffalo Woman | Paul Goble | 1984 | Native Americans legend | |
| One Day in the Alpine Tundra | Jean Craighead George | 1984 | nonfiction science tundra environment | |
| Whatever Happened to the Dinosaurs | Bernard Most | 1984 | ||
| Legend Days | Jamake Highwater | 1984 | Native Americans | |
| In One Day | Parker | 1984 | mathematics | |
| 101 Bug Jokes | Eisenberg, Lisa & Hall, Katy | 1984 | jokes science | |
| Soun Tetoken: Nez Perce Boy | Kenneth Thomasma | 1984 | Native American Nez Perce | |
| Geraldine's Blanket | Holly Keller | 1984 | Getting smaller, whole to part |
picture book concept book mathematics |
| Insect Life | Dr. Jennifer Owen | 1984 | nonfiction insects science | |
| The Moves Make the Man | Bruce Brooks | 1984 | African American black experience multicultural | |
| The Mixed-Up Chameleon | Eric Carle | 1984 | spicture book science animals growing-up accepting yourself self-acceptance | |
| The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear | Don and Audrey Wood | 1984 |
Mouse is told that a big hungry bear will come and eat the big red strawberry. Who is telling the story? The mouse? The author? Where is the Bear? Who is talking? And why? See Lesson plan To solve the problem the narrator tells the little mouse to cut it in two and share it. Problem solved. |
picture book mouse bear sharing literary trick first third person narrator problem solving |
| The Free You Starts Here | J. Waine | 1984 | alcoholism | |
| In a Pickle | Marvin Terban | 1984 | skills Idioms | |
| I Think I Thought | Marvin Terban | 1984 | skills Verbs | |
| Centerline | J. Sweene | 1984 | alcoholism | |
| Hi, daddy, here I am | Grete J. Hertz | 1984 | realistic fiction family rituals, relationships | |
| On a Pale Horse | Anthony P | 1984 | suicide | |
| The Mysteries of Harris Burdick | Chris Van Allsburg | 1984 |
Illustrator left one picture from fourteen books with the title and the first sentence or caption. Great illustrations and story starters. A fictional editor's note tells of an encounter with an author and illustrator named Harris Burdick, who provided the images and captions as samples, each from a different picture book he had written. He left with a promise to deliver the complete manuscripts if the editor chose to buy the books. Burdick was never seen again, and the samples are all that remain of his supposed books. Readers are challenged to imagine their own stories based on the images in the book. |
story starters fantasy fiction picture book |
| Anastasia Krupnik | Lois Lowry | 1984 |
Anastasia's tenth year has some good things, like falling in love and really getting to know her grandmother, and some bad things, like finding her mother is pregnant. |
realistic fiction sex roles |
| I Love Hanukkah | Marilyn Hirsh | 1984 |
A young boy describes his family's celebration of Hanukkah and what he likes about the holiday. | picture book Jewish |
| My mommy makes money | Joyce Mitchell | 1984 |
picture books sex roles |
|
| Moo, Baa, La La La | Sandra Boynton | 1984 |
Picture book plays with sounds animals make and don't make. Animals include: cow, sheep, pigs,rhinoceroses, dogs, duck, horse |
picture book board book animals animal sounds |
| A to Z | Sandra Boynton | 1984 |
|
picture book board book animals alphabet book |
Alphabet book with animals and different actions.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hey Kid! Does She Love Me? | H. Mazer | 1985 | unwed mother | |
| Maggie Too | Joan Lowry Nixon | 1985 |
A defensive twelve-year-old comes to understand her father, a busy Hollywood director planning to remarry, after she is sent to her gradmothers in Houston for the summer . |
realistic fiction remarriage stepfamilies |
| Women Who Love too Much | R. Norwood | 1985 | nonfiction effects of abuse on the family | |
| How I Saved the World on Purpose | Susan Shreve | 1985 |
latchkey children realistic fiction | |
| Solomon The Rusty Nail | William Steig | 1985 | Solomon was an ordinary rabbit except he could turn into a rusty nail when he scratched his nose and wiggled his toes. Then when he though I am a rabbit he would turn back. He kept it a secret and startled his family and friends. One day he was hunting butterflies for his colection when a cat captured him. He turned into a nail... the cat found out his secret... cage... pounded in house, ... fire... home happy... told ... promised never to turn into a nail again, unless... |
picture book wishes |
| If You Give a Mouse a Cookie | Laura Joffe Numeroff | 1985 | picture book concept bookpattern book cycles pattern humor | |
| Thomas' Snowsuit | Robert Munsch | 1985 | picture book realistic fiction winter snow snowsuit humor | |
| Wheels for Walking | Sandra Richmond | 1985 | nonfiction physically handicapped | |
| The People Could Fly | Virginia Hamiliton | 1985 | legend African American Black experience multicultural | |
| Stories to Solve | George Shannon | 1985 | fiction folk tale riddle book riddles problems | |
| Dogsong | Gary Paulsen | 1985 | realistic fiction |
|
| Mustard | Charlotte Graebner | 1985 |
death of a pet | |
| Dead Birds Singing | Talbert, Marc | 1985 |
Penetrating, agonizing novel about one boy's encounter with personal tragic car accident and how, ultimately, he learns to forgive. |
death of a family member mother & sister |
| Hello, my name is scrambled eggs | Jamie Gilson | 1985 |
Harvey tries to help twelve-year-old Tuan who is new in his town. |
Vietnamese American |
| An apartment's no place for a kid | Elain Knox-Wagne | 1985 |
latchkey children | |
| Sarah, Plain and Tall | Patricia MacLachlan | 1985 | realistic fiction frontier farming family marriage prairie | |
| Eat Your Peas Louise | Peggy Snow | 1985 | ||
| A very touchy subject | T. Strasser | 1985 | sex | |
| Science & Nature Trivia | Kathie B. Smith | 1985 | ||
| How Much is a Million | David M. Schwartz | 1985 | Number value, money, 1,000,000 |
number value, money, 1,000,000, mathematics, million, |
| Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll | Franklyn M. Branley | 1985 | ||
| Move Over, Wheelchairs Coming Through! | Ron Roy | 1985 | nonfiction physically handicapped | |
| The Remembering Box | Eth Clifford | 1985 | realistic ficiton Jewish | |
| It's an Aardvark- Eat- Turtle World | P. Danziger | 1985 | Divorce | |
| The Paper Crane | Molly Bang | 1985 |
A man owns a restaurant on a busy road and makes a good living until a new road is built that diverts the traffic and nobody comes. Days after a mysterious man arrives and says he doesn't have any money, but the owner makes a meal for him and he pays for his dinner by making a paper crane that magically comes alive and dances! After he leaves word of the dancing crane spreads, and people come to see it and have a meal. The resaurant does well. One day the man returns, plays his flute and flies away on the crane. |
cranes modern fiction fantasy |
| Anna Banana and Me | Lenore Blegvad | 1985 |
Story of a how young girl, Anna Banana, teaches a boy how to dream and live above your fears. A friend once told me this was a Bridge to Terabithia for young readers. |
realistic fiction curiosity self esteem classroom management dream ability |
| Remembering the Good Times | Richard Peck | 1985 | suicide death of a friend | |
| Old Indian Legends | Zitkala-Sa | 1985 | 8 books by Zitkala-Sa (1876-1938) Online ebooks at this URL
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Native Americans |
| Ceremony of innocence | Highwater, Jamake | 1985 | Native Americans | |
| Ask me if I care | Gilmour, R. | 1985 | Drug abuse | |
| The Milk Makers | Gail Gibbons | 1985 | nonfiction milk dairy | |
| Walter | D. Cook | 1985 | sex | |
| Rajesh | Kaufman, Curt | 1985 | nonfiction physically handicapped | |
| The Dark Side of the Tunnel | Naylor, P. R. | 1985 | responsibility | |
| Abby, My Love | H. Irwin | 1985 | realistic fiction child abuse | |
| The Quilt Story | Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola | 1985 | picture book realistic fiction |
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| Father Gander Nursery Rhymes | Father Gander | 1985 |  Traditional Nursery rhymes written from a male point of view. |
poetry equity gender roles sexual stereotypes, nursery Rhymes |
| Invention Book | Steven Caney's | 1985 | nonfiction |
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| Chicken Little | Steven Kellogg | 1985 | picture book fairy tale relationships, telling the truth England | |
| The Castle In The Attic | Elizabeth Winthrop | 1985 | William (10) has grown up with Mrs. Phillips who has been more than just a housekeeper. However, she decides he is old enough to take care of himself and is returning to England. Before she goes she gives him a present of a castle that he soon learns is magical. An interesting combination of reality and fantasy that includes magic, wizardry, knights, castles, dragons and time travel in a great adventure story. William discovers the importance to plan, make decisions based on compassion (gentle heart or ethical reasoning) and the importance of focusing ones talents to solve problems. | modern fantasy adventure gymnastics castle ethical reasoning growing up adventure |
| Easy as Pie; a Guessing Game of Sayings | Marcia & Michael Folsom | 1985 | skills | |
| The Kids Book About Death and Dying | 1985 | death | ||
| Cracker Jackson | Betsy Byars | 1985 | realistic fiction |
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| The stepfamily: living, loving, & learning | Elizabeth Einstein | 1985 | stepfamilies | |
| Bright Shadow | Avi Wortis | 1985 | Morwenna (12), an assistant to the King s chambermaid, has become the most powerful wizard in the kingdom with five wishes and three stipulations: that she can t wish for more wishes, can t use on herself, and can t tell anyone she has them. An interesting thought provoking story between complicated and simple and selfishness and giving and balance yet compact. | modern fantasy fairy tale responsibility burden |
| And don't bring Jeremy | Marilyn Levinson | 1985 | realistic fiction mentally handicapped | |
| The Patchwork Quilt | Valerie Flournoy | 1985 | Tanya getting over a cold wants to go outdoors. Mom sends her to see what grandma is doing. Making a patchwork quilt. Tanya learns what is special about grandma's masterpiece. Time passes as Grandma keeps collecting scraps and stories and making the quilt. Family life and Tanya. When Grandma becomes ill Tanya, with Mom's help, finish the quilt. Grandma gets better in time to help with the finishing touches. History of families, Black experience |
picture book realistic fiction history of families African American black experience multicultural relationships mathematics patterns |
| The Cow Who Fell in the Canal | Phyllis Krasilovsky | 1985 | picture book realistic fiction humorous | |
| Too hot to hoot | Marvin Terban | 1985 | skills | |
| Amy, the Story of a Deaf Child | Lou Ann Walker | 1985 | physically handicapped | |
| Struggle for Intimacy | J. Woititz | 1985 | effects of substance abuse on the family | |
| The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito | Sheila Garrigue | 1985 |
The fate of a 200-year-old bonsai tree is decided by a young girl and an old Japanese Canadian gardener who resists being imprisoned in an internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Sequel to All the Children Were Sent Away |
historical fiction Japanese-American |
| Polar Express | Chris Van Allsburg | 1985 |
The tale of believing told with stunning realistic illustrations that only Chris Van Allsburg brings to picture books. Movie backgrround Art - story mood and tone mysterious eerie word choice |
picture book modern fantasy Christmas Zemeckis Tom Hanks movie |
| Switcharound | Lois Lowry | 1985 |
Forced to spend a summer with their father and his new family, Caroline (11) and J.P. (13) get upset and act out when they are given responsibilities. |
remarriage stepfamilies |
| I Am Phoenix | Paul Fleischman | 1985 | poetry |
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| First snow | Emily Arnold McCully | 1985 | picture book wordless book |
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| I'll Always Love You | Hans Wilhelm | 1985 |
Elfie, a dachshund, and a boy are happy together until one morning Elfie does not wake up. |
picture book death of a pet |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love You Forever | Robert Munsch | 1986 | picture book realistic fiction humor love family relationship | |
| The Love Letters of J. Timothy Owen | T. Greene | 1986 | realistic fiction love | |
| Time Enough for Drums | A. Rinaldi | 1986 | maturation | |
| How Do Ants Know When You're Having a Picnic? | Joanne Settel and Nancy Baggett | 1986 | nonfiction science questions | |
| Pickles Have Pimples | Judi Barrett | 1986 |
Creative descriptions of different objects. |
repetition of sounds concept book picture book |
| On My Honor | Marion Dane Bauer | 1986 |
Joel's best friend Tony drowns while they are swimming in the forbidden, treacherous Vermilion River. Joel is terrified at having to tell of his disobedience and overwhelmed by his feelings of guilt. |
realistic fiction death of a friend Newbery Honor |
| When Mom and Dad Divorce | Steven Nickman | 1986 |
Divorce | |
| Abiyoyo | Pete Segger | 1986 | poetry |
|
| Second Brother | D. Guy | 1986 | Inferiority | |
| Grandpa Doesn't Know It's Me | Donna Guthrie | 1986 | nonfiction elderly | |
| Very Last First Time | Jan Andrews | 1986 | Inuit Native American Eskimo | |
| Bobby Rex's greatest hit | M. Gringher | 1986 | dating | |
| Hush Up! | Jim Aylesworth | 1986 | realistic fiction troublemakers classroom management | |
| The Patch Boys | J. Panni | 1986 | responsibility | |
| Seven Minutes in Heaven | J. Bernstein | 1986 | sex | |
| Whiskers Once and Always | Doris Orgel | 1986 | realistic fiction death of a pet | |
| The Keeper | P. R. Naylor | 1986 | realistic fiction maturation | |
| Opposites | Rosalinda Kightley | 1986 | picture book concept book opposites mathematics | |
| More tales from the igloo | Agnes Nanogak | 1986 | Native Americans | |
| Journey to Jo'burg | Beverly Naidoo | 1986 | realistic fiction |
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| Looking good | R. Krummel | 1986 | anorexia nervosa | |
| 50 Below Zero | Robert Munsch | 1986 | picture book realistic fiction winter snow snowsuit humor temperature below zero negative integers | |
| If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon | Ellen Levine | 1986 | nonfiction frontier wagon plains pioneer | |
| Deer at the Brook | Jim Arnosky | 1986 | nonfiction animals science | |
| The Doorbell Rang | Pat Hutchins | 1986 |  Story about baking a dozen cookies and sharing the 12 cookies, which requires a different solution everytime the doorbell rings and more people arrive. |
picture book realistic fiction mathematics problem solving. |
| Old Enough | Peter Eyvindson | 1986 | Native Americans | |
| The Catalogue of the Universe | M. Mahy | 1986 | friendship | |
| It s Mine! | Leo Lionni | 1986 | ||
| Visiting Miss Pierce | P. Derby | 1986 | aging | |
| Many Waters | Madeleine L'Engle | 1986 | Denny and Sandy in time warp |
science fiction |
| Dinosaurs Divorce | Laurene Drasny Brown | 1986 | divorce | |
| Midnight Hours Encores | H. Brooks | 1986 | realistic fiction abandonment | |
| Up from Jericho Tel | E. L. Konigsburg | 1986 | realistic fiction latchkey children | |
| Give and Take | N. Klein | 1986 | unwed mothers | |
| The Velveteen Rabbit | Margery Williams | 1986 | animal fantasy |
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| Pecos Bill | Steven Kellogg | 1986 | picture book legend tall tale |
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| The Return of the Indian | Lynne Reid Banks | 1986 | fiction Native Americans getting along prejudice violence | |
| Ten Black Dots | Donald Crews | 1986 | Number value to 10 1-1 correspondence, symbols |
picture book concept book umber value to 10 1-1 correspondence, symbols mathematics |
| The Girl | R. Branscum | 1986 | family relationships | |
| The Adrian Mole diaries | S. Townsend | 1986 | identity | |
| The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters | Janet & Allan Ahlberg | 1986 |
This creative picture book includes enclosed envelopes with letters inside them addressed to fairy tale characters that are supposedly along the postman s route. Children enjoy opening the envelops and reading the letters, which are fairly humorous. A ground breaking piece of literature. |
fairy tales letters |
| North American Indians - myths and legends | Lewis Spence | 1986 | Native Americans | |
| My First Book of Sign | Pamela J. Baker | 1986 | nonfiction physically handicapped hearing impaired | |
| Kevin Corbett Eats Flies | Patricia Hermes | 1986 |
Kevin and his friend Bailey conspire to prevent Kevin's father from moving with Kevin. |
realistic fiction single parent families |
| Aviva's Piano | Miriam Chaikin | 1986 |
Aviva's piano is too large to fit through the door of her home on the kibbutz, until a terrorist's bomb provides an unexpected solution. |
picture book Jewish |
| Sheep in a Jeep | Nancy Shaw | 1986 | Story about sheep and a jeep. Who would have thought that a story could be made with with one syllable words that rhyme with sheep and jeep. Really there are only three words in the book with more than one syllable and they each have two. I wonder. How many one syllable words that rhyme with sheep and jeep were used? | picture book animal fantasy repetition of sounds animals sheep jeep |
| The Moonlight Man | Paula Fox | 1986 | realistic fiction divorce | |
| Good Intentions | J. Adams | 1986 | delinquency | |
| The Latchkey Kids | Susan Terris | 1986 |
Callie (11) tries to cope with her new responsibilities when the family moves to a new San Francisco neighborhood and she becomes in charge of her younger brother. |
realistic fiction latchkey children |
| The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks | Joanna Cole | 1986 | nonfiction fantasy science water utilities | |
| Yellow Bird and Me | Joyce Hansen | 1986 |
Sequel to The Gift Giver, Doris reluctantly helps Yellow Bird, the class clown, with his reading problem and discovers a a new friend. |
realistic fiction African American Black experience multicultural |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Birthday, Grampie | Susan Pearson | 1987 |
A story about a granddaughter's love for her grandfather. |
picture book elderly |
| Short & Shivery | Robert D. San Souci | 1987 | fiction scary | |
| The Friendship | Mildred Taylor | 1987 |
Cassie Logan's and her brother's experiences in a small town in 1933, Mississippi. |
historical fiction |
| A guide dog goes to school | Elizabeth S. Smith | 1987 | nonfiction physically handicapped- blind | |
| Icebergs and Glaciers | Seymour Simon | 1987 | nonfiction |
|
| Sister of the Quints | Stella Pevsner | 1987 |
Natalie (13) undergoes chaotic changes when her stepmother has quintuplets and their roomy Chicago home becomes a huge nursery. | realistic fiction remarriage stepmother |
| She's Not My Real Mother | Judith Vigna | 1987 |
Miles rethinks his opinion of his stepmother when she comes to his rescue. |
realistic fiction remarriage stepfamilies |
| No Place for Me | Barthe DeClements | 1987 |
Copper Jones passed between her relatives while her mother is in rehab. When she lands with Aunt Maggie, a witch, she learns seventh graders can have power. | realistic fiction foster children |
| Rosalie | Joan Hewett | 1987 |
Rosalie is a 16-year-old dog who is deaf, and doesn't move fast anymore. Cindy knows Rosalie is close to 100 in human years, so she is careful to meet her needs. |
picture book realistic fiction dog elderly |
| Where the Buffaloes Begin | Olaf Baker | 1987 | Native Americans multicultural | |
| A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns | Ruth Heller | 1987 | picture book concept book skills nouns , pattern | |
| Rabble Starkey | Lois Lowry | 1987 | realistic fiction single parent families | |
| Where's Waldo | Martin Handford | 1987 | riddle book puzzle search find | |
| Where's My Monkey | Dieter Schubert | 1987 | picture book wordless book |
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| Thirty Chilling Tales Short & Shivery | Robert D. San Souci | 1987 | collection of short stories modern fantasy scary | |
| Jimmy D., Sidewinder and Me | O. R. Salassi | 1987 | realistic fiction delinquency | |
| How to Fight a Girl | Thomas Rockwell | 1987 | realistic fiction |
|
| Granddaddy's Place | Helen Griffith | 1987 | realistic fiction elderly Companion to Georgia Music | |
| Wheel on The Bus | Raffi | 1987 | poetry book song book songs to read | |
| Mad as a wet hen | Marvin Terban | 1987 | skill book idioms | |
| Shake My Sillies Out | Raffi | 1987 | poetry book song book song classroom management silly relaxing | |
| Margaret's Moves | Berniece Rabe | 1987 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| Lizzie's Invitation | Holly Keller | 1987 | ||
| The Crossing | D. Paulsen | 1987 | realistic fiction belonging | |
| Hand Talk Birthday | Remy Charlip and Mary Beth Miller | 1987 | realistic fiction physically handicapped | |
| The Unbelievable Bubble Book | John Cassidy | 1987 | nonfiction how to science bubbles activities | |
| How to Draw Animals | Anita Ganeri and Judy Tatchell | 1987 | nonfiction how to book drawing | |
| Lincoln A Photo Biography | Russell Freedman | 1987 | 
This is by far the best and most accurate story about Lincoln, that doesn't go above 160 pages. Highlights:
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nonfiction Lincoln picture book |
| Raccoons and Ripe Corn | Jim Arnosky | 1987 | picture book corn animals science | |
| School | Emily Arnold McCully | 1987 | picture book wordless book |
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| After the Rain | N. F. Mazer | 1987 | aging | |
| Knots on a Counting Rope | Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault | 1987 |  |
realistic fiction physically handicapped- blind |
| Mac | J. Maclean | 1987 | child abuse | |
| Hattie and the Fox | Mem Fox | 1987 | Australian author born Melbourne Web site reads her books and advocates read aloud every day She is a politician in So. Australia Also Possum Magic (1983) Harriet You ll Drive Me Wild Koala Lou (1988) - popular in U.S. Hattie and the Fox Time for Bed (1993) - most popular in U.S. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (1984) - popular in U.S. The Goblin and the Empty Chair (2009) Also Harriet You ll Drive Me Wild Koala Lou Hattie and the Fox Time for Bed |
picture book patterned language global Australia |
| Eggs on Your Nose | Ann McGovern | 1987 | concept book patterns language | |
| Joey and the Girls | J. D. Lands | 1987 | love | |
| Owl Moon | Jane Yolen | 1987 | picture book imagery | |
| Page Four | S. S. Klass | 1987 | Abandonment | |
| Peanut Butter and Jelly | Nadine Bernard Westcott | 1987 | picture book concept book play rhyme pattern book | |
| Hotel Boy | Curt and Gita Kaufman | 1987 | ages 4-8 From School Library Journal Grade 1-3 Henri lives with his mother and his brother in one room in a hotel in New York City's Upper West Side. Their Brooklyn apartment has been destroyed by fire and they are waiting for new housing. Henri tells about his life, concentrating on those aspects of his life which he has in common with other children his age. He goes to the zoo; he celebrates a sixth birthday; he suffers shyness when meeting new classmates; he attends a good-bye party for a friend. He describes his life as a hotel child in terms that would make it concrete for a child his age: he talks about his boredom in the confines of the room; the loss of his toys in the fire; not being allowed to breakdance in the hotel lobby; his worry about his mother's sadness. At the conclusion of the book, an apartment has been found for his family. Henri's voice is that of any five-year-old: exuberant and matter-of-fact. The photographs give a natural and believable picture of the family and their surroundings without seeming posed or overdramatic. They are clearly reproduced and carefully positioned to reflect both the factual and emotional content of the text. Henri's way of life is portrayed honestly while allowing Henri to emerge as a person, rather than as a Hundredth Neediest Case.Christine Behrmann, New York Public Library |
realistic fiction African American Black experience multicultural |
| Kim/Kimi | H. Irwin | 1987 | identity | |
| The Elizabeth Stories | I. Huggan | 1987 | inferiority | |
| Gold Cadillac | Mildred Taylor | 1987 | historical fiction African American Black experience multicultural Cadillac family social | |
| The Tiny Seed | Eric Carle | 1987 |
See an activity for The Tiny Seed |
picture book concept book science plants seed |
| Dots, Spots, Speckles, and Stripes | Tana Hoban | 1987 | picture book concept book properties classification | |
| 26 Letters and 99 Cents | Tana Hoban | 1987 | Combinations of coins to .99 |
picture book concept book mathematics money, combinations of coins to .99 |
| War Comes to Willy Freeman | James and Christopher Collier | 1987 | Father dies in Revolutionary war Willy searches for her mother Disguises herself as a boy Discovered and treated as a slave Rated poorly at Amazon 2.? |
historical fiction multicultural |
| Moira's Birthday | Robert Munsch | 1987 | Great picture book and unusual story of a rocking good birthday party. | picture book realistic fiction mathematics problem solving addition multiplication humor |
| A Family Like Yours: Breaking the Patterns of Drug Abuse | Sorensen & Bernal Guillermo | 1987 | substance abuse treatment | |
| The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth | Joanna Cole | 1987 | nonfiction fantasy earth science geology | |
| A New Mother for Martha | Phyllis Green | 1987 |
Martha, first grader, struggles with her father's second marriage and stubbornly insists her dead mother will soon return. |
picture book stepmothers |
| Old Henry | Joan Blos | 1987 | realistic fiction elderly | |
| Fitchett's Folly | Colby Rodowsky | 1987 |
Sarey, resents Faith, a new family member, blaming her for her father's death. Which occurred when he saved Faith from a shipwreck off the Atlantic coast. |
death of a father realistic fiction |
| Mothers Can Do Anything | Joe Lasker | 1987 |
Explores occupations of mothers: plumber, dentist, subway conductor, and others. |
sex roles picture book |
| Two Under Par | Kevin Henkes | 1987 |
Wedge (10) isn't havppy he has a new stepfamily and new house far away from his friends. His bedroom window overlooks a seven-foot castle on the eighteenth hole of his stepfather's miniature golf course. |
realistic fiction remarriage stepfamilies |
| Goodbye, Max | Holly Keller | 1987 |
Ben blames his parents for the death of his dog, Max. And doesn't want a new puppy. |
picture book death of a pet |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airmail to the Moon | Tom Birdseye | 1988 | picture book realistic fiction families lost | |
| Why Doesn't the Earth Fall Up? | Vicki Cobb | 1988 | nonfiction science earth gravity forces | |
| The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush | Tomie de Paola | 1988 | legend Native American | |
| Kites Sail High A Book About Verbs | Ruth Heller | 1988 | concept book skill book language verbs | |
| The Glow in the Dark Night Sky Book | Clint Hatchett | 1988 | nonfiction constellations , earth science astronomy reference book | |
| Find Waldo Now | Martin Handford | 1988 | riddle book puzzle search find | |
| Hatchet | Gary Paulsen | 1988 | Brian Robeson (13) is flying to visit his father for the first time since his parents divorce. The single-engine plane crashes, kills the pilot, and Brian survives. Alone in the Canadian wilderness with only his clothes and the hatchet his mother gave him Consumed by despair and self-pity, Brian slowly learns to make a shelter, hunt, fish, forage for food, and make a fire. He is finally rescued after fifty-four days he is more patience and maturity with a greater understanding of himself and his parents. |
realistic fiction survival divorce adventure mystery |
| Digging to China | Rawlins, Donna | 1988 | Young girl digs to China |
realistic fiction young girl digs to China map relative position Earth center mathematics |
| The Keeping Quilt | Patricia Polacco | 1988 | The Butterfly ( Junkyard Wonders Chicken Sunday Mrs. Katz and Tush (1992) The Keeping Quilt (1988) Picnic At Mudsock Meadow (1992) Thunder Cake (1990) Pink and Say (1994) Thank you, Mr. Falker (1998) |
picture book Russian family |
| When The Tripods Came | John Christopher | 1988 | science fiction science future machines survival | |
| Iktomi and the Boulder | Paul Goble | 1988 | picture book fable legend Native American | |
| How Many Snails? A Counting Book | Paul Giganti Jr. | 1988 | picture book concept book mathematics numbers counting concept book | |
| Black Star, Bright Dawn | Scott O' Dell | 1988 | realistic fiction |
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| Duck Tales The Secret City Under the Sea | Paul Newman | 1988 | realistic fiction |
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| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 1988 | realistic fiction |
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| How Is A Crayon Made? | Oz Charles | 1988 | nonfiction how to manufacturing crayons | |
| Keepers of the Earth | Michael J. Caduto & Joseph Bruchac | 1988 | 
A collection of 21 Native American stories and many related activities about living, learning, and caring. It is an interdisciplinary program of study about Earth and Native American cultures and their ties to the Earth. The activities help explore the environment and engage each person's emotions, senses, thoughts, and actions to explore and expand their ideas of themself and their relationship to Earth and sustainability. Activities include art, theater, reading, writing, science, social studies, math, and sensory awareness. |
Native American wildlife Earth activities ecology environmental issues sustainability culture |
| One Day in the Woods | Jean Craighead George | 1988 |
|
picture book nonfiction science woods environment |
| What It Feels Like to be a Building | Forrest Wilson | 1988 |  |
picture book concept book nonfiction |
| A Promise is a Promise | Robert Munsch | 1988 | picture book realistic fiction humor promises family relationship truth | |
| I Like Me! | Nancy Carlson | 1988 | ||
| Say goodnight, Gracie | J. R. Deaver | 1988 | love | |
| Pattern | Pluckrose | 1988 | mathematics | |
| The King's Chessboard | David Birch | 1988 | Proud King gift of rice double every day for each square on checker board |
picture book legend mathematics double pattern |
| Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices | Paul Fleischman | 1988 | 
Great to introduce poetry ... and get a class or group involved! |
poetry coral poetry |
| What Are You Figuring Now? | Jeri Ferris | 1988 | ||
| Dragon Sword and Wind Child | Noriko Ogiwara | 1988 | First American edition 1993 Japaneese author Saya is chosen by Prince Tsukishiro, son of the God of Light to be his bride. The people of Darkness claim that she is the reincarnation of their princess, the Water Maiden. She accepts the Prince s proposal and begins to question if the conflict between light and dark is as simple as good vs. evil. |
mythology legend ancient Japan dragon sword princess global |
| Goldilocks and the Three Bears | James Marshall | 1988 | picture book fairy tale |
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| Science Puzzles | Jim and Jean Anton | 1988 | puzzle book science | |
| Memory | M. Mahy | 1988 | identity | |
| The Way Things Work | David Macaulay | 1988 | nonfiction refrence building science | |
| A Sudden Silence | Eve Bunting | 1988 | death | |
| Science for the Fun of It | National Science Teachers Association | 1988 | nonfiction science activities | |
| Catwings | Ursula K. Le Guin | 1988 | Very creative. Mrs. Jane Tabby's four kittens are born with wings. They can fly from the dangerous city to the country, but life there has its problems. |
modern fantasy |
| The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery | Graeme Base | 1988 |
There are puzzles on every page and throughout the story. There is a sealed solution section at the back, but knowing that once opened the fun and curiosity ends, who would want to break the seal? |
picture book animal fantasy mystery puzzles problem solving |
| The Devil's Arithmetic | Jane Yolen | 1988 | Jewish | |
| The Chanukkah Guest | Eric A. Kimmel | 1988 | picture book animal fantasy Jewish Chanukkah | |
| Following the Yellow Brick Road | Joy Miller and Marianne Ripper | 1988 | Analogies from the 1939 classic movie The Wizard of Oz are used to assist older children of alcoholics who are seeking personal recovery. The information is also helpful for anybody who were raised in family turmoil. |
self help effects of substance abuse on the family |
| Follow The Drinking Gourd | Jeanette Winter | 1988 |  |
picture book historical fiction Black history American history |
| Free Fall | David Wiesner | 1988 | picture book modern fantasy |
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| Tacky the Penguin | Helen Lester | 1988 | Classic children s picture book of Tacky the penguin that is different than all the other penguins. Who just can t tolerate his differences. Until one day a series of events unfold that could be the end of their existence. However, Tacky s bizare behjaviors saves the day. | picture book animal fantasy classroom management being different relationships |
| Just My Friend and Me | Mercer Mayer | 1988 | ||
| My name is nobody | M. C. Wartski | 1988 | suicide | |
| Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World | Mildred Pitts Walter | 1988 | Justin struggles with his role as a male in a family dominated by females. While he arrives at grandfather's ranch he expects to ride horses and heard cattle, but soon discovers there are chores that need to be done, that there is no such thing as women s work, and biscuits to be baked. Not just biscuits, but the best biscuits in the world. A Coretta Scott King Award winner with references to black cowboys, night riders, and the role they had in the west and the creation of rodeos. Plot is slow, a black homesteader s hand is cut off, and the use of n*****. | Evelyn Haydia Mother Grandpa |
realistic fiction African American Black experience multicultural family growing up sisters single parent |
| Yonder | Tony Johnston | 1988 | verse fiction | |
| Scorpions | Walter Dean Myers | 1988 | A story about a poor family who can just barely eke it out on the edge. Jamal (12) is from Harlem. When his brother Randy goes to jail, Jamal is asked to take his brother s place as the leader of the gang Scorpions. Not a good idea. However, Mack puts pressure on Tito to do so and provides him with a gun to seal the deal. Jamal and Tito can t see any other way to get the money needed to appeal Randy s 10-15 year conviction with the earliest possibility of parole - seven years. Character development is well written and the conflict between characters and their decisions is credible and realistic for too many unfortunate young boys. | realistic fiction |
| Look! Look! Look! | Tana Hoban | 1988 | ||
| Spectacles | Ellen Raskin | 1988 |
Iris Fogel says that she sees a fire-breathing dragon and a giant pygmy nuthatch. Her readers will see, by flipping the pages, that it's just Great-aunt Fanny and her friend Chester. Iris finally gets glasses and sees things in a different--and clearer--way! |
picture book nearsighted wearing glasses |
Delicately beautifully illustrated story of Horace the Elephant's eleventh birthday party. While the main mystery is who stole the birthday cake?
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More to Life Than Mr. Right | Rosemary Stones (compiler) | 1989 | Collection of short stories to empower the adolescent female reader. Fantastic stories that every adolescent girl should read. Powerful. | anthology realistic fiction female relationships adolescent coming of age growing up |
| Dear Mom You're Ruining My Life | Van Leeuwen, Jean | 1989 | realistic fiction parenting family interactions classroom management | |
| Many Luscious Lollipops A Book About Adjectives | Ruth Heller | 1989 | picture book skilll book concept book djectives, pattern book | |
| The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs | Jon Scieszka | 1989 | The delightful picture story that started an avalanche of retellings of fairy tales. Just think of those pigs lying there as a juicy hamburger, what would you do? | picture book folk tale retelling wolf three little pigs started retellings |
| The Great Waldo Search | Martin Handford | 1989 | riddle book puzzle search find | |
| If You Made a Million | Schwartz, David M. | 1989 | Number value, money, 1,000,000 |
picture book concept book umber value, money 1,000,000 mathematics million |
| Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School | Sachar, Louis | 1989 | Puzzles and quizzes |
puzzle book riddle book mathematics |
| We Remember The Holocaust | David A. Adler | 1989 | First person stories from survivors that describe Jewish life in Europe before the 1930's and Hitler's violent rise to power. Humiliations of Nazi rule, the struggle of families, the fight for survival in the ghettos, and the horror of the concentration camps. The stories along with illustrations of original photographs make this a powerful contribution to a history that must never be forgotten. |
historical fiction war holocaust Jewish multicultural |
| The Boy Who Lost His Face | Louis Sachar | 1989 | David s best friend Scott rejects him to join in the popular group. What s worse he joins in the harassment of Mrs. Bayfield. He feels he she has cursed him and bad things begin to happen as he also begins insulting everyone. He hits bottom when Tori, a girl he likes sees his pants fall down. Some new friends help him to eventually stand up to Scott. Ample name calling, street language, and some obscenities. The story is also weakened by a final chapter set a hundred fifty years in the future where students are still picking on each other and one student wishes he were more like David Ballinger who is memorialized with a plaque and by making his birthday a school holiday. | |
| Ancient Egypt | Elain Raphael, and Don Bolognese | 1989 | nonfiction Egypt | |
| Just A Nap | Mercer Mayer | 1989 | picture book |
|
| Pass the Quill, I'll Write a Draft A Story of Thomas Jefferson | Robert Quackenbush | 1989 | 
A picture book with the story of the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the men that wrote it. |
nonfiction Jefferson writing declaration of independence writing revolution United States history |
| Is There Life On Other Planets? | Isaac Asimov | 1989 | nonfiction astronomy life science aliens | |
| The Principal's New Clothes | Stephanie Calmenson | 1989 | Measurements |
picture book mathematics measurement |
| Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed | Eileen Christelow | 1989 | poetry verse pattern counting mathematics number value | |
| The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta | 1989 | picture book concept book alphabet book reptiles | |
| Box Turtle at Long Pond | William T. George | 1989 | nonfiction science pond environment | |
| The Call of the Wolves | Jim Murphy | 1989 | realistic fiction |
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| Pigs | Robert Munsch | 1989 |  |
picture book animal fantasy humor school pigs |
| The Butterfly Jar | Jeff Moss | 1989 | poetry |
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| Mysteries & Marvels of Ocean Life | Rick Morris | 1989 | nonfiction science ocean environment | |
| My Five Senses | Aliki | 1989 | science, senses, properties, observation | |
| The Black Snowman | Phil Mendez | 1989 | Jacob and his brother make a snowman, find a Kente cloth, put it on, and the magic begins. First book Phil wrote I have a reader s theater |
picture book realistic fiction Kente African American Black experience multicultural |
| Which Witch is Which? | Pat Hutchins | 1989 | Can you tell which twin is which? |
modern fantasy mathematics patterns twin |
| Koala Lou | Mem Fox | 1989 | picture book koala bear global Australia | |
| My Name Is Not Angelica | Scott O' Dell | 1989 | realistic fiction |
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| Anno's Math Games II | Mitsumasa Anno | 1989 | Function, measurement, patterns |
picture book mathematics |
| I Am Phoenix Poems for Two Voices | Paul Fleischman | 1989 | coral poetry birds | |
| Cock Doodle Dudly | Bill Peet | 1989 |
Gunther, a jealous and bad-tempered goose, sets out to prove that popular rooster Dudley is a phony in claiming that he causes the sun to rise every morning. |
picture book |
| Spring is Here | Taro Gomi | 1989 | ||
| Eating the Alphabet | Lois Ehlert | 1989 | picture book concept book alphabet book | |
| Chicka Chicka Boom Boom | Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault | 1989 |  Alphabet book in rhyme and rhythm that children enjoy over and over again. |
concept book alphabet book picture book |
| The Braggin' Dragon | Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault | 1989 | ||
| Rescue of the Stranded Whales | Kenneth Mallory | 1989 | nonfiction environmental whales stranded ocean | |
| Ten For Dinner | Jo Ellen Bogart | 1989 | mathematics | |
| Number The Stars | Lois Lowry | 1989 | 
Story of how Annemarie Johannese (10) and her family harbors her best friend Ellen Rosen in Denmark as the Danish resistance and population smuggle Jews from Nazi occupation to Sweden. Action packed adventure that captures the intensity and seriousness of what the characters were attempting and the Danes actions during World War II. |
historical fiction World War II Jewish holocaust problem solving multicultural |
| Animal Rights | David L. Bender & Bruno Leone | 1989 | nonfiction science animal rights, opposing views | |
| Wayside School s Falling Down | Louis Sachar | 1989 | ||
| Chemistry for Every Kid | Janice VanCleave | 1989 | nonfiction science, chemistry activities | |
| The Art Lesson | Tomie de Paola | 1989 | ||
| Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China | Ed Young | 1989 | 
A delightful water color picture book that depicts and tells the story of a big bad wolf disguised as the three sisters grandmother. A three panel Chinese layout along with light and dark colors is used to depict realistic and imaginary frames of this fairy tale displayed across a two page layout. The fate of this wolf is sealed when the three girls coax him into a basket to raise him into the tree in which they are hiding with the promise of ginkgo nuts to eat. Not likely as the sisters let the poor wolf in grandma clothing fall to her death. |
picture book fairy tale responsibility fear wolf art |
| The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body | Joanna Cole | 1989 | nonfiction science anatomy | |
| Carl Goes Shopping | Alexandra Day | 1989 | picture book mostly wordless boook |
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| The Creepy, Crawly Book with Reusable Stickers | Bobbi Katz | 1989 | nonfiction science insects animals | |
| Mouse Paint | Ellen Stoll Walsh | 1989 | 
A whimsical picture book of three creative mice that get into three open containers of paint, and pitter-patter through the story. Created as a paper collage and red, blue, and yellow that is supposedly made from the mice's haphazard and creative interactions with the paint. A delightful story with interesting results that children can explore on their own if the are fortunate enough to have an adult provide them with their own personal paint mixing experiences. |
picture book modern fantasy colors mouse creativity |
| Search for Sam and 100's of other things | Anthony Tallarico | 1989 | Riddle | |
| Hurray for Ali Baba Bernstein | Johanna Hurwitz | 1989 | ||
| The Teacher from the Black Lagoon | Mike Thaler | 1989 | ||
| Desert Giant | Barbara Bash | 1989 | picture book nonfiction science nature desert |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends | Rachael Isadora | 1990 |
One word on each page with illustrations of children visiting, playing, laughing, building, drawing, and jumping. |
picture book friends words |
| Thunder Cake | Patricia Polacco | 1990 | The Butterfly ( Junkyard Wonders Chicken Sunday Mrs. Katz and Tush (1992) The Keeping Quilt (1988) Picnic At Mudsock Meadow (1992) Thunder Cake (1990) Pink and Say (1994) Thank you, Mr. Falker (1998) |
picture book |
| The Great Kapok Tree | Lynne Cherry | 1990 | picture book science rain forest environment | |
| The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System | Joanna Cole | 1990 | nonfiction magic science solar system astronomy | |
| Who is the Beast? | Keith Baker | 1990 | picture book concept book animals science beasts | |
| Two Tiny Mice | Alan Baker | 1990 | Visualization, number value 2 and relative size |
picture book visualization, number value 2, mathematics |
| North Country Night | Daniel San Souci | 1990 | ||
| Something Big Has Been Here | Jack Prelutsky | 1990 | Poetry collection | poetry collection |
| Home Place | 1990 | picture book archeology family | ||
| The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks | Katherine Paterson | 1990 | Legend  |
picture book legend |
| The Frog Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta | 1990 | picture book concept book alphabet book animals frog |
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| On The Far Side Of The Mountain | Jean Craighead George | 1990 | realistic fiction |
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| One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest | Jean Craighead George | 1990 | nonfiction concept book science rain forest environment | |
| The Boys' War Confederate & Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War | Jim Murphy | 1990 | Historically accurate information about the often times forgotten boys that fought in the American Civil War. Well written with pictures and cohesive story that can move the reader through the book. | nonfiction war children Civil War |
| The Cow That Went OINK | Bernard Most | 1990 | Bilingual ESl ESS |
picture book misfit bilingual ESl ESS immigration |
| One Gorilla: A Counting Book | Mathew Price | 1990 | Beautifully illustrated highly colorful counting book where young children are mildly challenged to find the different numbers of animals within their realistic habits. That is for all the animals depicted except for the gorilla that meanders through the entire story encouraging the children to count the the other animals. | picture book counting book mathematicsnumber value |
| The Story of Z | Jeanne Modesitt | 1990 | ||
| Barbie A Picnic Surprise | McGuire | 1990 | realistic fiction picture book very poor literature | |
| The Road to Memphis | Mildred D. Taylor | 1990 | Won Coretta Scott King Award and is the third novel in a series: Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Let the Circle Be Unbroken The Road to Memphis It begins with Cassie of the Logan family(1941) beginning her senior year in a Jackson, Mississippi high school, and her older brother Stacey has his first car. Events, include pregnancy, death and Pearl Harbor and World War II. Strength of the family and community encourage each other to keep the family strong and fulfill their dreams. Cassie s, dream is to become a lawyer. |
historical fiction Black america 1941 family race |
| How Big Is A Foot? | Rolf Myller | 1990 | Standard unit of measurement |
mathematics measurement |
| Life in the Polar Lands | Monica Byles | 1990 | nonfiction concept book science polar regions | |
| Earrings! | Judith Viorst | 1990 | realistic fiction picture book |
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| One Sun A Book of Terse Verse | Bruce Mc Millan | 1990 | poetry one line verse | |
| Taking a Walk | Rebecca Emberley | 1990 | picture book |
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| One Bear With Bees In His Hair | Jakki Wood | 1990 | ||
| Color Farm | Lois Ehlert | 1990 | concept book shape color animals, colors mathematics | |
| When Zachery Beaver Came to Town | Kimberly Willis Holt | 1990 | realistic fiction relationships overweight | |
| The Seven Chinese Brothers | Margaret Mahy | 1990 | Chinese fairy tale | |
| Wally the Worry Warthog | Barbar Shook Hazen | 1990 | Wally is a wort-hog that worries about everything even Wilberforce. One day they meet on Suspension Bridge and find that they both have worries and begin to overcome them together. Pictures in the first few pages show a furry coat fading into a grizzly bear, a curtain into a ghost, and a plate of peas into little green men from Mars. Great story and art |
picture book animal fantasy worry fear self personal development visualization anxiety classroom management |
| The Big Book for Peace | Ann Durell & Marilyn Sachs | 1990 | An anthology of stories for the purpose to contribute to the celebration of peace. While there have been numerous books and stories that celebrate war and acts of violence there have been less that celebrate ideas and actions that contribute to the maintenance of peace and a peaceful state. This book is an initial start to initiate a change in this condition with stories that one after another powerfully tell a story of discoveries of peace. | anthology historical fiction realistic fiction poetry peace multicultural |
| Shrek | William Steig | 1990 | His mother was ugly and his fatgher was ugly, but Shrek was uglier than the two of them put together. Is the opening line of the book. Spit fire 99 yards and vent smoke from both ears. Lived in a swamp. Any snake dumb enough to bite him convulsled and instantly died. Parents sent out in the world to do his share of damage. Continues to the end with the same delightful language. A regular Uncle Festure of the Adam s family. Great Ugly beats dragon, meets donkey, fights knight, meets an Uglier Princess, fail in love and marry. Great story. |
picture book fairy tale beauty is in the eye of the beholder love love yourself for what you are multimedia |
| Pond and Brook | Michael J. Caduto | 1990 | Designed specifically for the amateur naturalist and filled with hands-on projects and activities, Pond and Brook introduces the readers to the intriguing world of freshwater life. |
nonfiction |
| Biology for Every Kid | Janice VanCleave | 1990 | ||
| Marie Curie | Ibi Lepscky | 1990 | ||
| Feathers for Lunch | Lois Ehlert | 1990 |
Birds include: American Robin, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red Winged Blackbird, Northern Oriole, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, House Sparrow, & American Goldfinch. |
picture book birds field guide torn paper art |
| A Fire in My Hands | Soto, Gary | 1990 | ||
| Look! The Ultimate Spot the Difference Book | A. J. Wood | 1990 | ||
| More, More, More said the Baby | Vera B. Williams | 1990 | ||
| How big? How fast? How Hungry? | Waverly | 1990 | ||
| What Comes in 2's, 3's, & 4's? | Suzanne Aker | 1990 | Number value 2, 3, 4 |
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| Possum Come A-Knockin | Nancy Van Laan | 1990 | ||
| Just a Dream | Chris Van Allsburg | 1990 |  Walter believes the future is going to be wonderful, filled with robots and other amazing inventions. Why would anyone want a tree for their birthday? He finds out in a dream. |
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| Frank and Ernest Play Ball | Alexandra Day | 1990 | Baseball Glosary of terms |
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| A Storyteller's Ghost Stories Book 2 | Duane Hutchinson | 1990 | ||
| Hunting for Hector and 100's of other things | Anthony Tallarico | 1990 | ||
| Good Books Good Times | Lee Bennett Hopkins | 1990 | ||
| The Day We Walked On The Moon | George Sullivan | 1990 | ||
| Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye | Lois Lowry | 1990 |
Natalie Armstrong has everything, but the knowledge of who her birth mother is. While she discover her biological mother? And what will happen if she does and they meet? |
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| Harry's Mom | Barbara Ann Porte | 1990 |
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| Something Good | Robert Munsch | 1990 | Tyya, Andrew and Julie go grocery shopping with dad, but dad won’t buy anything good. |
|
| Maniac Magee | Jerry Spinelli | 1990 | Maniac Magee is a folk tale about Jeffrey Lionel - a very special kid. According to the author he - ... is one part fact, two parts legend, and three parts snowball. His desire to bring people together by finding a way to bridge differences between race and find a place without racism. |
Excellent picture book with torn paper pictures of 12 common North AMerican birds. Guide beginning guide to watch birds in your neighborhood.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hide and Snake | Keith Baker | 1991 | ||
| Who Says That? | Arnold L. Shapiro | 1991 | ||
| A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt | David A. Adler | 1991 | ||
| Knights of the Kitchen Table | Jon Scieszka | 1991 | ||
| The Frog Prince... Continued | Jon Scieszka | 1991 | ||
| Whales & Dolphins | Della Rowland | 1991 | ||
| Fabulous Facts About the 50 States | Wilma S. Ross | 1991 | ||
| Ten Little Rabbits | Virginia Grossman & Sylvia Long | 1991 | Prejudice Why use Indians? |
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| Left or Right? | Karl Rehm and Kay Koike | 1991 | ||
| Ruby the Copycat | Peggy Rathmann | 1991 | Story about a new girl, Ruby, who seems to copy another girl in her class. A very tolerant teacher is very patient in letting Ruby do her thing until it begins to trouble her classmates. Then the teacher steps in to help Ruby be herself. | |
| The Not-So-Jolly Roger | Jon Scieszka | 1991 | ||
| Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree | Eileen Christelow | 1991 | ||
| The Monument | Gary Paulsen | 1991 | realistic fiction |
|
| Year of Impossible Goodbyes | Choi, Sook Nyul | 1991 | ||
| There s A Girl In My Hammerlock | Jerry Spinelli | 1991 | ||
| The Underwater Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta | 1991 | picture book alphabet book science underwater | |
| The Furry Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta | 1991 | picture book alphabet book animals fur | |
| What Are Scientists? | Rita Gelman & Susan Buxbaum | 1991 | science, scientists | |
| A Monkey Grows Up | Rita Golden Gelman | 1991 | Follows the life of a vervet monkey and her troop from her birth until she is two years old. |
nonfiction |
| Show and Tell | Robert Munsch | 1991 | Ben creates a stir when he takes his baby siter for show n tell. |
picture book humor school show and tell |
| Wonders of Science | Melvin Berger | 1991 | nonfiction science nature of science | |
| That's Good! That's Bad! | Margery Cuyler | 1991 | ||
| Grandfather Twilight | Barbara Berger | 1991 | picture book pattern book legend pattern book | |
| Eating Fractions | Bruce McMillan | 1991 | Whole, halves, thirds, & fourths |
picture book concept book fractions , 1/3, mathematics |
| Fritz and the Mess Fairy | Rosemary Wells | 1991 | picture book animal fantasy |
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| Monkey Island | Paula Fox | 1991 | Homeless boy struggles to find his parents. Set in New York. |
realistic fiction homeless |
| From One to One Hundred | Teri Sloat | 1991 | Counting book from 1,2,3-10,20,30-100 |
concept book counting mathematics |
| The Star Fisher | Laurence Yep | 1991 | Joan Lee (15) and her family are Chinese Americans who move to Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1927. They are not accepted into the community whose prejudice cause the town folk not to welcome their new laundry business or Joan at school. There is also a strong relationship between Joan and her mother, other family members, and a Miss Lucy. | historical fiction Chinese american family adjustment prejudice |
| The Family Read-Aloud Holiday Treasury | Stories, poems, songs selected by Alice Low | 1991 | A collection of short stories that are arranged around the calendar. A story of two for each significant date of the year. Delightful stories from key authors and illustrated with recognized child illustrators. A great book to have available for all those holidays. | anthology holidays family read alouds |
| The Wretched Stone | Chris Van Allsburg | 1991 | a strange glowing stone is picked up by a sailing ship's crew and they become entranced by it. |
picture book fantasy enchantment sea stories |
| Discovering Science Secrets | Sandra Markle | 1991 | nonfiction science, activities, experimenting | |
| Wanted... Mud Blossom | Betsy Byars | 1991 | ||
| The Monsters' Picnic | Liza Alexander | 1991 | ||
| Mistakes That Worked | Chorlotte Foltz Jones | 1991 | Forty familiar inventions and how they came to be |
nonfiction inventions |
| Physics for Every Kid | Janice VanCleave | 1991 | nonfiction science, physics, activities | |
| Sound Science | Etta Kaner | 1991 | nonfiction science, sound, activities | |
| The Environmental Crisis | David L. Bender & Bruno Leone | 1991 | nonfiction science, opposing viewpoints | |
| Tuesday | David Wiesner | 1991 | fantasy fiction picture book Caldecott winner |
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| Free Fall | David Wiesner | 1991 | A young boy dreams about adventure with dragons and castles in a faraway land. Illustrations take the viewer along. | fantasy fiction picture book |
| Planet Hood | Benjamin B. Ferencz & Ken Keyes, Jr. | 1991 | nonfiction science, resource to living | |
| The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket | Sonia Levitin | 1991 | fairy tale love | |
| Astronomy for Every Kid | Janice VanCleave | 1991 | nonfiction science astronomy, activities | |
| Everybody Cooks Rice | Norah Dooley | 1991 | ||
| Protecting Trees & Forests | Felicity Brooks | 1991 | nonfiction conservation science | |
| Indian Chiefs | Russell Freedman | 1991 |  |
nonfiction Native American |
| The Brave | Robert Lipsyte | 1991 | realistic fiction boxing sports aggression conflict resolution adolescence native American | |
| The Woman Who Outshone The Sun | Alejandro C. Martinez | 1991 | ||
| Chrysanthemum | Kevin Henkes | 1991 | picture book realistic liking yourself name | |
| The Wright Brothers | Russell Freedman | 1991 | Excellent story about engineering of airplanes and how time and scientific data was used to develop it. Whole story of development over years to marketing the plane and winning a government contract to personal, family, and travel of Wright Brothers through their life. | nonfiction airplane engineering persistence family economics history |
| Keepers of the Animals | Michael J. Caduto & Joseph Bruchac | 1991 |
It is an interdisciplinary program of study about animals, culture, ecology, environmental issues, and sustainability. Activities include art, theater, reading, writing, science, social studies, math, and sensory awareness. |
Native American wildlife animals activities ecology environmental issues sustainability culture |
| Children of the Earth and Sky | Stephen Krensky | 1991 |
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historical fiction Native American |
| Counting on Frank | Rod Clement | 1991 | mathematics | |
| Santa Cows | Cooper Edans | 1991 | Similar to Night Before Christmas |
animal fantasy Christmas, Pattern book |
| Protecting Rivers & Seas | Kamini Khanduri | 1991 | Environment, pollution | |
| The Loner | Ester Wier | 1991 | ||
| One, Two, One Pair! | Bruce McMillan | 1991 | Number value 1, 2, pair |
picture book number value 1, 2, pair mathematics |
| Take Me To Your Liter | Charles Keller (compiler) | 1991 | metric measurement | |
| The Boxcar Children #20 | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 1991 | realistic fiction |
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| Mouse Count | Ellen Stoll Walsh | 1991 | ||
| Lost Girls Alone! | Linda Williams Aber | 1991 | ||
| All About You | Anholt, Catherine & Laurence | 1991 | picture book classroom management | |
| Emma Bean | Jean Van Leeuwen | 1991 | ||
| Brother Eagle, Sister Sky | Susan Jeffers | 1991 |
|
fiction folk tale Native American environmental |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 1991 | fantasy fiction |
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| Undying Glory: The Story of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment | Clinton Cox | 1991 | historical fiction |
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| Life in the Ghetto | Anika Thomas | 1991 | Anika Thomas entered her story of her life in a national contest and won. The prize was to have her book and illustrations in it published. Her story is a first person telling of her life as a thirteen year old teenager in uptown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She describes boarded up houses and buildings, drugs, drunks, teenage pregnancy, arson, apathy, dope houses, bullying, violence, poverty, fighting, school, religion, and learning how to fight back to win. After describing her life she describes her dreams and hopes for herself and families future. | autobiography ghetto, poverty |
| Amazing Grace | Mary Hoffman | 1991 | picture book African American Black experience multicultural relationships | |
| Lyddie | Katherine Paterson | 1991 | realistic fiction |
|
| Prairie Vision The Life and Times of Solomon Butcher | Pam Conrad | 1991 | A story about a photographer who photographed Nebraska. If you have seen pictures of Nebraska and Kansas frontier life during the time of the sod houses, then the pictures you were looking at were probably taken by Butcher. Read the tales that go with the pictures and events that preceded and followed the click of the shutter. An important source for not only a look at this period in time, but the often overlooked significance of photography and how it changed culture and the way people looked at and wanted to be looked at by themselves and others Look for the turkey in the photo and read the text about it. |
nonfiction Nebraska history pictures photography |
| Of Men And War | John Hersey | 1991 | ||
| Eye Spy - A Mysterious Alphabet | Linda Bourke | 1991 | picture book alphabet book concept book alphabet | |
| Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners | Lucille Recht Penner | 1991 |
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food pilgrim manners |
| The Fisherman's Song | Carly Simon | 1991 |
A fisherman casts a spell over a young island woman to maintain his solitary life. However, she sees things differently. |
picture book poetry song book multimedia |
A collection of 15 Native American stories about animals with related activities for children to promote responsible stewardship toward all animals on Earth, including humans. 
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello, Amigos! | Tricia Brown | 1992 |
Invitation to share Frankie Valdez's birthday and his culture in the Mission District of San Francisco. |
Spanish American nonfiction |
| The Ancient One | T. A. Barron | 1992 |
Kate travels to Oregon to visit Aunt Melanie where she discovers of a grove of giant redwood trees in Lost Crater. She decides to help protect the redwood forest from loggers, and ends up five hundred years earlier facing the evil Gashra, who also wants to destroy the same forest. She discovers all living things are connected, in ways she never expected, and true friendship can reach across cultures and centuries. |
tune travel fantasy sustainability |
| The Widow's Bloom | Chris Van Allsburg | 1992 | Great! ... Read-aloud! Witch out smarts close minded neighbors. | fiction, scary, witch, tall tale, picture book |
| Franklin Is Lost | Paulette Bourgeois | 1992 | picture book turtle lost | |
| Picnic At Mudsock Meadow | Patricia Polacco | 1992 | The Butterfly ( Junkyard Wonders Chicken Sunday Mrs. Katz and Tush (1992) The Keeping Quilt (1988) Picnic At Mudsock Meadow (1992) Thunder Cake (1990) Pink and Say (1994) Thank you, Mr. Falker (1998) |
picture book Halloween acceptance |
| The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor | Joanna Cole | 1992 | nonfiction science oceanography ocean | |
| Missing May | Cynthia Rylant | 1992 | ||
| Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky | Faith Ringgold | 1992 |
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historical fiction underground railroad slavery |
| Mrs. Katz and Tush | Patricia Polacco | 1992 | picture book Jewish Passover life death | |
| Alice | Whoopi Goldberg | 1992 |  Alice lives in the city, has an invisible rabbit friend, Salvado De Rabbit, and wants to be rich. You know all the bling that ou see when a swank vehicle or limo pulls up and you get a peak inside or what you see in those downtown department store display windows. The fastest way would be to win ... So she entered every contest she could and waited by the mailbox. Until one day the letter came. And that s when I guess you could say Alice went down the rabbit hole. The rest of the story is about Alice s adventure through town in search of her prize. A crazy tale set in a city with surrealistic illustrations to go with the story. It is a fun and creative read and if you are a fan of Whoopi Goldberg as you read the lines you can imagine her saying them with her raspy voice. An excellent story in a setting that to often absent from quality literature in the fantasy genre. |
modern fantasy growing up modern day fairy tale myth legend |
| June 29, 1999 | David Wiesner | 1992 | A preview (in 1992) of a future of gigantic vegetable proportions. | modern fantasy science fiction future |
| Breakthrough in Science | Isaac Asimov | 1992 | Twenty-six discoveries and the twenty-nine scientists who made them. From Archimedes to Goddard. |
nonfiction science history discoveries |
| Don t Wake Up Mama! | Eileen Christelow | 1992 | ||
| The King's Equal | Katherine Paterson | 1992 | A twist in the stereotypical fairy tale where the princess is rescued by the handsome prince and they marry and live happily ever after. This Princess is truly the King s Equal. | fairy tale fantasy relationships male female equals classroom management personal relationships |
| A River Ran Wild | Lynne Cherry | 1992 |  The history of a New England Nashua River and the effect it had on people and the effect people had on the river. The book is illustrated with the life along the river as well as the technology of the people through time. From the rivers first encounter with Native Americans up to present day. Not only is the story of the river and its relationship with humans told both in text and beautiful illustrations, but borders are embedded with color pencil drawings of the cultural artifacts of the people during the time being depicted. A great story with enough detail and inspiration stirrings to motivate readers to deeper research into history of this river or other more personal histories of the reader. while the story has utility for historical research and historical understanding the book is more significant in its contribution for being a ground breaking children s story about water pollution. |
nonfiction environment historical technology water colors and pencil illustrations |
| The Icky Bug Counting Book | Jerry Pallotta | 1992 | piccture book concept book counting insects mathematics number value | |
| Each Orange Had 8 Slices | Paul Giganti Jr. | 1992 | Number value, skip counting, multiples, addition, problem solving |
picture book concept book number value skip counting multiples addition , problem solving mathematics fractions |
| George Washington A Picture Book Biography | James Cross Giblin | 1992 |
|
Washington |
| Thunder Rolling in the Mountains | Scott O' Dell and Elizabeth Hall | 1992 | The story of the Nez Perce told in first person by Sound of Running in the Mountains, the daughter of Chief Joseph. Scott worked on this book up till two days before his death with his wife Elizabeth Hall finishing it. Extensive research based on survivors words were used in the writing along with the authors traveling the trail taken by Chief Joseph and his band. The information in the story is important for middle schools students to know. It is a good fourth grade read aloud with information that is available for older students in the original sources. Writing style is choppy and doesn t flow well at times and the character development is not strong. Scott continued to work on this manuscript until two days before his death. Characters based on actual Nex Perce and most words and deeds are from tellings of the survivors. Swan Necklace as a character in the book is created from three warriors - Swan Necklace, Strong Eagle, and Yellow Wolf (Chief Joseph s nephew). Other books used - Luculllus V. McWhorter books - Yellow Wolf: His Own Story and Hear Me, My Chiefs - eyewitness accounts from both sides And others... Old Joseph gave her a rifle. when became a women 14, learned to use it. Shot hole in the bottom of a pan of a woman settler. |
historical fiction Nez Perce Chief Joseph |
| Man-Eaters | Lorraine Jean and Christopher Hopping Egan | 1992 | nonfiction science, animals, | |
| Discovering Mars | Melvin Berger | 1992 | nonfiction science planets astronomy | |
| A Million Fish More or Less | Patricia C. McKissack | 1992 | picture book fall tale number value estimation mathematics large numbers million | |
| Draw Me a Star | Eric Carle | 1992 | picture book artist , family | |
| Just Me and My Cousin | Gina and Mercer Mayer | 1992 | picture book realistic fiction amily relationships | |
| Rachel Parker Kindergarten Show-Off | Ann Martin | 1992 | realistic fiction classroom management, showoff | |
| The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales | John Scieszka | 1992 | retellings fairy tales humorous | |
| Letting Swift River Go | Jane Yolen | 1992 | A story based on the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir from the Swift River for the demand of water in the town of Boston. A story where the main character grows up in a town on the river and has to relocate because of the flooding of her town. She later returns in a boat to view her past under water and realizes the past is gone and its time to move on. A thought provoking book on how to reconcile past and present and the needs of different groups of people. | picture book historical fiction letting go moving on sacrifice for the good of many |
| Science in a Bag | Sandra Markle | 1992 | nonfiction science activities experimenting | |
| 1000 Facts About Wild Animals | Butterfield, Moira | 1992 | nonfiction science animals | |
| Marvin Redpost Kidnapped at Birth? | Louis Sachar | 1992 | realistic fiction family kidnapped First chapter book easy reader | |
| The Practical Entomologist | Rick Imes | 1992 | nonfiction science insects | |
| Thirteen Moons on Turtle s Back | Joseph Bruchac & Jonathan London | 1992 | picture book Native American Myth | |
| Amazing Armored Animals | Dorling Kindersle | 1992 | nonfiction concept book life science animals protection | |
| Me First | Helen Lester | 1992 | ||
| Weather & Climate | Fiona Watt & Francis Wilson | 1992 | nonfiction weather science | |
| Magical Science | Eric Ladizinsky | 1992 | nonfiction science magic activities | |
| Are there any questions | Denys Cazet | 1992 | Field Trip Questions | |
| Red Light Green Light | Margaret Wise Brown | 1992 | picture book patterns | |
| The Last Basselope | Berkeley Breathed | 1992 |  Zany story of adventure and escape from the media blitz.Dandelion eating Basselope and Opus the great hunter. |
picture book imagination |
| Fern Gully | Dianna Young | 1992 | ||
| Lunch | Denise Fleming | 1992 |
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| Trouble with Trolls | Jan Brett | 1992 | Trevi climbs a mountain with her dog and has trouble with trolls. Using her creative ability she wins the day. | picture book ingenuity, self dependence, trolls, myth legend |
| Mike Fink | Steven Kellogg | 1992 | legend tall tale picture book |
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| Winter at Long Pond | William T. George | 1992 | Environmental picture book that show what Long Pond is like through the seasons. | nonfiction picture book science, pond, environment, seasons |
| Talking with Artists | Pat Cummings editor | 1992 | nonfiction artists, painting, autobiography | |
| Beauty and The Beast | Jerrard, Jane | 1992 | ||
| Shortcut | Donald Crews | 1992 | ||
| Dreamcatcher | Sudrey Osofsky | 1992 |
Ojibway tale about a mother who makes a dreamcatcher and what happens when it is placed on her baby's backboard.
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fantasy fiction picture book Native American, Indian, Ojibway, dreams, dreamweaver soft pastel chalk drawings |
| The Real McCoy | Wendy Towle | 1992 | A story about a black American inventor. Elijah McCoy, son of a fugitive slaves who settles in Ontario, Canada, where Elijah is born in 1844. Elijah love to take things apart and put them back together led him to Scotland where he becomes an engineer. He goes to the United States after the Civil War, where the only job he can get is as a fireman with a train company. The story continues with his life, inventions 50 patents, community involvement. |
nonfiction history biography cience inventor Black The Real McCoy African American black experience multicultural engineer |
| Pterodactyls and Pizza | Lee Bennett Hopkins | 1992 | poetry collection |
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| Doctor De Soto Goes To Africa | William Steig | 1992 |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dragons Are Singing Tonight | Jack Prelutsky | 1993 | poetry collection | |
| Grandfather's Journey | Allen Say | 1993 |  Story of a man who visits the U. S. and learns to love it. He has a daughter who grew up in California by the San Francisco Bay. However, when the girl was nearly grown he misses his homeland, of Japan, and returns. After awhile he wants to return to America, but the war stops him. He never returns, but his grandson does. The text is supported with beautiful colored paintings with a Japanese style. |
nonfiction picture book immigration Japan multicultural family |
| Wanna Bet? Science Challenges to Fool You | Cobb, Vicki and Darling, Kathy | 1993 | nonfiction concept book science activities | |
| Spiders | Gail Gibbons | 1993 | nonfiction concept book science spiders | |
| All About Water | Berger, Melvin | 1993 | nonfiction concept book science water | |
| I Want To Be | Thylias Moss | 1993 | picture book poetry self identity classroom management | |
| The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures | Tahan | 1993 | mathematics | |
| Cookies | Jaspersohn | 1993 | mathematics | |
| Twelve Ways to Get to Eleven | Merriam, Eve | 1993 | mathematics | |
| Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt | Deborah Hopkinson | 1993 | Sara makes a quilt that becomes the key to escaping slavery. | historical fiction mathematics spatial relationship geometry patterns number value science relative position mapping African American black experience multicultural |
| Benny's Pennies | Pat Brisson | 1993 |  Benny shops and buys five objects for the family. |
picture book fiction mathematics |
| Tracks in the Sand | Loreen Leedy | 1993 |  The life cycle of the loggerhead sea turtle, an endangered species, is told as it follows an instinct more than a million years old. Illustrated with realistic chalk drawings in browns, greys, and blues. |
picture book nonfiction environment |
| Raven | Gerald McDermott | 1993 | ||
| In the Small, Small Pond | Denise Fleming | 1993 | nonfiction science pond environment | |
| Tracks in the Wild | Betsy Bowen | 1993 | nonfiction science nature animals tracks | |
| Night John | Gary Paulsen | 1993 | Sarny (12) brutal life as a slave becomes more dangerous when a newly arrived slave offers to teach her to read. |
historical fiction slavery reading America south |
| Just A Thunderstorm | Gina and Mercer Mayer | 1993 | picture book realistic fiction |
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| Marvin Redpost: Why Pick on Me? | Louis Sachar | 1993 | realistic fiction first chapter book easy reader | |
| Outside and Inside Trees | Sandra Markle | 1993 | nonfiction science plants trees | |
| Meet the Authors and Illustrators Volume 2 | Deborah Kovacs and James Peller | 1993 | nonfiction authors artists illustrators 60 creators | |
| One Hundred Hungry Ants | Elinor J Princzes | 1993 | How fast to picnic in lines of 1, 2, 10 |
picture book fantasy fiction mathematics multiples factors |
| Is A Blue Whale The Biggest Thing There Is? | Robert E. Wells | 1993 | Size of the Universe, really big numbers |
picture book whale science size length proportion measurement mathematics |
| Ship | David Macaulay | 1993 |  This is two books in one. A fictionalize story of a ship and its construction in medieval Europe as described by the main character who visits the shipyard during its construction. The second part of the book describes an archeological expedition and its recovery of the same ship. Accurate descriptions provide insight into the vessel as well as how archeology can help uncover our history previously forgotten.Curiously it could be both fiction and nonfiction. |
nonfiction historical fiction Europe medieval, building , architecture structures archeology record keeping |
| Marvin Redpost Is He a Girl? | Louis Sachar | 1993 | Casey Hampton (girl) tells Marvin Redpost that if he kisses the outside part of his elbow he will turn into a girl.... |
realistic fiction boy girl relationship First chapter book easy reader |
| Wanna bet? Science Challenges to Fool You | Vicki Cobb & Kathy Darling | 1993 | nonfiction science group experiments | |
| And So They Build | Bert Kitchen | 1993 | building | |
| Bill Nye the Science Guy's Big Blast of Science | Bill Nye | 1993 | nonfiction science activities | |
| The Amateur Meteorologist Explorations and Investigations | H. Michael Mogil and Barbara G. Levine | 1993 | nonfiction science weather activities | |
| Seas and Oceans | Felicity Brooks | 1993 | picture book concept book nonfiction sea ocean science | |
| Moose and Friends | Jim Latimer | 1993 | fantasy fiction |
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| Tom | Tomie de Paola | 1993 | picture book autobiography |
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| Weather | Seymore Simon | 1993 | nonfiction concept book weather science | |
| Time for Bed | Mem Fox | 1993 | Australian author All animals going to sleep, sweet dreams my darling goodnight Also Harriet You ll Drive Me Wild Koala Lou Hattie and the Fox Time for Bed |
picture book fiction poetry family going to sleep global Australian |
| Dragon's Gate | Laurence Yep | 1993 | ||
| Look Closer | Brian and Rebecca Wildsmith | 1993 | ||
| Where's That Reptile? | Barbara Brenner & Bernice Chardiet | 1993 | picture book concept book nonfiction science reptile animals |
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| Where's That Insect? | Barbara Brenner & Bernice Chardiet | 1993 | picture book nonfiction science insects camaflouge | |
| The Giver | Lois Lowry | 1993 |
Main character - Jonas Chapter 3 Chapter 6 Chapter 8 |
science fiction destopican society ecoming an adult society growing up social |
| Easy Science Experiments | Diane Molleson and Sarah Savage | 1993 | nonfiction science experiments activities | |
| Goodnight Opus | Berkeley Breathed | 1993 |  Bedtime story begins with grandmother telling a fairly ordinary talek, and then Opus takes over. Both learn to depart from the text! |
picture book being creative adventure |
| MicroAliens Dazzling Journey's with an Electron Microscope | Howard Tomb and Dennis Kunkel | 1993 | nonfiction science electron microscope observation | |
| 12 Ways To Get To 11 | Eve Merriam | 1993 | Sums of 11 |
concept book sums of 11, addition mathematics number value |
| The Bully Brothers | Mike Thaler | 1993 | ||
| One, Two, Three, Count With Me | Catherine & Laurence Anholt | 1993 | mathematics, counting | |
| Pass it on | Wade Hudson | 1993 | ||
| Stellaluna | Janell Cannon | 1993 | picture book fantasy bats animals | |
| The Boggart | Susan Cooper | 1993 | Emily and Jessup get more than they bargained for when they travel with their parents to Scotland to deal with the Castle Keep their parents inherited. When they decide to ship some furniture and books as keep sakes back to Canada the Boggart, from Scottish tradition, hides in a desk. When the desk is opened an all ready exciting adventure switches into high gear. The Boggart creates all kinds of mischief on Halloween and during the opening of her father's Shakespeare's play Cymbeline. Maggie and Robert discuss having Emily sent to a mental hospital with Mr. Stigmore, The gang of five help, Tommy, from Scotland helps, and Jess communicates with the Boggart through the computer, it goes into a black hole. Jess downloads it onto a computer disk and mails it home to the Castle Keep, It's is released by Tommy and arrives home to fine a new owner with a puppy and two children. Do I smell a sequel? | fiction ghost story Scottish children family boggart |
| My Mother's Getting Married | Joan Drescher | 1993 |
remarriage stepfamilies | |
| Barnyard Dance | Sandra Boynton | 1993 |
Animals include: horse, cow, pig, bunny, duck, chickens, mice, donkey, sheep, chicks,turkey, frog, dog, and some of the sounds they make. 2008 edition had CD single with the song - audio on sound cloud |
music song picture book barnyard animals dance |
| One, Two, Three | Sandra Boynton | 1993 |  Costs with rhymes to ten and back to one. |
picture book counting book rhyme book |
A novel that draws readers into it with determination to explain what is happening and to use all available means to discover along with Jonas the workings of the community. What is going on? Does Jonas have special powers? are they gifts or not? Can he change or is change impossible? What must he do to have his freedom? Must he escape or adapt? What are possibilities of a better future depending on the choices he makes?
Picture book with musical verses for a banyard dance with the barnyard animals as partners. Stomp your feet! Clap your hands! Everybody ready for a barnyard dance!
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink and Say | Patricia Polacco | 1994 |
A story told through the eyes of a White soldier about how a young black soldier rescues him. Explores the injustices of slavery and the senselessness of war. Highly emotional masterful retelling of a true story. Other books by Polacco:
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Civil War conflict friendship |
| The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs | Joanna Cole | 1994 | fiction fantasy nonfiction science dinosaurs archeology | |
| Architecture and Construction | 1994 | nonfiction architecture building science | ||
| Voyager An Adventure Through Space | John Gustafson | 1994 | nonfiction space astronomy | |
| Meet Danitra Brown | Nikki Grimes | 1994 | Two bubbly vivacious young girls are the center piece of this marvelous collection of poems that fit together within this volume. It is beautifully illustrated in warm dreamy oils that stir feelings of hope and goodness the two girls have about being black, female, and confident, as well as family, friendship, art, and education. Zuri Jackson | poetry collection picture book African American black experience multicultural relationships, friends poem collection |
| Armies of Ants | Walter Retan | 1994 | Ants | |
| Flip-Flop Girl | Katherine Paterson | 1994 | What does it feel like to loose your best friends? What is it like to have to move to another city and school? Can a teacher and classmates make a difference or will loneliness, fear, and apprehension cause the main character to flip flop and change her life in a negative way forever? Katherine Paterson, award winning author, has again written a story that captures the loneliness and painful thoughts and emotions of three socially immature youth - Vinnie, Mason and Lupe. Does she create the time needed and support characters - such as an empathetic teacher willing and able to intervene? Can unequal treatment of unequal students be realized so sufficient and appropriate support can be provide until these students understand and learn how to become a healthy part of their world? | realistic fiction moving school relationships fear multicultural |
| Adopted by the Eagles | Paul Goble | 1994 |
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picture book Native American, legend |
| There's a Hole in My Pocket | Akimi Gibson | 1994 | Number value, zero |
picture book fiction number value, zero, mathematics |
| Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm | Jerdine Noel | 1994 | Harvey teaches a girl how to grow balloons |
picture book magic fantasy believing |
| I Never Knew Your Name | Sherry Garland | 1994 |
Sheldon Greenberg illustrated it with oil paints and captures the moods of the story in style and color. A powerful story of the inhumanity that going about our lives everyday can create. |
picture book realistic fiction suicide relationships classroom management friendship |
| 101 Nutty Nature Jokes | Melvin Berger | 1994 | joke book science nature | |
| Outdoor Science Adventures | Melvin Berger | 1994 | nonfiction science activities nature life science | |
| The Story of Malcolm X, Civil Rights Leader | Megan Stine | 1994 | ||
| Sanctuary The Story of Three Arch Rocks | Mary Ann Fraser | 1994 | Ever wonder how nature preserves or animal sanctuaries come into existence? It literally takes years and a dedicated team of people (usually scientists of some sort) to catalogue every living thing within the boundaries of the area that is to become a sanctuary. Sanctuary The Story of Three Arch Rocks tells the story of how it became the first bird sanctuary in the United States. The text is supported with photographs and sketches to convey a little of what it must be like to create a protected area for wildlife. Great book on the history of Three Arch Rocks and how it became the first bird sanctuary. The author does a good job showing how a survey and documentation of the island was done. |
nonfiction science birds sanctuary |
| The King's Commissioners | Friedman | 1994 | picture book riddle mathematics | |
| Jumping the Broom | Courtni C. Wright | 1994 |  Quilt patterns |
fiction mathematics |
| Fireflies | Caroline Arnold | 1994 | coral poetry | |
| Mouse and Mole and the Christmas Walk | Doug Cushman | 1994 | picture book mouse mole Christmas | |
| When the Fly Flew in | Lisa Westberg Peters | 1994 | A child said I can t clean my room all the animals are sleeping A fly enters and the dog, cat, paraket, and hamster clean the room. |
fantasy fiction cleaning room animals prediction |
| Science-Just Add Salt | Sandra Markle | 1994 | nonfiction science activities experimenting | |
| Footprints in the Snow | Cynthia Benjamin | 1994 | picture book winter, rabbits snow animal tracks | |
| More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School | Louis Sachar | 1994 | Puzzles and quizzes |
puzzle book mathematics problems |
| Mole's Hill | Lois Ehlert | 1994 | ||
| Catherine, Called Birdie | Karen Cushman | 1994 | historical fiction Princess 1290 middle ages arranged marriages | |
| Marvin Redpost Alone in his Teacher's House | Louis Sachar | 1994 | fiction school teacher | |
| Eve and Smithy | Michelle Edwards | 1994 | picture book ageism relationships classroom management | |
| Flower Garden | Eve Bunting | 1994 | ||
| Toys in Space | Dr. Carolyn Sumners | 1994 | nonfiction space science astronauts toys |
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| Water | David L. Bender and Bruno Leone | 1994 | nonfiction science opposing viewpoints | |
| Keepers of the Night | Michael J. Caduto & Joseph Bruchac | 1994 |
It is an interdisciplinary program of study about and with nighttime activities, culture, ecology, environmental issues, and sustainability. Activities include art, theater, reading, writing, science, social studies, math, and sensory awareness. |
Native American wildlife nighttime activities ecology environmental issues sustainability culture |
| Fraction Action | Loreen Leedy | 1994 | Fractional parts as equal shares, and parts of a whole |
picture book fractions concept book mathematics, fractional parts as equal shares, and parts of a whole |
| John Jeremy Colton | Bryan Jeffery Leech | 1994 |
Delightful story that is illustrated with bright colors, bizarre shapes, in the most unusual and strange patterns. The text font is changed as the text wanders around the pages in every which direction. The meandering text makes it cumbersome to read and a reader may find times when it is it difficult to follow the story. However, the determined reader will find a story worth the struggle. |
picture book poetry realistic fiction relationships friendship acceptance stereotypes |
| Math Tricks, Puzzles & Games | Raymond Blum | 1994 | nonfiction how to book tricks puzzles games mathematics | |
| The Greedy Triangle | Marilyn Burns | 1994 | picture book triangles, mathematics, geometry greed | |
| Willy Whyner, Cloud Designer | Michael & Esther Lustig | 1994 | Great story about Willy and how he designs clouds and the consequences when they are marketed. | picture book science fiction clouds technology water cycle |
| Pigs Will Be Pigs | Amy Axelrod | 1994 | Money hunt, how much did they find and what did they have left after dinner? |
animal fantasy fiction mathematics |
| Town Mouse Country Mouse | Jan Brett | 1994 | picture book mouse country | |
| A Game Of Catch | Richard Wilbur | 1994 | A story of two friends (Glennie and Monk) playing catch with a baseball and their gloves when Scho comes along. The three boys obviously know each other and want to be friendly to each other. However, Scho probably doesn t really want to play catch, but he wants to fit in and be part of the group. Anyway the story is about how the boys unsuccessfully attempt to get along until they get mad at each other and one of them falls out of a tree. All three end up leaving with their dignity protected, but nothing learned learned positively from their social interactions. This is a picture book and it isn t for primary students. It is very appropriate for fourth grade and upward to junior high to use as a discussion starter about social skills and how to enter and be part of a group. Or to talk about how such sparse text and illustrations were able to create deep emotional response and inferences about the characters inner feelings and motivations. I love sharing this book and listening to the discussion that follows about the characters motivations. | picture book realistic fiction friendship getting along social skills baseball middle school fitting in |
| Where's That Fish? | Barbara Brenner & Bernice Chardiet | 1994 | ||
| Prince Nautilus | Laura Krauss Melmed | 1994 | Princess turns down prince because she wants to see the world |
modern fantasy gender modern day fairy tale |
| But Names Will Never Hurt Me | Bernard Waber | 1994 | Horn Book: "Alison Wonderland's predicament and its amusing resolution are set forth with freeflowing humor in a lively text and three-color characteristically down-to-earth illustrations." |
picture book sex roles teasing |
| Red Ranger Came Calling | Berkeley Breathed | 1994 | Fantasy about a boy that wants a Red Ranger bike. Goes to visit Santa Claus and finds that this Santa is a bit old and senile. Will Santa come through or not? | picture book belief magic Christmas Santa Claus |
| I Left My Sneakers In Dimension X | Bruce Coville | 1994 | science fiction |
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| Magic Eye II | NE Thing Enterprises | 1994 | picture book visual pictures science magnification | |
| Coming Home from the Life of Langston Hughes | Floyd Cooper | 1994 |  Langston was born in Joplin, Missouri, grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, and also lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. His mother, father, and grandmother, cared for him as they could, but were often called away because of their jobs, economic situation, and being black in a largely segregated world. As a result Langston traveled, observed, and world which became integral to his writings. A strong theme through out the story is how Langston never really had a home and how all his life he searched for a place called home and found it had to be inside himself. The text and pastel illustrations provide a powerful introduction for students to Langston Hughes. |
historical fiction biography African American Black experience multicultural poets |
| The Day The Women Got The Vote: A Photo History of the Women s Rights Movement | George Sullivan | 1994 | This book is five stars for the photos that it includes. The text may not be five star, but the topics are so important and there are so few books that deal with the subject adequately for the young reader that this book is important as a umping off point and a big gap filler of American History and specifically for women. | picture book nonfiction women suffrage equal rights ERA |
| Julie | Jean Craighead George | 1994 | The Sequel to Julie of the Wolves. Julie returns to her father s Eskimo village, struggles to find a way to save her beloved wolves in a changing Arctic world ,and she falls in love with a young Siberian man. She sees the problem as a conflict between the old Eskimo way (old rule), and the White or Minnesota way (new rule). A very insightful message is told as Julie struggles with her wolves and another pack to save them from starvation. In this struggle the reader can learn that survival of the fittest may not be a law of nature. That maybe nature is united in a harmony of life sustained by balancing the needs of the living with the needs of the environment. A profound insightful and respectful story of an Arctic culture. The Sequel to Julie of the Wolves. Julie returns to her father s Eskimo village, struggles to find a way to save her beloved wolves in a changing Arctic world ,and she falls in love with a young Siberian man. She sees the problem as a conflict between the old Eskimo way (old rule), and the White or Minnesota way (new rule), "Kapu," Julie whispered on, "do you know what the Eskimo knows? Did you let the peregrine falcon eat and live because the tundra community needs falcons? Is that why you did not take her food? I believe so. The elders say the wolf sacrifices not only for its family, but for the whole environment." (p.141) With that Julie finally realized what the three wolves were saying. This invisible line, marked with urine and paw marks, was the end of the pack s territory, One step over and they were breaking a wolf taboo. She was heartsick. She could not reach caribou land with her wolves. (p. 144) Through some mysterious signals the wolves had told each other they would join forces and become one pack. And, it seemed to Julie, she had been the messenger. How it had all come to be she did not know. (p. 156) "...Julie gathered her belongings to go home. A ravine winged out of the sky and boldly alighted on her pack. He quoinked, the call of his kind to assemble. Soundlessly, on great black wings, three more ravens appeared, then seven more. "Wise birds," Julie said. She had not seen a raven since the first day on the tundra. "They know what is going to happen." A red fox appeared. He had followed the ravens, knowing they could see food from on high. He would share what they found. "But there is no food yet," Julie said aloud, puzzled. ...The raven and fox know something she did not. Perhaps, she said to herself, that chorus of wolf voices told the tundra life that there were now five, not just three, adult wolves and they were ready to hunt big game as wolves do. (pp. 158-159) "Ellen," Julie said softly, never taking her eyes off the baby, "little Amaroq will pounce and narl and wrestle. He will romp out on the tundra like a caribou calf. You will think he is naughty, but he will be good. All you have to do is call like a mother wolf, and he will come right back. I have seen this." "I have seen this, too, all right," Kapugen said, checking the thongs on the cradle he had made so that the baby could hang in the midst of the living activities. Ellen looked at her child and then at Julie. "Julie," she said, "I have the feeling you believe the spirit of your wolf is in my son." "He is," Julie said unabashedly. "This is Amaroq." She patted his tiny head. (pp. 182-183) "Julie looked at her father s wife. This stepmother she loved so much did not know what every Eskimo knew from birth: that people and animals coexist for the welfare of both." (207). "Julie despaired. She had been talking to Ellen since the sun had gone down about cycles and the rise of one animal and the fall of another. She had held up her hands and told her how the Eskimo knew they were related to all the animals because they all had the same bones in one shape or another. She had told her that wolves keep the environment healthy, and that when the environment is healthy, people are healthy. (p.p. 214-215) "Julie," she said. "I understand. I understand. Please go tell Kapugen I am wrong: the Minnesota law does not work here." (p 218). Some questions can be asked periodically through the story. After reading the excerpts above it may be a good time to ask: Why would Julie do so much to save wolves? Should the wolves be killed to save the musk ox? Should they follow the Eskimo rule or the Minnesota rule? For what did Julie care? For what did Kapugen care? For what did Ellen care? What do you feel? How did the characters change in the story? |
historical fiction wolves native Americans Eskimo environment nature multicultural for the good of all |
| Smokey Night | Eve Bunting & David Diaz | 1994 |
A young boy and his mother witness the Los Angeles riots in a safe place after having to leave their apartment. |
picture book Caldecott winner |
Picture book written in verse where a younger boy tells his view of the story of an adolescent boy who committed suicide who he knew, but never knew his name. 
A collection of Native American stories with related nighttime activities for children to promote responsible stewardship toward the Earth and its inhabitants. 
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the Woods: Who's Been Here? | Lindsay Barrett George | 1995 |
 Cammy and William don't see any wildlife as they walk through the woods, yet there are signs everywhere that animals have been around. Join in the search for Who's been here? |
science nature picture book |
| The Butterfly Alphabet book | Brian Cassie & Jerry Pollotto | 1995 |
Learnabout butterflies |
alphabet science nature butterflies picture book |
| Math Curse | Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith | 1995 | A delightful story about one student believes he or she has developed a math curse. A math curse in that everything in the world becomes a math problem. Was it simply because Mrs. Fibonacci said, You know, you can think of almost everything as a math problem. Then the next day the problem started? Travel through through this book and see examples of how math is in the world and how if you ever find yourself with the math curse it is simply a matter of use a couple of fractions to remove the curse and make math understandable for you. | picture book fiction problem solving mathematics math anxiety |
| Down the Road | Alice Schertle | 1995 |  Picture story about a young girl who begs her parents to let her go to the store on her own. When she does instead of coming home with eggs she ends up with apples. A very touching story where the parents deal with a problem in a most creative and appropriate way to foster growth. Theme - don't cry over spilt eggs! |
picture book realistic fiction parenting making the best of a worse situation classroom management families apples African American black experience multicultural |
| Venus Among the Fishes | Elizabeth Hall and Scott O Dell | 1995 | fantasy fiction |
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| Questions and Answers About Bees | Betty Polisar Reigot | 1995 | nonfiction bees insects animals science | |
| Officer Buckle and Gloria | Peggy Rathmann | 1995 | picture book fiction classroom management relationships teamwork | |
| Math in the Bath | Sara Ethereally | 1995 | picture book mathematics sink float capacity density | |
| The Worst Person in the World | James Stevenson | 1995 |
Funny story about what happens when the sourest, meanest, Worst Person in the World meets the Ugliest Thing in the World. |
enjoying |
| Hold Fast to Dreams | Andrea Davis Pinkney | 1995 | Andrea Davis Pinkney tells a powerful story about good and bad relationships between people and particularly this family of four. The setting is a Connecticut town and the plot is about a black family that moves into this town of Wexford where everyone is white. Pinkney tells their struggle to belong by describing the characters experiences and feelings as they go about their daily lives at school, work, and in the community. The tone and style that is totally realistic and believable, without succumbing to the use of sensationalism, yet compels you to read and leaves you with an emotional transaction and understanding of the character s feelings as they struggle to find a place. | realistic fiction African American black experience multicultural prejudice, family relationships, black and white relationships excellent read |
| The Tent | Gary Paulsen | 1995 | realistic fiction family relationships, religion | |
| The Gorgon Slayer | Gary Paulsen | 1995 | fantasy fiction |
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| A Wasp Is Not a Bee | Marilyn Singer | 1995 | ||
| A Whale Is Not A Fish and Other Animal Mix-ups | Melvin Berger | 1995 | nonfiction science whale animals | |
| The Great Fire | Jim Murphy | 1995 | Chicago, Old Lady Leary, and a lantern in the shed... Truth or ... Great story that goes back to try to answer the proverbial question with facts. | nonfiction Chicago fire |
| Shoes, Shoes, Shoes | Ann Morris | 1995 | 28 Illustrations of shoes from around world. | picture book mathematics patterns multicultural |
| The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds | Cole, Joanna | 1995 | nonfiction science plants seeds life science | |
| A Remainder of One | Elinor J. Pinczes | 1995 | Division, matrix multiplication |
concept book mathematics numbers division patterns |
| A Quarter From the Tooth Fairy | Caren Holtzman | 1995 | Quarter and equivalent coins |
fantasy fiction mathematics money |
| The Golden Compass | Philip Pullman | 1995 | The first in a trilogy (The Dark Materials - 1. The Golden Compass, 2. The Subtle Knife & 3. The Amber Spyglass) is an epic fantasy with witches, talking bear kings and a daemon for each person in animal form representing the inner self or souls. Pullman begins his story in Oxford England at a time when England was supreme, starting the industrial revolution, politically powerful government, church, and educational center of the world. Within this setting Lyra is coming of age; expanding her explorations into the organizations that vie to rule the world - government and religion. How people can be good and evil, how they conduct themselves, make choices and what should be her role in her life and death. His Dark Materials Book 1
Plot Lyra Belacqua (Silvertongue) and her daemon Pantalaimon, hide in wardrobe listen... Discover - alethiometer and an attempt on Lord Asriel (snow leopard) Uncle, to poison him They are forming a party to rescue the children. Lord Asriel 135 helped Gyptians... How to use the alethiometer, create party... |
science fiction good vs evil fantasy adventure parent child relationships |
| The Well: David's Story | Mildred Taylor | 1995 | David Logan - Cassie, Stacey, Christopher-John, and Little-man s father in the Logan family. |
historical fiction Black experience American south |
| Magnet Science | Glen Vecchione | 1995 | nonfiction science magnets | |
| Anno s Magic Seeds | Mitsumasa Anno | 1995 | Double, +,- |
picture book doubles mathematics addition subtraction multiplication functions patterns |
| Alexander, Who s Not Do you hear me? I Mean it! Going to Move | Judith Viorst | 1995 | picture book realistic fiction moving family home | |
| Storms and Hurricanes | Kathy Gemmell | 1995 | nonfiction storms and hurricanes weather science | |
| Silly Science | Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone | 1995 | nonfiction science projects science | |
| Who Eats What? | Patricia Lauber | 1995 | Science energy cycle energy chain food chain | |
| You Can't Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown | Paula Danziger | 1995 | This is a sequel to Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon. It begins as eight year old Amber is finishing third grade and reminiscing about the year. Particularly how everyone has suffered through the Pox plague - Chicken Pox except Amber Brown. As the title suggests, Amber gets hers over the summer when she is home alone with Aunt Pam getting ready for their trip to London to visit and then on to Paris to visit her dad. It seems her plans to stop her parent s divorce are going to he ruined. Amber is smart, perky, and thoroughly likable. While Amber passes time recovering from chicken pox she writes letters to her friend, Justin; plays Monopoly, Yatzee, and other games with her aunt; and gets trapped in an elevator. Children love Amber s antics, interests, perceptions, and penchant for gross humor. | fiction third grade aunts divorce chicken pox London |
| Rocket Science | Jim Weise | 1995 | nonfiction mechanical science | |
| She s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head! | Kathryn Lasky | 1995 | nonfiction science Audubon Society animals environment | |
| Slower Than a Snail | Anne Schreiber | 1995 | Number value and the concept of motion, time position, and maybe speed. | picture book concept book measurement number value counting time concept book Marilyn Burns mathematics sctivity book |
| Tops and Bottoms | Janet Stevens | 1995 | Trickster, lazy/worker |
realistic fiction top bottom trickster spacial relationships |
| Her Stories | Virginia Hamilton | 1995 | African American black experience multicultural | |
| Walk Two Moons | Sharon Creech | 1995 | realistic fiction |
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| More Than Anything Else | Marie Bradby | 1995 | More than anything else Booker T. Washington wants to learn to read. Works in a salt mine and mom buys book. |
picture book learning to read biographical Booker T. Washington salt mine |
| The Stories Huey Tells | Cameron, Ann | 1995 | Collection of short stories |
realistic fiction collection short stories African American black experience multicultural creativity short stories writing |
| Water | Frank Ash | 1995 | nonfiction water science nature | |
| The School Mouse | Dick King-Smith | 1995 | fiction fntasy life and death reading mice survival | |
| Where's That Cat? | Barbara Brenner & Bernice Chardiet | 1995 | ||
| Biggest, Strongest, Fastest | Steve Jenkins | 1995 | Animal records of size, speed |
nonfiction picture book |
| Mirette on the High Wire | Emily Arnold McCulley | 1995 | Good picture book about a girl that wants to learn how to walk on the high wire. | picture book fiction balance practice |
| The Midwife s Apprentice | Karen Cushman | 1995 | fiction fantasy |
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| In a Circle Long Ago | Nancy Van Laan | 1995 | ||
| Mick Harte Was Here | Barbara Park | 1995 | Story about a girl whose brother, Mick Harte is killed riding a bicycle without a helmet. | realistic historical fiction safety bike helmet death |
| An American Safari | Jim Brandenburg | 1995 | Fantastic illustrated story of North American prairie. Beautifully accurate photos of plants and animals in their natural habitat. Interesting information that selected animals and plants from e prairie habitat that will be or should be familiar to anyone who has lived on the prairie. However, the illustrations, story,, and history of both is woven together into a seamless comprehensive tale that compels the reader to take this safari through the North America states of Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota. Illustrated with incredibly clear up close photographs of animals in their native habit. As if the animals let him walk right up to them and take their pictures doing what they do naturally. | picture book nonfiction nature wildlife animals prairie |
| Our Changing Planet | 1995 | nonfiction environment science Earth | ||
| A Walk To The Great Mystery | Virginia A. Stroud | 1995 |
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| Tops and Bottoms | Janet Stevens | 1995 | picture book trickster lazy worker mathematics patterns | |
| The Magic School Bus in the Haunted Museum | Joanna Cole | 1995 | ||
| The Magic School Bus Hops Home | Joanna Cole | 1995 | ||
| The Magic School Bus Gets Baked In a Cake | Joanna Cole | 1995 | ||
| The Van Gogh Cafe | Cynthia Rylant | 1995 | A collection of short stories centered on a Cafe in Kansas. Each story seems to be more creative and profound that the previous. A must read for middle school or junior high if you can find it. | realistic fiction short stories creative writing small town |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falling Up | Shel Silverstein | 1996 | poetry humor | |
| The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten | Joanna Cole | 1996 | science anatomy | |
| The Freshwater Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta | 1996 | concept book alphabet book fish science | |
| The 100th Day of School | Angela Shelf Medearis | 1996 | Number value 100 |
concept book mathematics, number value, Number value 100 |
| Stay in Line | Teddy Slater | 1996 | Field trip 12 students in different patterns |
realistic fiction concept book mathematics patterns |
| Science Surprises | Sandra Markle | 1996 | nonfiction science activities | |
| Healing the Bereaved Child | Alan Wolfelt | 1996 | nonfiction death grieving dying classroom management | |
| Crash | Jerry Spinelii | 1996 | Fanciful tale of Wesley who was being teased by classmates and didn't fit in. He decided to grow his own staple crop and things began to change for the better and he created a new culture around his staple crop "swist". |
fiction modern fantasy bully learning compassion family friendship |
| Detective Science | Jim Wiese | 1996 | nonfiction forensic science | |
| How Many Feet? How Many Tails? | Marilyn Burns | 1996 | picture book number sense mathematics counting concept book | |
| Even Steven and Odd Todd | Kathryn Cristaldi | 1996 | picture book even and odd numbers, mathematics | |
| Give me Half | Stuart Murphy | 1996 | picture book simplest fractions mathematics half | |
| Welcome to the Sea of Sand | Jane Yolen | 1996 | Pretty is as pretty does | |
| EarthDance | Joanne Rudes | 1996 | Science Ecology | |
| Remaking the Earth | Paul Goble | 1996 | Native American | |
| Bonjour, Lonnie | Faith Ringold | 1996 | African American Jewish boy traces his ancestry with the help of the Love Bird of Paris. |
picture book mixed race parentage black white love bird magic African American black experience multicultural Jewish |
| Sports Math Mania | Lorraine Jean and Christopher Hopping Egan | 1996 | Cool stats & number facts are presented in a question and answer format |
nonfiction mathematics, sports, Cool stats and number facts |
| Incredible Inventions | Nick Griffiths Ed. Nicole Carmichael | 1996 | nonfiction reference |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Boggart and the Monster |
Susan Cooper | 1997 |
Emily and Jess Volnikhaven't visited the Boggart at the ancient Castle Keep in Scotland for two years. On a trip to Loch Ness, the fun-loving Boggart comes along for the ride to help its cousin Nessie, trapped in the monster shape from being discovered. Modern science v. Boggart ancient magic. |
fantasy science fiction |
| Chasing Redbird | Sharon Creech | 1997 |
Zinny Taylor, attempting to escape from her crazy chaotic family life discovers a long forgotten trail into the woods. It' the beginning of a journey that leads her to unravel the dark secrets of hers and her aunt's life. |
realistic fiction friendship |
| Oceans | Andrew & Barbara Taylor Haslam | 1997 | nonfiction science ocean earth science reference and activity book | |
| Waiting for the Rain: A Novel of South Africa | Sheila Gordon | 1997 | Tengo, black, grew up on Frikkie Uncle s farm and didn t go t school. Frikkie, white, lived in the city, went to school, which he took for granted, and liked visiting his uncle s farm. It was during the visits that the two boys became friends. Since Tengo has been on the farm he doesn t know about apartheid and discrimination so when he discovers it the two boys have to come to grips with the realities of their country. The book is rather didactic and over talks its messages about discrimination and apartheid. Could have been written better - plot and tone. | fiction prejudice South Africa multicultural |
| The Best Bug Parade | Stuart J. Murphy | 1997 | Big, bigger, biggest; Small ; long short ; good, better, best |
concept book big bigger biggest small long short good better best mathematics |
| Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magic Shapes | Grace Maccarone | 1997 | Retelling of 3 pigs with tangrams |
fiction fantasy tangrams mathematics |
| The Subtle Knife | Philip Pullman | 1997 | His dark material book 2
Go to Lord Asriel... witches unite... Lee, Grumman, witches, were found because of ring and attacked... |
science fiction fantasy good vs evil fantasy adventure parent child relationships |
| Great Critical Thinking Puzzles | Michael A. Dispezio | 1997 | puzzle and riddle book puzzles critical thinking | |
| Friendly Dolphins | Allan Fowler | 1997 | nonfiction dolphins water animals | |
| Out of Dust | Karen Heese | 1997 |
A long-legged red headed girl is born in 1920 and named Billie Jo Kelby, because her father wanted a boy. Fast forward to 1934 when she is 14 and the dust bowl begins its years long brutal attack of hardship interspersed with brief infrequent showers of rain to mock hope. Karen's style and tone gives a glimpse of the suffering many endured during these times and the determination, ingenuity, and adaptability required for people, who did stay with the land until better times.
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Dust bowl 1930's poetry imagery rhythm Texas Oklahoma hardship survival |
| Ella Enchanted | Gail Carson Levine | 1997 | An interesting twist on the Cinderella story. Bewitched at birth by the fairy Lucinda whose spell makes her do exactly what she is told. Her mother dies and her indifferent father relies on her stepmother and two stepsisters to care for her. Ella is clever and full of desire to track down Lucinda and seek her freedom so she might discover who she really is. There are ogres, elves, a prince, and of course a fairy godmother. However, Levine twists the usual fairy tale female stereotypes and provides Ella enough moxie to take the usual stereotypical female role and twist and turn it to empower Ella and create relationships of mutual respect. Lucinda put a spell on Ella so that she had to do what she was asked. |
fairy tale fantasy responsibility fair good evil growing up |
| The Next Place | Warren Hanson | 1997 | picture book poetry death | |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J. K. Rowling | 1997 | ! Writing from the viewpoint of young people (the books is written mainly through Harry, even though it is not in first person) ! Missing parent syndrome (the Dursley s are far from parents to Harry throughout the novel) ! Optimism is shown with characters making worthy accomplishments (Harry achieves quite a bit throughout the novel). Mary Sprakel |
modern fantasy witches |
| Oceans | Andrew Haslam & Barbara Taylor | 1997 | nonfiction oceans science | |
| Measuring Penny | Loreen Leedy | 1997 | picture book measurement mathematics concept book | |
| Sir Cumference and the First Round Table | Cindy Neuschwander | 1997 | picture book circumfrence circles Pi mathematics | |
| Golem | Davis Wisniewski | 1997 | Jewish folk tale | |
| The View from Saturday | E. L. Konigsburg | 1997 | ||
| The Koufax Dilemma | Steven Schnur | 1997 | Being Jewish Sandy Koufax was conflicted with the dilemma of refusing to pitch when he was scheduled on Yom Kippur. However, this story isn t about Sandy, his blazing fast ball or precise accuracy. It is about Danny whose mother wants him to attend the first night of Passover which is on the first day of his season opener. Sometimes over reaching complaining with adults who are generally supportive. However, it is probably on target for the audience which can be a bit melodramatic and self centered. |
realistic historical fiction Jewish religion, divorce acceptance of duty |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | 1997 | Every bit as good as the movie or is the movie every bit as good as the book? | modern fantasy movie love good evil |
Out of the Dust is written in a mix of short lines, long lines, and blank lines that creates a unique rhythmic style and imagery that fits well with the historical dust bowl setting and suffocating tone of the harsh times and personal tragic events.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book | David Schwartz | 1998 | Informational book |
nonfiction mathematics |
| Bones: Our Skeletal System | Seymour Simon | 1998 | nonfiction |
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| A Dozen Dozens | Harriet Ziefert | 1998 | Number value, dozen, ½ dozen |
concept book math dozen twelve |
| Graveyards of the Dinosaurs | Shelley Tanaka | 1998 | nonfiction picture book dinosaurs archeology fossils prehistoric animals | |
| Prairie Dogs Kiss and Lobsters Wave: How Animals Say Hello | Marilyn Singer | 1998 | nonfiction reference animal behavior greetings | |
| The NBA Book of Big and Little | James Preller | 1998 | picture book non standard measurement NBA ratio big little concept book | |
| The Transall Saga | Gary Paulsen | 1998 | science fiction deserts planets | |
| Pete's A Pizza | William Steig | 1998 | Pete wants to go outside and play ball but it is raining. His father decides to make Pete into a Pizza to cheer him up until it stops raining and he can go out and play. |
picture book rainy days bored |
| Today I Fell Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day | Jamie Lee Curtis | 1998 | Great illustrations for changing moods. |
picture book moods silly sad mad excited angry |
| A Handful of Beans: Six Fairy Tales Retold by Jeanne Steig | Jeanne Steig | 1998 |
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retelling fairy tales |
| The Jewel Kingdom The Jewel Princesses and the Missing Crown | Jahnna N. Malcolm | 1998 | Roxanne, Sabrina, Emily, and Demetra all are sisters. The royal secretary Twitter was left in charge by their parents of Jewel Palace and the Great Jeweled Crown. Sisters use their powers together to regain the crown. |
fiction fantasy sisters adventure cooperation helping |
| Cartoon & Animation | Matthew Parselle Editor | 1998 | nonfiction how to book cartoon animation drawing flip books creating charaters arts and crafts | |
| Holes | Louis Sachar | 1998 | Setting Green Lake Camp in Texas desert. Main Character Stanley Yelnats Minor characters Warden, Elya/pig-stealing-great-great grandfather, Kissin Kate Barlow, Gypsy/Madame Zeroni, Stanley s father, Mr. Pendanski (counselor), X-ray, Squid, Jose /Magnet, Theodore/Armpit, Ricky/Zigzag, Zero, Clyde Livingston/Sweet Feet, Plot Stanley was sentenced to Green Lake Camp for stealing Clyde Livingston s sneakers that were donated to the shelter to be auctioned. He chose the camp over jail and he and his mom thought it would be like the summer camp that the rich kids went to during their summer vacation. He arrived at the camp and found there was no lake. There was nothing but a desert for miles around. He meet the seven room mates and was told by Mr. Pendanski that his job was to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter each day. He would start at 4:30 and if he worked hard enough he would be done before the sun rose into the afternoon sky. Chaper 7 you learn about how the curse was put on his pig-stealing-great-great grandfather, Elya. He wanted to marry Myra Menle and didn't have a pig like Igor Barkov. So he went to the Gypsy to ask for help. She gave him a baby pig and told him to carry the pig up the hill to drink from a stream each day and on the day of Myra s fifteenth birthday. She also wanted him to do one more thing. Come carry her up the hill as she didn t have a left foot, so she could drink from the stream and he would sing the family song to her. He said he could not carry her and she asked if he could carry the pig today, yes, tomorrow, yes and each day you will grow stronger and I will be easy to carry. He agreed. On the day of Myra s birthday he did not carry the pig up the mountain as he did not want to smell of pig when he went to Myra. Myra s father could not decide who should get his daughter as both had pigs, Elya convinced him to have Myra decide. However, addle-brained Myra could not and had them pick a number between 1-10. So Elya decided to leave for America. Since he didn t fulfill his promise the Gypsy s curse was put on him and his family. In America he fell in love with Sarah Miller. She had Elya sing the pig lullaby and when she had a baby Stanley Yelnats she would sing it to him every night. Stanley dug holes, got nickname Caveman, learned about dangers Yellow-spoted-lizards one bite dead. Wrote letters to Mom, found fish fossil, found gold case with heart and K.B., Taught Zero to read, Zero dug hole, said stole sunflower seeds from Mr. Sir. Took to warden finger nail polish scratched Mr. Sir s face. Taught Zero to read and zero dig part of hole. Dr Hawthorn, Sam onion man, Mary Lou donkey, eats nothing but raw onions, Miss katherine Barlow. Bought onions like Sam but Negro, School teacher kissed the onion picker. Trout Walker shouted devil woman, poisoning children s brains with books, burnt booksSheriff drunk woundn t help ask for kiss, said law for negro to kiss a white woman, hang him, unless you kiss me, ran to row boat, Trout Walker s motor boat shot donkey, three days after sam s death Miss Katherine shot the shariff in the head applied a fresh coat of lipstick and kissed him. She became one of the most feared outlaws in the West. Zero s real name Hector Zeroni. After 20 years Kate returned to Green Lake and lived for three months. She knew she was mad. Someone broke into her cabin and she could smell Trout Walker s dirty feet. He and his wife Linda Walker took her a gun point to find her loot. Were desperate because it hasn t rained , the livestock, peaches all gone, Shovel against fireplace, Shes buried it. Took her in blue silk pajamas, left boots, loosely tied feet. Walked and walked, when she stopped Linda wacked her with a shovel. Lizard bit her bare ankle. Kate died laughing. Grandfather was robbed by Kissing Kate, wandered in the desert and sought refuge on the thumb of God Zero runs away, Stanley steals pickup truck wrecks in hole runs. Days in desert finally stumbles onto boat and Zero, Drink peach nectar.. Go to Thumb of God rock, dig hole find water, Zero is poisoned from peaches or something, feeds onions, water, sings to him. Spell is broke. Go back to dig for gold, Warden shows up light on lizard on suitcase, stand on lizard nest. Wait tell lawyer there to get out, that he didn t do it, missed them, wait for lizard to kill, tarantula Tried to get out flet claw. Back down. Heard car. Lawyer, need authentification Stanley climbs out of hole, helped Zero out, Suit case had Stanley s name on it, his. Leave Hector, no they ll kill him, may I see his file no, doesn t exist, decided take Hector too. Onion juice seems to repel lizards don t like onion blood. Boys smelled drove with windows down. Dad finally hit how to get rid of smell of sneekers. Peaches? Raindrop? Stanley s father invented cure for foot odor the day after the great-great-grandson of Elya Yelnats carried the great-great-great-grandson of Madame Zeroni up the mountain. Ms Walker sold Camp Green Lake to Girl Scouts. Jewels low quality, stocks, a little less than a million. Super bowl comercial "sweet feet" slide in Sploosh. Hector s mother sings song. |
fiction adolescent growing crime adventure mystery |
| Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | J. K. Rowling | 1998 | modern fantasy, witches, magic, school | |
| The Big Book of Bones and Introduction to Skeletons | Claire Llewellyn | 1998 | nonfiction reference bones skeleton | |
| Three Against the Tide | D. Anne Love | 1998 | ficiton fantasy |
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| Just Enough Carrots | Stuart Murphy | 1998 | picture book comparing amounts mathematics concept book greater less equal | |
| The Z Was Zapped | Chris Van Allsburg | 1998 |
Alphabet book in black and white. |
picture book alphabet fantasy fiction |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Big Box | Toni Morrison | 1999 |
Because they do not follow the rules written by the adults, three children are judged unable to handle their freedom and forced to live in a box with three locks on the door. |
picture book |
| A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning | Lemony Snicket | 1999 | A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning contradicts the idea that children like or need stories with happy endings. The Snicket series certainly has disproved it with a series of bad ending books. Snicket not only writes his books with bad ending, but flaunts it by telling the reader at the beginning of the book and suggesting to stop reading and put it down. Again, Snicket warns the reader a few pages before the ending that if wont be a happy ending, stop because the ending wasn t happy. The warning are reliable. Three Baudelaire children: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Executor of estate Mr. Poe found children at the beach and told them that their mansion burnt to the ground and their parents died. |
realistic fiction amily brothers sisters orphans trouble unfortunate events young child s soap opera |
| The Mystery of the Mammoth Bones and How It Was Solved | James Cross Giblin | 1999 | nonfiction reference mammoths archeology paleontology mastodon | |
| Just Ella | Margaret Peterson Haddix | 1999 | Female coming of age fairy tale | diction fantasy female coming of age fairy tale |
| Earthlings Inside and Out: a Space Alien Studies the Human Body | Valerie Wyatt | 1999 | nonfiction human body | |
| Exploring the Deep Dark Sea | Gail Gibbons | 1999 | nonfiction sea life exploring | |
| Plenty of Penguins | Sonia Black | 1999 | picture book penguins water winter | |
| Our Only May Amelia | Jennifer L Holm | 1999 | Sequel The Trouble with May Amelia father believes girls are useless and May Amelia is stupid because she never pays attention. ... he would rather have one boy than a dozen May Amelias because Girls are useless. traveler comes with a get rich scheme and asks May to translate, she is proud, but it is a scam and they loose the farm and did blames her. Washington state 1900. danger illness death... |
historical fiction pioneer in Washington 1899 only girl in family relationships |
| Among the Odds and Evens | Priscilla Turner | 1999 |  X and Y visit mathland and notice patterns of even and odd numbers.Some problem solving. |
picture book mathematics odd and even number value patterns |
| Island of the Aunts | Eva Ibbotson | 1999 | fiction modern fantasy |
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| When the Soldiers Were Gone | Vera W. Propp | 1999 | Started out with Henk (Benjamin) living with a family (David Van Sorg and his wife Elsbet and their two children Meip and Pieter that is thought to be his. In a few pages he is meeting his real parents making the reader wonder what happened. Flashback and the author talks about soldiers coming to the house and Henk having to hide in the hamper in the barn. Then one day his Uncle Jan came and yelled the War is over. Allied troops came and gave out chocolate candy. The Allies dropped bombs on Appelhem to get rid of the Nazis and now Benjamin was going to live in an apartment until his home was fixed. Henk meets his brother Carl. Henk is getting used to the name Benjamin as he eats cake for the first time. |
historical fiction Nazi Germany after world war II |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | J. K. Rowling | 1999 | witches fantasy | |
| Bud, Not Buddy | Christopher Paul Curtis | 1999 | realistic fiction |
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| 26 Fairmont Avenue | Tomie DePaola | 1999 | realistic fiction |
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| The Paint Brush Kid | Clyde Robert Bulla | 1999 | fiction |
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| A Monarch Butterfly s Life | John Himmelman | 1999 | picture book nonfiction insects monarch butterfly life cycle | |
| Getting Near to Baby | Audrey C ouloumbis | 1999 | fiction fantasy |
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| The Fairy's Mistake | Gail Levine Carson | 1999 | fiction fantasy |
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| Weslandia | Paul Fleischman | 1999 | Fanciful tale of Wesley who was being teased by classmates and didn't fit in. |
picture book staple crops civilization social studies culture |
| Start Drawing Wild Animals | Robin Doak | 1999 | nonfiction how to book draw wild animals, science, how to book | |
| I Can Count 100 Bunnies and So Can You! | Cyndy Szekeres | 1999 | picture book counting mathematics concept book | |
| The History of Counting | Denise Schmandt-Besserat | 1999 | nonfiction counting mathematics history | |
| Odious Oceans | Anita Ganeri | 1999 | nonfiction science oceans | |
| Beaver | Glen Rounds | 1999 | nonfiction science, beaver, animals | |
| The Secret Journey | Peg Kehret |
1999 |
Set in the 1830's. Emma is carefree happy girl until IT happens, her beloved mother gets sick and is going to France for a year to get better. But, Emma isn't, she's supposed to stay with her aunt and brat cousin Odolf. Deciding to stow away, she boards the wrong ship, which is shipwrecked off the coast of Africa. Where she must survive. |
realistic fiction adventure |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes if you like these, then you may like the book! |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Franklin | Peter and Connie Roop | 2000 | nonfiction |
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| Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi | Cindy Neuschwander | 2000 | concept book fantasy fiction math adventure, mathematics, geometry Pi circumference | |
| The Incredible Awesome Box | Joanne Rocklin | 2000 | Cool Nick moved and Jancan has to e-mail. Grandma Ada 80 years old. Ordered birthday gift over internet. Ordered TG124 sent TG123. Talk of different shapes and predict what is inside. Open pieces, go to internet get directions, four steps, parts as geometric pieces... Made robot... Concepts include: curve, slide, roll, flat, sides, square, circular, ... motions, shapes, and their properties |
scince fiction 3 dimensional shapes, geometry, mathematics, concept sphere pyramid cylinder rectangular prism three dimensions |
A Pig is Pig |
Douglas Florian | 2000 |
Douglas Florian and a big pig travel around town, across a continent, and through the universe exploring things that are big, bigger, and biggest. |
picture book size relative mathematics measurement big bigger biggest map picture book |
| Dogs Don't Tell Jokes | Louis Sachar | 2000 | modern fantasy fiction |
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| Among the Hidden | Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2000 | Luke (12) is a third child (shadow child) where the population police enforce the ban of only two chldren a couple. Luke forced to stay indoors finds other shadow children, Jen next door and others on the internet as a fast paced plot about their fight for their existence. |
science fiction |
| The Amber Spyglass | Philip Pullman | 2000 | His dark material book 3 Mrs. Coulter watching over Lyra tells Ama, who brings food, that she is under a spell, but is really drugged. Dreams of Roger. Will with Balthamos and Baruch, angels... See dead man, witch eaten by a specter and a blue lake. Baruch sees Lyra sleeping in a cave. Metatron finds Will and he and angels escape to another world. Tells of the Authority, dust seeks dust and Metatron being in charge. Baruch leaves to tell Lord Asriel and Balthamos stays with Will. Serafina Pekkala meets King Iorek and tells what Lyra has been doing and he leaves to help her and she leaves to find the Gyptians. Ama hides and sees Lyra struggle with her mom and discovers she is being drugged. Lord Roke is a Gallivespians spy captain for Lord Ariel. Baruch arrives Metatron wants to destroy the republic, knife is in hands of Will, and he is friends with daughter Lyra and will not come here till he finds her. Sends for his alethiometrist,Teukros Basilides to find the cave. c-6 Fra Pavel at the Inquirer of the Consistorial Court of Discipline is asked ... Answers the knife can kill anyone. and if the child is tempted, she is likely to give in to temptation as Eve did, and fail. If she does give in and fail, then sin will destroy Dust and all who oppose us - sin will triumph. Then tells the child is in Himalayas ... talks about the importance of killing Lyra. Assassin - Father Gomez has been doing preemptive penance for pre absolation. don't look for girl, look for tempter Louise. Leaves to assassinate her. c-7 Mary Malone task is to find boy and girl and play the serpent... Finds wheel seed riders (Mulefa) ... Lyra pods - trunk beings carry off. c-8 Will settles disagreement between bears and village people by asking Iorek to fight and bear says not fair, then give piece of armor, gives helmet, cuts into pieces, says not fair you win. Helps villagers rebuild, they give fuel. Yurick Bearestein takes Will up river to rescue and protect Lyra. All converging on Lyra. c-10 Mary Mulavah sees pod trees, oil, geology to provide roads pods need constant vibrations to crack. Trunk needs others to tie knots, need partner. Bird raid food, Alapy destroy all village. Mulafa trees ding. c-11 Truth told wring intent ... all lies you can invent. The Chevalier Tialys and Lady Salmakia hid in Zeppelin going to Lyra. Dragon flies hatched and they were to protect Lyra. Will finds way to cave meets with Mrs. C and she tells she is tired of lying and that she is protecting Lyra from the church that wants her dead. c-12 All come together, Will uses knife to try to get Lyra, Ana with powder, Iorek ready to hold off army from Zeppelins with Lee. When he gets in he sees Mrs. C who reminds him of his mother and as he cuts his way out he breaks the knife. Will has gun from Mrs. C. stalemate, c-13 Tialys sticks her with spur and paralyzes her. The Gallivespians... we will help because that is the task we have been given, but what? Iorek says can and will fix the knife, but warns them that they may know what they do with the knife, but they don t know what it does on its own. Your intentions are good. The knife has intentions too. Can you see the sharpest edge? Then how do you know what it does? Warns Will not to think of his mother when he uses it. Lord Asriel, King Ogunwe, Lord Roke, Xaphania (an angel), We intend to be free citizens of the Republic of Heaven. Intention craft... Mrs. C escapes or Lord A lets her and sends Lord Roke with his blue hawk. She will go spy for us and as soon as she knows where Lyra is, she will go to her and we will follow. Mary Malone made amber mirror with help of Atal and later fashioned it into an Amber Spyglass to see the dust... Lyra asks how get rid of spies, told don t, your life depends on them. Asks how to get to land of dead, follow the knife, and is this the tight thing to do, yes. Her death leads her and she and Will must leave their daemons at the river s edge. Mrs. Malone wants to see sraf, tree tops, tree house. Father Gomez looses track. The Harpies meet No-name. Will help if tell story. LIAR... Travel among dead looking... decide to let them out, find Roger, he tells her it wasn t her fault he got dead... Couldn t get out with knife everywhere underground. Harpies come and are mad she is going to let all out. The Authority gave them the job of tormenting the dead by feeding off their bad thoughts... Will asks why they kept quiet and still when Lyra spoke, the answered that it nurtured us because we had no idea of anything, but wickedness. Your job then can change to escorting the dead out and let them tell true stories. Mrs. C arrives at the presidents tells all? When she is asleep sneak in steal her locket and lock of Lyra s hair. Use with bomb to destroy Lyra. Can t get all hair back, must find the bomb, but she is taken to the cellar and put into chains. She was going to be used to cut link from her to her monkey and the energy would be used to set off the bomb. Lord Roke was limited in the poison left in his spur... but died using the last on a witch. Lord Asriel to the rescue. Lyra found Mr. Scoresby. Warns of bomb. Take knife, find where Lyra s hair was cut and cut another lock, open another world and put it there. Now and close it again. Bomb goes off, ghost will wait and attack with Asriel. Slide starts Lyra falls, saved by No-Name harpy. Get out Will cuts hole wide enough for 7-8 walk abreast and Roger was the first to leave. Dr. Malone in tree house looks to dust stream goes into trance and was being swept away with the stream. She struggled to get back and the dust sensed it and carried her back. Father Gomez stepped out of the mist... Mrs. Coulter wakes and asks Lord Asriel if the bomb got Lyra. Lord Asriel, King Ogunwe, Xaphania, Madame Oxentiel, and Teukros Basilides. Are told the his daughter and this boy lost their daemons and Metatron intent on capturing them. Must find and return them to them our future depends on it. Else Metatron will control them. Lyra gives name Gracious Wings to harpy no-name. Specters attack Ariel s men and ghost go to their aid. Mrs. Coulter takes Intention craft and flies toward clouded mountain meets Metatron who asks for her daughter. Tells her she is not in her power or she would have brought her. She says she isn t but her daemon is. How can that be? He calls her a cesspit of moral filth. Yes I can betray him easily. I can lead you to my daughter s daemon and you can destroy Asriel and control her too. You have not had a wife for thousands of years, I could be your consort. Will and Lyra stumble into cliff-ghasts and a large cage of crystal with? Mrs. C leads .. I could strike him now Metatron says, not yet says C I want to see his face to know I betrayed him. Goes To A and whispers if Lyra safe. We won t live will we? I wanted him to find no good in me, and he didn t. There is none, but I love Lyra. I felt that I needed to commit great crimes so he wouldn t see the love in my heart. I was so afraid he would see... Asriel leapt at him at once. the Mrs. C. and both their daemons. Fight angel wings flying away Marisa!! She leapt with all her hear, to the angel, and her daemon and her dying lover, and seized the beating wings and bear them all down together into the abyss. Hear man in crystal litter moaning and suffering use knife to cut open shrink with fear and in the breeze he dissolved with his eyes blinking in wonder and a sigh of relief. Lady on an indigo hawk arrives and tells them she will take them to their daemons. Use knife see daemons, each grab the others and feel shock of excitement. Lee Scorsby tells them and bears to leave and floats into air... Buried Chevalier Tialys and Lady Salmakia.. meet Mary Malone... Atal... Mary is called to chasm and sees the ghosts joyously leaving the land of the dead. One ghost beckons to her and tell... tell them stories they want true stories... and all will be well. Dust leaking out wounds of subtle knife. Stream something new. Dust came into being when humans became conscious of themselves, but it needed a feedback system to reinforce it and make it safe. She saw sun, moon, clouds, wind, grass, trees, all trying to keep the flow of dust in the universe. Matter loved dust. It didn t want to see it go. Father lands... Will and Lyra go to look for daemons. Find, but are hiding, talk about future... marriage,,, not from my world... keep knife... they are following... Father Gomez is watching... picks up rifle and feels something has his daemon. Balthomos... Lyra give Will red fruit... exclaim love for each other... Gomez chases Balthomos who doesn t have the strength to kill him and asks what he wants. But you are an angel? What does that matter? Then Balthomos steps in water and leaves foot print so F G can see where he is... When Balthomos let go of beetle daemon F G threw himself and Balthomos and was expecting something that wasn t there, reached for help but Balthomos kicked at his hand, and he fell down toward the stream landing face first in the water. Balthomos used all the weight he had to keep his face underwater until his daemon disappeared... then Balthomos was gone... Mary looked through spyglass and saw that the terrible flood stopped flowing and looked as if it were falling as snow. Daemons come, Serafina Pekkala takes Daemons and talks to them. Tells shapes will settle... Tells that because of what they did they are like witches able to separate from their daemons. Names Wills daemon Kirjava. They need you for what they have to do next. You have to tell them what you know. Mary shows Serafina dust with spyglass... explains that until yesterday Will and Lyra didn t see each other in a way until the did then and that was like a pebble thrown into the stream at a critical point to change it so that the dust was attracted to them and it stopped flowing in the other way. And now it s safe or will be when the angels fill the great chasm in the underworld. But the forces of the kingdom will elect a new leader and come back... Will and Lyra knew... Will s father said you can spend a little time in another world... but not long... Kirjava says an angel told them that all the windows must be closed... All right I will show you how to close a window. But what about another Specter? Xeno... we will take care of those... and will close abyss made by bomb and great opening made by Asriel and all others but the one from the world of the dead. Will that confine you to one world? NO; we have other ways to travel... Lyra asks if they can learn... Yes you can as Will's father did. It uses the faculty of imagination. Not making things up. It is a form of seeing. Not like pretend. It takes long practice... What is worth having is worth working for. You have a friend that has already taken the first steps.\ Should I break the knife... Yes Surely one window... We will close them all, because if you thought there was one you spend a lifetime looking for it and that would be a waste of time. You have more important work to do in your world. There will be no travel outside it anymore. Lyra and Will touched each others daemons and felt a pleasure so like joy when she put the fruit to his lips... and she knew that neither daemon would change now, having felt a lover s hands on them. The gyptians arrived the next day. Lyra goes with will to the Botanic Gardens... find bench... sit there once a year... On midsummer Day at midday as long as I live...... Tries to break knife as before thinking of mother, can ' think of Lyra touch tear on cheek, break... Lyra back at Jordan college, with Master and Dame Hannah Relf... Ask if they promise to believe her, money parents, Master not to worry endowment..., alethiometer study... future... never did only present, What and where... not a bear or witch or gyptian... study alethiometer... school... wait till ready. Goes to Botanic Garden sat on bench, reflect on building... We would have gone and they would have gone with us... but we have to be cheerful, kind, curious, patient study think work hard in our different worlds to build the Republic of Heaven.,.. *** ?? Existence for these things? Without LOVE? |
science fiction modern fantasy good vs. evil fantasy adventure parent child relationships |
| Gathering Blue | Lois Lowry | 2000 | Companion to The Giver Book starts with Kira, at the field of leaving four days after the death of her mother Katrina. Fears of what would happen now that she was an orphaned girl with a twisted leg. Her father was killed by beasts. Vandara wanted her gone so she and other women could claim the land where her parents cott had been. When Vandara and the other women came after Kira with rocks in their hands, Kira quoted a village law that would provide her a trial by the Council of Guardians. Jamison, a council member took her defense and argued that she should be taken as the weaver of the robe, as she was talented a weaver was needed since her mother had died. Cloth that comforted her. Kira finds Matt who grabbed and hid some of hers and her mothers possessions from the Cott before the village people burned it , and she and he go to Council Edifice where she will live, Meets Thomas the carver, water, bath... guardians bring food... Meet Annabelle, learn to dye, repair robe, Thomas works on carving staff, Hear crying downstairs, find Jo, training for singer, Asks Jamison about father, beasts... Gathering comes Thomas introduced as the carver of the futurea, Kira is introduced as robe threader or designer of the future, and Jo as the singer of the future. The future is theirs to make, or Jamisons? Later tells Jamison Annabelle says there are no beasts. Annabelle dead. Matt is missing, go to fen to find... turns up with giftie - blue and father Father wants her to return with him. She refuses stays. Matt stays... Matt - Branch lived in Fen mother beat went for blue and brought blue and father Annabelle - taught how to make dye, no blue, others father away could make blue, gave colored threads, told there were no beasts, killed Thomas - carver friend co-conspirator , wooden key, had piec of carved wood that talked to him, made box for Kira s cloth, both parents killed by lightning Jo young singer, beat, made to learn songs, kept locked in room Christopher - father, Jamison attacked with club, knife, left for dead in field of leaving, rescued by others from another village, kind help each other... uunraveled blue shirt and gave thread to Kira. Singer - had braces, bleeding under robe. |
science fiction good and evil creativity kindness caring art artists friendship |
| The Wanderer | Sharon Creech | 2000 | fiction adventure Atlantic Ocean family girl | |
| Building Big | David Macaulay | 2000 | nonfiction building big buildings architecture bridges tunnels skyscrapers structures dams design | |
| Math Rashes and Other Classroom Tales | Douglas Evans | 2000 | anthology realistic fiction tales of school math humor | |
| Follow the Polar Bear | Sonia W. Black | 2000 | picture book polar bears, geography | |
| The Little Giant Book of Math Puzzles | Derrick Niederman | 2000 | puzzle and riddle book math puzzles hints answers | |
| The Thief Lord | Cornelia Funke | 2000 | Two brothers orphaned go underground in order to avoid being seperated. They are taken in by a gang living in an abandoned movie theater that is lead by the Lord Theif. A story set in present day Venice, Italy of adolescents struggle for survival and where one s loyalties lie and how strong they should be for: family, gang members, friends, society, others? First German edition 2000 While attempting to steal the wooden angel wing they are befriended by Ida Spavento, the wings owner. Wanting to see the merry-go-round of the merciful sisters she and Giaco, the housekeeper s husband, join with Mosca, Prosper, Ricio, and Scipio, leaving Hornet and Bo at the theater. In two boats they plan to exchange the wing for money and follow the Conte to whereever he is hiding the merry-go-round. Leaving Ida and Giaco in one boat the others take the second boat and meet the Conte (Renzo) and Morosina, make the exchange ,and return to join Ida and Giaco in the motorboat to follow the Conte s sailboat. The Conte leads them to The secret islet, Isola Segreta. They are spotted, duck gun fire, and sail away from the Isle. Returning they found Hornet and Bo gone with a note saying someone was at the door, meet at the emergency meeting place. Prop gets Victor s gun and when they get to the meeting place they weren t there. Prop runs off toward Victor s. Scipio goes home where he is confronted by his father who has been notified by the police that a girl and young boy were found in his theater. Scipio s argues with his father and begs him to help the girl (Hornet). Prosper, Ricio, and Mosca go to Victors thinking he would know something about Hornet and Bo. Victor denies knowledge of anything, tell money is fake, receives call saying that Bo was found and with Esther. Victor takes gang to Ida s. Hornet gets taken to the orphanage. rescued by Victor and Ida. Prosper goes look for Bo, Riccio finds at hotel, talks into going to Ida s. Does and leaves later that night and meets Scipio. They head for the Isola Segreta, land, explore, get locked in the barn. Scipio and Prosper wake and meet Renzo and the girl (Morosina). Renzo appologizes for fake money says is Barbarossa s idea. Renzo tells them he will show them the Merry-go-round and if they want they can ride it. Bell, main gate, Scipio rides M-G-R and comesoff looking like a younger version of his father. Barbarossa arrives and jumps on M-G-R. Comes off like a very small child. Prosper, Scipio take Barb... to Ida s. Esther notices that things are missing, caught Ernesto stealing her earrings, finds many missing items in his room, and sends him to boarding school. Barbarrosa (Ernesto) forced kids to do his homework, encouraged themto steal for him, and made them call him the thief lord |
fiction modern fantasy Venice mystery detective adventure international German author |
| The Way I Feel | Janan Cain | 2000 | picture book feelings classroom management behavior emotions caring | |
| The Sun Is My Favorite Star | Frank Asch | 2000 | picture book science sun star astronomy | |
| All Chalked Up | Amy Keating Rogers | 2000 | Bubbles's monster drawings are popping off the playground |
fiction modern fantasy The Powerpuff girls series |
| The Brand New Kid | Katie Couric | 2000 | Book in verse about a boy that doesn t look like and act like the rest of the kids in the class. His being different encourages his classmates to mistreat him. Until a fellow student discovers his mom is considering sending him to another school because of the trouble he is having. So she decides to do something about it. She asks him to come to her house and play. |
picture book relationships first day of school new student rhyme |
| Stargirl | Jerry Spinelli | 2000 | I liked the feeling the moonlight gave me, as if it wasn't the opposite of day, but its underside, its private side, when the fabulous purred on my snow-white sheet like some dark cat come in from the desert. It was during one of these night moon times that it came to me that Hillari Kimble was wrong. Stargirl was real. - Creative, giving - Stargirl is accepted and rejected and loved by Leo who can t deal with rejection. The adolescent struggle with friendship, love, acceptance and all the pressures they bring. A story that every adult can relate to and every adolescent needs to know.Win contest and mobs of people will adore me. speech I might have heard a Moa. Practice on side? no first time I heard it too. Wins... return to crowds... Dori and two teachers. Leo Borlock was given a porcupine necktie by his Uncle Pete from PA. On his 14 birthday he got a second. He first saw Stargirl Caraway in 11 grade she played the ukulele and sang songs plus happy birthday (Alan Ferko was the first) ... Leo s friend Kevin Quinlan star of show Hot Seat. If we happened to somehow distinguish ourselves, we quickly snapped back into place. like rubber bands. Whatever she was, she was not real. She joined the cross country team turned the wrong way, they waited for her at the finish line, she never showed. She was dismissed from the team. Pet rat, canvas bag, dance in the rain. A single word seemed to hover in the cloudless sky over the school: HUH? I liked the feeling the moonlight gave me, as if it wasn't the opposite of day, but its underside, its private side, when the fabulous purred on my snow-white sheet like some dark cat come in from the desert. It was during one of these nightmoon times that it came to me that Hillari Kimble was wrong. Stargirl was real. 15 Stargirl was the friendliest person yet she had no friends. Hillari Kimble was famous for three things her mouth the hoax and Wayne Parr - gorgeous... Stars of the school. Cheerleader... football game run around... missed next game ... invited to join 26 We were afraid to get close to her. Hillari tells Stargirl not to sing to her on her birthday. She didn t sing it to her, she sang it to Leo... why? He s cute. Went to see A H (Archibald Hapwood) Brubaker every Saturday... Loyal Order of the Stone Bone My school is everywhere and always in session. Talk about Stargirl... Archie knows her. By Dec. 1 Stargirl was the most popular person in school. Was it us? Did we change? She wins the oratorical contest. 40- Frogs... For years the strangers among us had passed sullenly in the hallways; now we looked, we nodded, we smiled. If someone got an A, others celebrated, too. If someone sprained an ankle, others felt the pain. We discovered the color of each other s eyes. It was a rebellion she led, a rebellion for rather than against. For ourselves. For the dormant mud frogs we had been for so long... The trouble with miracles is, they don t last long.... Went to funeral... asked why here?.. Danny Pike. bike wreck... new bike arrives? who? family trouble.. bike trash. Basketball season, she cheered for anyone... undefeated... the more we loved our team the more we hated the opposition. Her bad things did not stick to her. Our bad things stuck very much to her. game... ahead 78 - 29 wanted 100 coach put in subs boos... Stargirl left. cheerleaders made her miss the bus... Hot seat... literal hot seat... Real name is Susan change name when it doesn t fit anymore ... Quit home school to make friends. Why don t you want to be normal? ... got carried away never aired the tape. Big game opponent broke leg Stargirl held head.... lost game... tomato face Stargirl... Valentines.... I love you. talk Archie... not new to him... he already knows... Kicked off team... Starboy... Enchanted place... Erase your senses... listen... erase yourself... and become one with everything. Silent treatment except Dori Dilson and a ninth-grader. They hate her? Ask Senor Saguaro... Whose affections do you value more, hers or the others? The Senor says everything will follow from that.... I realized that I understood the question perfectly. I just didn t want to answer it. Talk about her giving to others without them knowing. One day she bought a small plant, an African violet in a plastic pot on sale for ninety-nine cents at a drugstore. Who s it for? I asked her. I m not exactly sure, she said. I just know that someone at an address on Marion Drive is in the hospital for surgery, so I though whoever s back home could use a little cheering up. We went to the house on Marion Drive She tied the violet ribbon around the pot. I held her bike while she set the plant by the front door. Riding away, I said, Why don t you leave a card or something with your name on it? The question surprised her. Why should I? Her question surprised my. Well, I don t know, it s just the way people do things. They expect it. They get a gift, they expect to know where it came from. Is that important? Yeah, I guess- Getting credit What about it? Well, it s nice to get credit. The spokes of her rear wheel spun behind the curtain of her long skirt. She looked like a photograph from a hundred years ago. She turned her wide eyes on me. Is it? she said. Read fillers in paper. Game follow people... Loose change... Room no different... plain... parents plain... Doing Biography Biography for Peter Sinkowitz. Pebbles in her wagon 18 most ever. Kiss... 128 review the question... I resented having to choose. I refused to choose. I imagined my life without her and without them, and I didn t like it either way.... I pretended... On bulletin board Stargirl Loves Leo... loose it... People aren t talking to me.... page 133-134... You don t care what people think. I care... Everybody? Do you? Kovac... enemy? ... nobody likes you... THEM?... two days later Stargirl vanished. 26 jeans, lipstick...susan... didn t work... talk to me and I ll scratch your back... around neck back scratcher. Even Dori... says I betrayed... Stargirl returned on Monday.... I said I guess you re giving up.. Giving up what? being popular? normal? don t think should back off? because we live in a world of them? I know you aren t going to ask me to the Ocotillo Ball. It s okay... smile... at that moment I hated her. I heard more. Was it because there was more or I was listening better... I realized the shunning would never end and I knew what I should do. They performed... I left by another door. I didn t go to the ball. She did on a sidecar with Dori... didn t dance then Raymond Studemacher asked did p 170... bunny hop around golf course... all went but Hillari... Hillari walks up to Stargirl and says you ruin everything and slapped her... face to face... move close eyes and kiss cheek.. gone Dori last any of us saw of her. 15 years ... talk to Archie. she loved you boy... Tool shed her office. 33- Set designer... star girl... Bury Barney... next time Archie gone More than stars - five year reunion, I never went... Kevin does... Most common question, were you on the bunny hop? High school new club... Sunflowers, agree to do one nice thing per day... Band with ukulele... First basket small group cheers I.... Last month, one day before my birthday, I received a gift-wrapped package in the mail. It was a porcupine tie. |
realistic fiction unusual girl accepting different friendship popularity being popular being yourself home school |
| Powerpuff Professor | Amy Keating Rogers | 2000 | Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are in Mojo Jojo's clutches and their only hope is the Professor? |
fiction modern fantasy The Powerpuff girls series |
| Where's That Bone | Lucille Recht Penner | 2000 | Jill has a dog Bingo and Aunt Sally brings over her cat. Bingo buried his bones and lost them so Jill decides to make a map. |
picture book mathematics problem solving map maps mapping relative position reference words over under on right left outside inside between behind |
| Who's Got Spots | Linda W. Aber | 2000 | Story about class that was going to have a play and were worried about all being there. |
picture book mathematics organizing data chicken pox school play time charts problem solving |
| Who Are You Calling a Wooly Mammoth | Elizabeth Levy | 2000 | nonfiction mammoth prehistoric America | |
| Six Hogs on a Scooter | Eileen Spinelli | 2000 |
Six hogs take a trip on a variety of vehicles and have transportation problems. |
fantasy fiction number value value of six mathematics |
| Michelangelo | Diane Stanley | 2000 | Great story about Michelangelo. Enough detail to bring him to life and respect him as an artist and person. |
nonfiction or historical fiction? art artist Michelangelo sculpture design |
| Egyptian Mummies | Henrietta McCall | 2000 | nonfiction ancient Egypt mummies tombs | |
| Mapping Penny s World | Loreen Leedy | 2000 | picture book mapping scale relative position how to book | |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | J. K. Rowling | 2000 | Harry's Phoenix feather in his wand came from the same birds as Lord Voldemort. Charaters
Spells: summoning, accio-firebolt, conjunctivitus cure, expecto paatronum, riddikulus, demento, avada kedavra, expelliarmus, avada kedavra, gold dome, wand balls, back to vold. Accio, Veritaserum, imperius curse, Artifacts:
Fawkes tears heal Harry's leg from the spider wound |
fiction fantasy, witches, magic, school |
| How Do Bats See In The Dark? | Melvin and Gilda Berger | 2000 | nonfiction night creatures science | |
| Bug Faces | Darlene A. Murawski | 2000 | nonfiction bugs science | |
| Henny Penny retold | Jane Wattenberg | 2000 | picture bookthe sky is falling , concept book rhyming alliteration figurative language | |
| Petey | Ben Mikaelson | 2000 | nonfiction cerebral palsy | |
| The Fungus that Ate My School | Arthur Dorros | 2000 | science fiction science fair fungus school | |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Were There Too! | Phillop M. Hoose editor | 2001 |
Biographies include:
|
Nonfiction Biographies U. S. history |
| Zach's Lie | Roland Smith |
2001 |
Jack Osborne's life changes forever the night masked men break into his house, threaten Jack and his family, and ransack their home. Jack discovers his father has been arrested for drug trafficking. Jack, his sister, and mother move to Elko, Nevada, for witness protection. There he meets Sam and Catalin. But he finds himself and everyone he cares for in danger again. |
realistic fiction |
| Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angles | Cindy Neuschwander | 2001 |
Radius is on a quest to earn his knighthood.! With a circular medallion, a mysterious poem, and his own wits, he must find and rescue the missing king. |
picture book angles, geometry mathematics measuring concept book |
| Freedom Summer | Deborah Wiles | 2001 |
Two boys, Black, White, are best friends in the segregated 1960's South who stick together through thick and thin. |
picture book multicultural African American black experience South 1960s |
| The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours | Jane Goodall | 2001 | Jane Goodall - introduces the reader to the chimpanzees she documented and see how she uses ethnographic scientific inquiry method to teach the world about chimpanzees. Big word, but basically means she had the curiosity and desire to wake up early one morning, sneak out of the house and into the chicken coop to sit patiently and discover where eggs came from. | nonfiction chimpanzees environmental concerns endangered species arthropologist life science |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 2001 |
Artemis (12), a criminal mastermind, decides to restore his families fortune by kidnapping and ransoming, Holly Short, a member of a group of dangerous, tech-savvy fairies who inhabit a world below ground.
Series
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fiction modern fantasy child prodigy adventure |
| Wooly Mammoth: Life, Death, and Rediscovery | Windsor Chorlton | 2001 | Great story and reference about a wooly mammoth found frozen in Siberia... | nonfiction mammoth archeology, reference |
| Shrek the Novel | Ellen Weiss | 2001 | Characters
|
ogre fairy tale fantasy book based on movie |
| Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius: my book of inventions | Simon Spotlight / Nickelodeon | 2001 | science fiction inventions science Jimmy Neutron Nickelodeon | |
| Isaac Newton | Paul Mason | 2001 | biography scientists | |
| Spinning through Space: Comets and Astroids | Eva Hans | 2001 | picture book space astroids astronomy comets | |
| The Angel Factory | Terence Blacker | 2001 | Set in London, England Themes include Who has the right to be human? What is human. Adventure of alien intrigue and survival. War of the Worlds without the explosions and Earth ripping actions. First published in England Characters
Plot All go to west coast US for vacation and a day of business (worked for food development or CIA? what s SERAPH) |
science fiction adoption family life London angels extraterrestrial beings good and evil |
| A Pair of Wings | Marilyn Singer | 2001 | picture book science animals life science form and function | |
| Thomas Edison | George Sullivan | 2001 | biography Edison invention electric engineers | |
| Everything You Need to Know The Answer Book for School Survival | 2001 | nonfiction |
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| School's In | Collection | 2001 | Gnomes Don't Slurp Spaghetti Horrible Harry and the Brownie Revenge The Hard-Boiled Egg Fad Gloria Who Might Be My Best Friend Jigsaw Jones and the Case of the Red Satin Purse Tomie dePaola's First Day of School |
anthology collection of short stories first day school |
| All New Calculator Math Tricks | Kris Hirschmann | 2001 | 12 puzzles... |
nonfiction mathematics calculator |
| Are We There Yet? | Elizabeth Levy | 2001 | Humerous - Great stories - A must read | nonfiction European discoveries in America history exploration diversity humor |
| Bridges | Kris Hirschmann | 2001 |
Good simple yet comprehensive review of different types of bridges, how they are constructed, and history . K’Nex Build & Learn SeriesScholastic Book Club |
nonfiction K nex bridge design technology science construction activity book |
| The Grapes of Math | Greg Tang | 2001 | picture book mathematics number value patterns problem solving | |
| A Pair of Wings | Singer, Marilyn | 2001 | picture book science animals life form and function | |
| Betsy Ross | Peter and Connie Roop | 2001 | historical fiction Betsy Ross revolutionary war reference biographical | |
| The Spider Weaver - A Legend of Kente Cloth | Margaret Musgrove | 2001 | ||
| The Three Pigs | David Wiesner | 2001 |  David's story starts as the usual Three Little Pigs story, but a fortunate huff and puff blows the first little pig out of the story book. The story book says ... and ate the pig up. However, the first pig has found a life outside the pages of the book and coaxes the second little pig into this world. So it is on to the next little pig and further exploits beyond the pages. A chance meeting with the Cat and the Fiddle and a Dragon soon to be slayed how our three snout faced friends choose to arrange the rest of their story? Super creative exploration of the possibilities when the figurative and literal interpretations are intertwined. |
picture book animal fantasy three pigs |
| Jake Drake - Bully Buster | Andrew Clements | 2001 | A creative story of Jake (fourth grade) who has made it his life ambition to study the bully and the bully bait to help both to learn how to coexist. Well it isn t quite that simple. It takes a little under a hundred pages for him to discover it. Language, character development, and plot is strong enough to keep readers reading to the end. | series ready - for - chapters bully classroom management self help skills |
| The Hickory Chair | Lisa Rowe Fraustino | 2001 | realistic fiction blind sight Aunt Candy-May | |
The first book in what will be a series of books, graphic novel, and movies on Disney
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Why Do People Harm Animals? | Chris Mason | 2002 | animal life animal human interaction animal habitats life science concept book | |
| Stoner and Spaz | Ron Koertge | 2002 | A compelling story about Benjamin, a troubled youth with CP, who struggles toward self-acceptance with the help of a drug-addicted young women. This story has everything that reality TV on MTV and VH1 has, and maybe more detail. A troubled youth with CP struggles toward self-acceptance with the help of a drug-addicted young women. Benjamin , the main character, has CP and calls himself the resident Spaz. He meets Colleen Minou (drug addict-stoner). at the Rialto Theatre. They share a passion for movies. She asks him to write an essay for her and she will show him her tits. Colleen - I don t want to be your girl friend. Why are you with me? You make me feel like I am in high school. |
realistic fiction Cerebal palsy physical handicapped drug abuse self-acceptance school video film making |
| Bronx Masquerade | Nikki Grimes | 2002 | Combines prose and poetry to tell a story about inner city youth, a teacher, and the idea of open mike day. A compelling look into the life in the inner city. A compelling story with many of the individual poems and stories powerful enough to stand alone. |
realistic fiction poetry Black Americans identity high schools multicultural |
| Zathura | Chris Van Allsburg | 2002 | Two brothers find more than they bargained for in a mysterious and mystical game board |
picture book fiction fantasy mystery gameboard space adventure |
| What Happened to Lani Garver | Carol Plum- Ucci | 2002 | Claire unable to face her fears about a recurrence of her leukemia, her eating disorder, her need to hang with the crowd on Hackett Island, and her mother s alcoholism is helped by Lani Garver who risks his life to save her. | realistic fiction emotional problems cancer prejudice alcoholism homosexuality adventure mystery |
| Crispin: The Cross of Lead | Avi | 2002 | Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant, Crispin, in fourteenth-century England fless his village and meets a juggler with a dangerous secret. |
historical fiction Middle Ages Great Britain Edward III orphan theft murder fourteenth-century England |
| The House of the Scorpion | Nancy Farmer | 2002 | Action adventure, with Matt, a young adolescent who, as long as he can remember, has had a mysterious relationship to El Patron (140 year old leader of a corrupt drug empire). Sometimes it is great and other times it is worse than being an animal on the ranch. When Matt finally discovers El Patron's true intentions he acts to thwart his plans. However, circumstances put Matt's life in danger and he has no choice but to run. Where does one run and hide from a drug lord? Is it possible that Matt can escape with his life? And if he does how long can he live before be is discovered and returned to El Patron? | science fiction cloning Mexico drug companies adventure |
| Double Fudge | Judy Blume | 2002 | Characters Main character is Fudge - Farley Drexel Hatcher Story is written in the first person as told by Pete, Fudge's older brother Other members of the family are Tootsie-Tamara-Roxanne younger sister; Anne-mom-mother; Grandfather-Buzzy-senior; Grandma-Muriel; Father- Warren-Tubby; Uncle Farley Drexel; Turtle-dog; Uncle Feather Myna bird; Pete's Friend Jimmy Fargo and his father artist Frank moving to SoHo; Beverly Muldour fiance; Pete says, now I know he he felt when I left the city last year. Sheila Tubman busy body 12 year old classmate New neighbors -Richie Potter and Melissa Beth Miller - in Mixed group with Fudge. Fudge loved money "Fudge Bucks" Farley Drexel Hatcher Bank; visit mint in Washington D.C. Meet old lost Cousin Howie and wife Eudora Hatcher from Hawaii; daughters Flora and Fauna who were home schooled; and Farley-Fudge-Mini-Farley-Mini Fudge; Heavenly Hatchers; We don't say the stupid word we say Turkey Brain; P 133 simile " like a row of hot dogs in their rolls. All that was missing was the mustard and relish." P 137-138 Pete in a rage because of Cousin Howie and family staying Anger management; relate to how Fudge acted at the shoe store Heavenly Hatchers sing at school big hit. Uncle Feather flies into window breaks wing when Mini lets out. Vet Bonjour Stupid Halloween elevator self-serve Fudge lose tooth Mini eats Pete says like me when you ate turtle Finally know how I feel. Fudge finds secret box of teeth, Pete takes reflects, and puts box under pillow - hey you never know. |
fiction modern fantasy family conflict anger management first person |
| City of the Beasts | Isabella Allende | 2002 | Alexander Cold (15) son of John and Lisa Cold who had cancer is sent to stay with his individualistic Grandma Kate Cold while his mother gets chemotherapy. Trashing his possessions and being ripped off by Morgana after arriving in New York he finally meets Kate. She gives him his Grandfathers Joseph s flute and gets him a change of clothes. Then Kate and Alex are off to the Amazon in search of a Yenti like Beast among the Tribe of the Mist. After arriving they meet their guide Cesar Santos and his daughter Nadia Santos. Other members of the party are photographers Timothy Bruce and Joel Gonzalez who is attacked by an anaconda, Matuwe, an Indian guide, 5 soldiers, Ludovic Leblanc (a famous anthropologist) and Dr. Omayra Torres a female doctor who wants to inoculate the Indians, Mauro Caria a writer who Omayra plans on marrying, Captain Ariosto who wants to make money and retire in Miami and Karakawe Ludovic s personal assistant and undercover Indian Agent. Beasts are nine feet tall with three razor blade claws, sloth like, and emit a super skunk like chemical that paralyzes, disorients, and can be fatal. The People of the Mist attack the party and kidnap Nadia and Alex. The shaman Walimai and his Angel wife, Mokarita who Alex saves but dies later of internal injuries, his wife Ivomi who later becomes Chief of Chiefs, Tahama later becomes warrior chief, among others. While with the Indians they learn their way, Alex undergoes the becoming a man ceremony and they both go on a quest Nadia for three crystal eggs, diamonds, and Alex for the water and herbs for his mother. They also find that the beasts are thought to be Gods by the people of the mist. They are human recorders of the history and protectorates of sort for the tribe. Genocide, murder, attempt to procure gold, jewels, lumber and other resources from the Indians, a visit to Eldorado, the fountain of youth below ground, and an ascent to the mountain top Alex and Nadia return to work with Kate, Ludovic and Timothe Bruce to save the Tribe and Beasts and Lisa. |
fiction modern fantasy east supernatural Amazon river ancient wonders fountain of youth Eldorado fantasy |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | 2002 | Coraline finds a door with a brick wall or door way into a parallel disturbing world of people with black button eyes. Let the games begin. Scarry movies, supernatural adventure, witch craft, romps through a dungeon, missing parents, mystery and suspense; masterfully written this story will enthrall all readers. Coraline Jones finds a door with a brick wall or door way into a parallel disturbing world of people with black button eyes. Other mother appears. Let s play games... You were in the mirror, said Coraline. other mother smiled and said, mirrors are never to be trusted. Let us all go. The other mother said the proudest spirit can be broken, with love. You can t make me love you. Other mother tells here she loves Coraline. Coraline agrees that she loves her as a pet or a possession. She tosses her a small brass front-door key from her tongue. Inside is other mother waiting. You have yet to find your parents. Where are they? They are in the hallway between the two houses. Open the door. Gloating.. she says see they re not there. You must stay with me forever. Coraline backing up to the mantel throws the cat at her head. The cat grows large and lands claws extended and teeth bared fierce and angry. Coraline grabbed the snow globe, put it into her pocket and ran for the door as the cat sunk its teeth and claws into the other mom and blood ran. Not red but tar black. Pulled the key from the lock, leave her and come she told the cat. Trying to shut the door against a phantom wind she noticed other people in the corridor. Help me please, all of you. Two adults and three children were too insubstantial to help but they put their hands on hers and she felt stronger. The door closed as something fell from head height. The cat said come on this is not a good place to be. Quickly; Whatever the corridor was she knew if she fell she wouldn t get up. She felt that it was older than the other mother. Not seeing the wraiths before her as she passed through the door way she knew that there was only one thing she could do and she slammed the door and locked it with the key and put it back into her pocket. She kept the key on the chain always. She awoke during the night by scratching on the window and when looked out she saw the white hand with crimson finger nails. Sets a trap with tea cups, filled with water on the edge of the paper table cloth, and dolls at the well. Visits Miss S&F asks about Hamish. Vet doesn't know what cut. Mr. Bobo thinks weasel. Swing the key on a string and singing she slowly moves toward the well. Talked to dolls and place key in the middle of the table cloth making sure she was holding the string. Then she got up and backed away. The ? came closer, climbed on to a stump and sprang for the key. The hand, key, and table cloth disappeared into the well and she counted 40 before she heard a splash. She covered the well with the planks hoping nothing would fall in or get out. The cat climbed onto the boards and winked at her. As she returned Mr. Bobo clapped her on the back and said the mice tell me that all is good, They say you are our savior. She went to Miss Spink and Forcibles and returned the stone. Don't need and I think it may have saved my life and others death. As she went to sleep she had no apprehension about school starting. |
fiction mmodern fantasy supernatural adventure excitement survival female |
| Weird Wildlife Seas Creatures | Clare Oliver | 2002 | nonfiction sea creatures ocean animals sea life | |
| Myths of Oceania | Anita Dalal | 2002 | anthology aceania oceans Myths reference | |
| Kangaroos | Patricia Miller - Schroeder | 2002 | nonfiction kangaroos animal life | |
| Space Busters Space Mysteries | Steve Parker | 2002 | nonfiction space stars black holes pulsars science reference mystery | |
| How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found | Sara Nickerson | 2002 | With a swimming medal, key to a mansion, and a comic book about a half-man/half rat as her only clues, a 12 year old girl seeks the true story of her father s mysterious death four years earlier near an island in the Pacific Northwest. | fiction family life pacific northwest cartoons comics recluses libraries mystery detective stories |
| Stars of the Sea | Allan Fowler | 2002 | Picture book of stars of the sea. Many examples. Well done factual and good amount of information. |
nonfiction picture book stars sand dollars sea stars ocean life |
| How Do Frogs Swallow with Their Eyes? | Melvin & Gilda Berger | 2002 | nonfiction amphibians frogs science animals reference | |
| Pick Me an Apple: From Seed to Tree | Shelly Rotner | 2002 | Great picture book. Very accurate Year in the life of an apple tree. | nonfiction apples life cycle living fruit seeds buds tree seasons year |
| Once Upon a Marigold | Jean Ferris | 2002 | A young man with a mysterious past and a penchant for inventing things leaves the troll that raised him, meets an unhappy princess he has loved from afar, and discovers a plot against her and her father. | modery fantasy fairy tale Princess Kings Queens family trolls humor |
| Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident | Colfer, Eoin | 2002 | modern fantasy child prodigy adventure | |
| Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, said the Sloth | Eric Carle | 2002 | Picture book where Eric Carle celebrates the slowness and peacefulnees. | picture book animal fiction jungle animals sloth art slow peaceful |
| Philadelphia Chickens | Sandra Boyton | 2002 |
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song dance musicals |
| Fifteen Animals | Sandra Boynton | 2002 |  I’ve got fifteen animals. They’re friendly and tame and I’ve given each one a special name. Cat, dog, fish, hamster, horse, piglet, rabbit, wife, & kids, mouse, bird, … Bob … & turtle Simon James Alexander Ragsdale the Third. |
picture books animals counting humor |
Picture book with 20 children's songs with a musical theme. CD included.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot | Patricia C. Wreede & Caroline Stevermer | 2003 | Interesting style written as letters between two cousins Cecelia and Kate in the style of 1817 English country life and London society. The exploits of these girls involves witch craft and wizardry that adds even more twists and turns to the plot. Interestingly, the story began from a letter game created and played by the authors. Soon after the game/ letter writing began the creative genius and playful nature of the authors lead to fantasy and the authorship of this book. Delightful! | modern fantasy wizardry writing letters Londaon 1800's city country life |
| The Pack | Elisa Carbone | 2003 | Wolves, growing up with wolves, bullying, violence, school violence, friendship, guns, bombs, invisible students, belonging, and not belonging. The author created a powerful story about relevant for today s middle school students and above. It has to be read to see how such a compact book could be authored that brings together these ideas in a compelling powerfully important story for these times. Here is a sample from the beginning. WHEN AKHIL VYAS showed up at school in early October, I thought he was, without a doubt, the weirdest person on earth. But on that cold December day, by the time the last police car left and the last ambulance pulled out of the school parking lot with tires screeching and siren wailing, I had begun to believe that he was the first truly sane person I'd ever know. |
realistic fiction agression bullying violence friendship guns belonging invisible students |
| Olivia Kidney | Ellen Potter | 2003 | Twelve year old Olivia explores her new apartment building and finds a psychic, talking lizards, a shrunken ex-pirate, and exiled princess, ghosts, and other unusual characters. Did I say creative? | fiction modern fantasy apartment building pirates psychic lizards princess ghosts |
| The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen | Hans Christian Andersen translated by Dianna Crone Frank and Jeffrey Frank | 2003 | Classic literature needs to be read to all children as it was written by the author. This translation captures the richness of language and imagery of Andersen. One delighful example is Andersen s story of The Little Mermaid totally different than the Disney version or A Fish Called Wanda with Tom Hanks ... and probably all the others you ve ever read, unless of course you ve read Andersen or have had him read to you. | fairy tales fantasy fiction anthology Denmark delightful must read |
| The Man Who Walked Between the Towers | Mordicai Gerstein | 2003 | Picture book with wonderful illustrations about the story of Philippe Peiit and his 1974 tightrope walk from atop one World Trade Center to the other World Trade Center. Excellent perspective. Gives you the feeling that you are actually on top of the World Trade Centers with him. |
picture book nonfiction movie article Newsweek adventure Philippe Petit WorldTrade Centers tightrope walking aerialists France |
| Acceleration | Graham McNamee | 2003 | In addition to the usual struggles of a young adolescent Jacob is plunged into a deeper struggle with his inner fears and uncertainties after not being able to rescue a drowning girl. Exiled to the concrete underworld of Toronto's Transit system where he has plenty of time to drown in his self pity he thinks he finds clues of a mass murderer. Will he be able to save his life in time to stop more death? Compelling action packed thriller that builds suspense and endangerment of life as well as any movie thriller. The story also has some masterful uses of language to realistically set the story and plot for the reader. ...
Bud Wayne, friend works at Dairy Barn |
realisitc fiction mystery fear recovery detective teen growing up diary Canada |
| The Bartimaeus Trilogy book 1 The Amulet of Samarkand | Jonathan Stroud | 2003 |
Nathan determined to learn more spells and magic on his own summons a djinni Bartimaeus. To get revenge he commands Bartimaeus to steal Lovelace's Amulet of Samarkand. Let the trilogy begin! Adventure, excitement, suspense, magic, spells, power, and of course good versus evil. |
fiction modern fantasy djinni geni magic Egypt London England adventure |
| The Dream Bearer | Walter Dean Myers | 2003 | A story about a family that centers on a father - son relationship and finding ones place in the world that balances family and cultural histories with the realities that a young adolescent faces in his present world to create his own life. Intriguing three stories within the story told the dream bearer and how they relate to David s life and suggest directions he might choose. Includes great imagery... It was as if sadness had just come in and was living with our family. (36) and ... When I dream of him sometimes I think I see him peering through his darkness looking for something he ain t never seen. And it makes me laugh, and sometimes I think I see it and it fills my cup with tears Main character - David Curry Helps Reuben with Mr. Kerlin. Noticed didn t smile when talked to Reuben. |
fiction fantasy father son African American family Harlem New York mental health great imagery. African American black experience multicultural |
| The Keys to the Kingdom: Mister Monday | Garth Nix | 2003 | Being in the wrong place at the wrong time makes Arthur Penhaligon, a self-conscience 12 year old asthmatic boy that wants nothing more than to be a normal 12 year old boy, heir to Architect of the Universe. Unable to walk away without the universe as we know it being destroyed Arthur begins to collect and assemble the will. Not to mention survive and conquer the most unusual days worth of adversaries. The title suggests a weeks worth of book adventures ahead. The Will was destroyed physically torn apart into seven fragments and scattered across space and time. Arthur Penhaligon was at his new school on the first day. PE run asthma attack, helped by a girl (3 puffs from inhaler), went to call 911, A flash of light and odd man in a sort of wheel chair being pushed by an attendant. Explains that he must give Arthur the key wait until he dies and then get it back. so that he can claim he gave it up to one in the line of heredity. Sneezer picks up Arthur and holds while Mr. Monday utters something and goes to give him a blade and when Sneezer drops him on the grass and drops the blade in Arthur s open hand. Instantly Sneezer wrapped Arthur s hand around it, pain... but he could breathe. The other heas has to have it all. Monday questions Sneezer s motives. Says usually an idiot and how did he come up with this plan? In league with the Morrow Days? Trumpets letters in black ink formed on Sneezers skin then through the air, then Sneezer disappers, and something hits him on the head. a lim green clothed notebook... saw 4 words Heir, Monday, The Will 2 still in hospital mother (Dr. Emily) medical researcher and father musician guitar famous band Ratz 35 years ago. Robert (Plague Rat). |
fiction modern fantasy adventure good and evil |
| Catie and Josephine | Jonathan Scott Fuqua | 2003 | fantasy fiction |
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| The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld | Terry Pratchett | 2003 | A young witch to be, Tiffany, teams with the wee-Free-Men, clan of six inch blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland. Great play on words and use of puns. |
fantasy fiction Witch wee free men fairyland puns play on words |
| Sword of the Rightful King: A Novel of King Arthur | Jane Yolen | 2003 | Jane Yolen writes this story using fantasy and selections from different historical interpretations of Arthur, the various members of his court, and his adversaries. It relates well to English literature, history, and the political scenes for a variety of different types of government. Particularly the interesting interplay between perception and reality and how different entities of the government can try to manipulate them to achieve their goals. Prince Gawaine - of Orkney, believes King should be for power not birth right. Calls Gawaine to her tower...Good to let him stew... a stew long boiled makes easier eating. Casts a binding spell on Gawaine. Asks him to stay and rule? no will go back to Arthur s court. Asks him to spy for her. find out about all Arthur s companions. their strengths, weaknesses, faults... sexual and other... We prepare for his fall. Arthur says... Let s reason this out together. Gawaine we know him here he is sound. |
fantasy fiction historical King Arthur Great Britain knighthood magic middle ages |
| Green Angel | Alice Hoffman | 2003 | Green loses her family at fifteen and retreats into her ruined garden. She struggles to survive emotionally and physically. Imagery from 9-11 or the journey through adolescence and the struggle to finding yourself as an adult. Creative, thought provoking, and incredibly profound vivid and emotional imagery. | fiction realistic modern fantasy death destruction grief gardening Gothic imagery |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | J. K. Rowling | 2003 | It s Harry... However, the writing continues to get better with each book. Harry Potter on number four Privet Drive hot summer drought
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fiction modern fantasy good vs evil |
| The Tale of Despereaux | Katie Di Camillo | 2008 | Well written very engaging fantasy adventure to read aloud in primary grades. The author plays with the reader by using the word reader . Makes comments about the meaning of some word (perfidy). And uses a generally delightful tone - With a rope made of mice whiskers, He went up to see the light and ended in the Queen s soup... As he was running away he looked back and saw... the Princess s look that broke his heart... Despereaux Tilling a very small mouse with big ears and many talents Princess Pea, servent girl, and a rat. |
graphic novel fantasy fiction good bad evil living happily ever after vocabulary story elements |
Nathaniel is apprenticed to learn magic and encounters Simon Lovelace who humiliates Nathan in public.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Young Merlin Trilogy | Jane Yolen | 2004 |
Merlin, from his abandonment by his parents at the age of eight to the discovery of his powers at twelve. Three novels reimagine the origins of the legendary wizard. Trilogy includes: Passager, Hobby and Merlin |
fantasy magic |
| Children of the Lamp book one The Akhenaten Adventure | P. B. Kerr | 2004 | 12 year old twins Philippa and John discover they are descendants from a long line of djinn. Their mother sends them to Uncle Nimrod who takes them to Egypt to begin their education about their extraordinary powers. The training is interrupted with the necessity of dealing with the ongoing struggle between good and evil djinn and the potential change in the balance of power.potential change in the balance of power between Akhenaten s ghost and Iblis the leader of the Ifrit.Good adventure story with themes for strong family ties. | fiction modern fantasy djinn Cairo magical power adventure brother sister Egypt twins uncle family |
| The Bartimaeus Trilogy book 2 The Golem s Eye | Jonathan Stroud | 2004 | Book 2. Adventure of 14 year old Nathaniel. He hasn t the time he needs to grow into his magical abilities and powers as he continues to discover plots against him and others that are working against the powers of evil. Will he be able to discover himself and sort out the good from bad before it s too late. Bartimaeus is a powerful ally, but how committed can a djinni be when it knows you have the capacity for total control? | fiction fantasy djinni geni magic London England adventure |
| How I Live Now | Meg Rosoff | 2004 | Possibly one of the most talked about books of the year, Meg Rosoff's novel for young adults is the winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2004. John McLay Daisy (15) tells the story, in first preson, of how she is sent to England by her father and pregnant step mother. While in Englland a war breaks out while her Aunt is away on business forcing her and her cousins to fend for themselves. Embedded within this survival story are stories about adolescent trying to find themselves while growing up. Recognition of an eating disorder, and adolescent sex - emotional description not physical being two. Many opportunities for powerful student discussions on adolescent issues. Includes an Epilogue six years later. |
science fiction family relationships future war strifeEating disorder adolescent sex - emotional description not physical |
| Lizzie Bright and The Buckminster Boy | Gary D. Schmidt | 2004 | HIstorical fiction about race relations and injustice resulting from prejudice in a 20th century small Maine town. The main character struggles to deal with several conflicts beyond the obvious prejudicial ones as he grows to manhood. Black and white relations, minister s son and trying to fit into an adolescent culture, male and female, life and death, family responsibilities and personal desires - good and bad. The author s use of language makes a powerful story even more powerful with numerous insightful descriptions: ... you never touched a girl before? or you never touched a girl with black skin? I never even talked to someone with black skin. ... well never mind you re holding up your end just fine. ...seemed about as surprised at each other as new hope drying a last tear. - Books can be fire. Books can ignite fires in your mind, because they carry ideas for kindling, and art for matches. ... - Should a minister s son be reading this? Who better. ... everything in the world rejoices in the touch, and everything in the world laments in the losing. And with his hand still on the whale he... A must read for every middle school child in America. Newberry Honor Lizzie Bright Griffin Turner Buckminster Malaga Island off the coast of Maine Setting 1911 Phippsburg New Meadows, Turner Buckminster III, Lizzie Bright Griffin, Mrs. Elia Hurd, Mrs. Cobb, Deacon Hurd, Sheriff Elwell, Abbie, Perlie, Tripp, Mr. Stonecrop, , West Point, Hermit, Bald Head, Portland, Malaga Island, Phippsburg, Maine, Pownal Turner Buckminster lived in Phippsburg, Maine Son of a minister (will always be a minister s son) Lived there fifteen minutes shy of six hours. Not a single one of them grabbed his arms. They looked at him as if he d stepped in something they didn t want to be around. Baseball - throw the ball high in air and it drops on the plate. Turner disappointed Next day swim. Jump from cliff into surf forty feet below Turner no. Light out to the territories. All shutters of houses green except one yellow and red strawberry door. Throw rocks bounce hit fence Mrs. Cobb whose grandfather built the fence. Mrs. Elia Hurd meet Turner Buckminster III So Turner Buckminster III when you look through that number at the end of your name, does it seem like you re looking through prison bars? White shirt and starched. Lizzie Griffin introduced on Malaga Island several times before she meets Turner. Preacher Griffin s granddaughter. Takes dory to shore digs clams. Sheriff Elwell stereotyped language (monkey, one less colored, Phippsburg, dieing shipping business change to tourist. Turner must read and play organ for Mrs. Cobb for the rest of the summer. Mrs. Cobb tells Turner that she is going to die in this room. Play for her she sleeps, goes to clean blood from shirt and in underwear when she wakes and comes into kitchen Town group wants Malaga Island cleaned up. Can t handle own son how can he handle a congregation. Brought him here to move forward. First meets Lizzie after throwing a rock into the air and hitting him in the nose. Bloody Egg pudding page 50-51 on spoon, then fall when father is caught up in lecture, and Turner first wonders if his father really believed a single thing he was saying and mother for first time steps in and releases him from the white shirt and Mrs. Cobb. Mrs. Elis Hurd - You know why you got whipped? You were supposed to hit the boy in the eye. Don t be such a Christian, When you fight someone bigger than you are, you got to go for the nose then go for the eye ( hidden meaning on how to win an argument or take control of a situation) Lizzie catch Over island? Meet granddad and Abbie, Perlie, Tripp On way meet Sheriff Elwell and Mr. Stonecrop. Push change and removal of squalor from Malaga Island, they have a way of . Take home and tell Rev. went in Negro dory. New commandment not to island. Meet Lizzie at beach, fall bloody head, take to Island tide miss island, look into the eye of a whale, not touch, only can when you understand them. Deacon Hurd rescue on sloop. Stay away - They can make you think what they want to. Mr. Stonecrop Phippsburg pays the bill of those paupers father sermon walls of Jericho, so also should we blot out what is not wholesome, what is not good, what is not pleasing, and take up our own promised future. Amen Mr Stonecrop replies. Mrs. Cobb talks to Turner as going to shore. Play and if last words Plays enjoys. Talks to Mrs. Hurd no church god speaks to her, pounds her chest, here is where I listen. Song I Have Some Friends Before Me Gone. If play finish chorus before cover her. Father slaps that s how it feels when you humiliate me. Do you know what forbidden means? Island? No Shore! Forbidden. House two weeks. Three days Mrs. Cobb rescues.. Plays for a few days and Mrs. Cobb tells to go find Lizzie. Hurd said you don t care a penny s worth about me. That s a lie, That s what my grandfather said. Come to Mrs. Cobb s to hear play. Turner looked back and forth between Mrs. Cobb and Lizzie, both of whom seemed about as surprised at each other as new hope drying a last tear. Come tomorrow at high tide. Turner school at home. Mrs. Hurd gone and shutters painted green. Family affair. Home for the Feeble-Minded in Pownal. Schooling, afternoon off, see House on raft floating in sea. Tripp s house later Portland news paper forced off island Books can be fire. Books can ignite fires in your mind, because they carry ideas for kindling, and art for matches. Father gives Turner Origin of Species this is fire. Should a minister s son be reading this? Who better. Mrs. Cobb people take me to Lizzie doesn t show for nine days, go to see clamming. People trying to take house away. Go visit grandfather who is ill in bed. Seasons last baseball game of the season. Father told him to get ready. 12 foul balls and let s last ball fall to plate as strike three and walks away. Mom it s good for ministers to be embarrassed now and again. Helps them remember who they are. Wasn t sure about lighting out for the territories, he wondered if having a house wrapped around him wasn t something he wanted a whole lot more. Willis painting shutters yellow another brush? So why didn t you hit it? Because everyone expects green shutters. There is another brush in the pail Forbidden silently lifted island on way back Deacon Hurd. Yellow paint on tip of ear? Disease missionary gradfather Play Mrs. Cobb pass out write down last words. Safely to the mountain lead me. Safely to my heavenly home. Safely to Your mansions guide me. Never, ohh never, to walk alone. Wakes up no not die today what did you write NO you Can t get it right Oh hell it s warm here. Get me a ginger ale. Then does die, Lizzie straightens clothes and kisses I never saw anyone die before. Lizzie I did my mother, Grandfather is going to die. Rev Buck. Makes up last wods at funeral 23 Psalm Lie plant violets. Mrs. Cobbs will house to Turner. Mr. Stonecrop sly minister Mother Turner she gave the house to you because she wanted you to have it. I know what she wanted me to do with it. Then you better do it. Go on Turner disappoint him. Go do it Lizzie at Mr Eason s house, plant violets in the spring. Watch pine fall from cliff from weight of snow NOTHing stays the same, does it, said Lizzie. Tells house hers. Phippsburg is not going to let it happen. Not a person with skin as black as mine. And Turner began to believe in it less with the passing of time. Stonecrop see how those people have brought him to this? But I won t have it. I won t have a Negro living in Phippsburg. Willis tells Turner tonight, it s going to happen tonight. Goes to Mrs, Cobb s house. Cupola, See lanterns on island. Strike three he hears someone say and bolts the door. Out roof tree catches ground.. Sheriff Elwell shotgun blast right by his head. Knock you down boy. There is a lot of ways to knock a man down. Just a little while ago I took this shotgun away from Mr. Jake Eason. I wanted you to know what it was like, What one of your friends was about to do. Go home. Blow a shot gun by Lizzie s head (in Eason s house) As a matter of fact I didn t need to she just got up and went along quiet, like she was supposed to. Went where? Pownal. Leaped at him Pounding at him when his father pulled him away. Threw shotgun into sea. What you did tonight you didn t do for the town, you did for yourselves . The last thing Turner saw was his father s moonlit eyes. Father in coma. Turner goes to meeting where they were to dismiss father. Mr. Newton speaks out against town and for Rev. Buckminster. Tells mom wants you to know we will be moving from the parsonage to Mrs. Cobbs as soon as father can be moved. Willis tells about graves being moved and houses being burned down and where ever the cloud touched, it left ashes. Father s funeral My father is with God, just as the minister here says. But God didn t call him because he was doing God s work here, He wanted the pople of Malaga Island to live in a place that was their own. The best way to honor my father would be to rebuild the homes on the island and invite everyone back but I don t think you will do that. Turner, Mr. Newton, and Old Mr. Thayer covered the Rev turner Buckminster II vial of ashes from their own hearth and snow covered. Go to free Lizzie. Snow, Mr. Newton . Come to ask me to take you to Pownal You ll always be a minister s son. Don t be disappointed with what you might find. Iron fence with sharp spikes. Elizabeth Bright Griffin died ten days after coming to this institution. Turner felt the cold of the place come into him. He could not move. It was as though the bricks surrounded him and hi alone. He felt that he would never escape them, never see anyone he loved again, never see the ocean waves again. That he would always be cold, and the cold would be in him more than around him. Church, rejected all but Newtons What was in his father's eyes? What was it that the whale knew? Mr. Stonecrops shipyard failed and he left taking the investments of half the town. Hurds were penniless. Lady s sewing circle asked to come back to church. Turner told they would move in with them. Willis and Turner paint shutters yellow and door strawberry red. Lobster boat. Touch the whales, talk to Lizzie. Turner knows that everything in the world rejoices in the touch, and everything in the world laments in the losing. And with his hand still on the whale he wept for .. Willis was waiting on the doc with lanterns. Willis, said Turner, and he told him about the whales. Author s note |
historical fiction slavery injustice stereotypes prejudice Maine history 20th century minister Phippsburg race human relations multicultural moving family friends clergy |
| The Red Book | Barbara Lehman | 2004 | On the way to school a child finds a red book. Takes it to school and sees that there is a map inside. On the map is an island with a small dot that becomes another child that finds a red book in the sand. The children are suprised to see each other in each other s book. The girl in the city uses balloons to float away, drop her red book, and floats into the other red book and meets the other child. A third child on a bike finds the lost red book, picks it up, and bikes away. Maybe.. My interpretation since there are no words you may have a different one. |
picture book wordless fiction Caldecott Honor |
| The Voice That Challenged A Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights | Russell Freedman | 2004 | Aren t all Russell Freedman books top notch? | nonfiction Newberry Award winner |
| Kira-Kira | Cynthia Kadohata | 2004 | Japanese American sisters move from Iowa to rural Georgia during 1950-1960. Katie tells the story in first person and sister Lyn has lymphoma. Glittering beautiful desire for family to own their home, sky blue. Accelerated Reader puts at 4.5, but the themes are more for 11 or 12 year olds. |
historical fiction Japanese American 1950-1960 cancer lymphoma family optimism Newberry Award Winner 2005 |
| Kitten s First Full Moon | Kevin Henkes | 2004 | Creative use of black and white and milk and kittens. Pictures all black and white Mistakes moon for bowl of milk Pond big bowl of milk - jumps into it. Home mad can t get bowl of milk and arrives home to bowl of milk |
picture book Caldecott Award |
| Hank Zipzer: The World s Greatest Underachiever Holy Enchilada | Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver | 2004 | Humerous and interesting story line and use of language. Story of Hank Zipper centered around family, friends, and multicultural day at school. Sitcom in paper back, lite reading to inspire... Henry (Hank Zipper) best friend Ashley Wong, Frankie Townsend, Heather Payne (class genius) Principal Love What comes after Itchy knee? How do you answer that? ee-che, nee, is Japanese for 1, 2. Visitor from sister school in Japan and multicultural day. Yoshi Morimoto will stay for two days and spend time at one lucky student's home. Hank pick me... Draw from hat... Hank wins. At lunch Ms Adolf tries to talk him out of it. say may better other family. Hanks says if America is the land of diversity, then his family is very, very diverse. When get back to class Ms. Adolf asks Hank to make a list of ten things he would like to do with Yoshi at home and spelling counts. video games, burp contest, knuckle cracking contest (K? that one was hard to find in dictionary)... Shares list with Ms Adolf and she says I hop this is a joke? New list describe favorite subject in school, shore 3 facts about their country, write a poem, picture flave, native dance... Ask parents for permission... help clear table, tea, trip over Iquana, bow, practice for when Yashi get here. Yes, but bathroom wall paper? Dad can share mechanical pencil collection. Whole family vote yes. Even cheerio the dachshund Welcome Yoshi in Japanese characters sign. Art teacher Mr. Rock. The door... use it... stop making fun of people, you're welcome back. Intro Yoshi Mr. Rock he's what is called putting your best foot forward. Skate board, jeans, NY tee shirt silver sneakers porcupine gelled hair, taller than Hank. Can go meet him? Principal Will, boring, Hank! Actually class... wow maybe a human being inside her after all. All 32 down stairs to meet... Yoshi can speak English and Japanese. Warches US movies, TV Bart Simpson... learned English ... Principal and teacher come off as not too bright. Remarks also about US Higher education as place to go to become... Principal repeats things twice. Has a mole that looks like the statue of liberty with out torch. Talks about how to eat. Mallomar cookies. Two different colored sneakers that are the school colors with Velcro fasteners. Ikerie - cool Yoshi likes to draw Japanese superheros, likes music, Japanese rap. Play softball at recess hits home run Use chopsticks to see who could pick up smallest piece of food. Ashley won giggles. Uncle that is a Sumo wrestler. Favorite food is enchiladas with cheese. Papa Pete Jog up to school to meet after school. Go bowling and root beer float. Talk about paper bathroom and Iguana getting stuck to floor... Make goofy shopping list. Go shopping People waiting outside apartment to greet. Live on tenth floor. Mama Vita s Killer cheesy Enchiladas recipe on the web. How much chili powder? fraction Fear Freeze read lizard threw in 2-3 spoons. Robert on hands and knees making lizard sounds catches Katherine and Emily kisses him blush cage... Papa Pete call I ll pick you up and take to school tomorrow. Doesn t have a car... shows in limousine. Ms Adolf what? limo? extravagant? fun! fun not appropriate. How spicy? stop the camera I can't read.... hate feeling not as smart as other people. Rock, Principal take back to class before taste enchiladas. Rhinestones being taken didn't work... When got back it was full of wall to wall food. Ms. Adolf red face hissing like Golem in The Lord of the Rings and then water... shiicy... spicy... fart run to bathroom Tell Mr. Morimoto the truth ZIP 10 reasons Mr. should not eat that Enchilada. I put too much chili pepper. Why not follow recipe? asked principle love. the big question. Statue of liberty was staring at me laughing. I had trouble reading the recipe. Mr. Rock rescue with me too they get splattered with tomato sauce, gravy, peanut butter and jelly... Your learning problems are your business, you tell who you want to tell. Ms Adolf returns... Henry I m sorry. For what. I didn't eat the enchiladas... It was McKelty's pigs in a blanket... OH Yeah life is good. McKelty made the teacher ... Japan horseradish is WASABI Emily - Hank was once personally attacked by (143) a small pile of wasabi.,... He put up a good fight, though, Good thing to say could have... Mr. M tastes, tears, great, what is it Zing... Very good... Kicks butt. ate more ... Thank you for an excellent meal. Video to show how made enchiladas. Later at home Yoshi gives silver shoes. Gave him Met's sweatshirt. Katherine TV star ask Ashley to be her manager. She's considering. Dad showed Mr. M his M.P. collection and Mr. M has a floaty pens collection. Probably was the longest talk on the planet ever about pens and M.P. Mom delighted when Mr. M used bathroom and liked the wall paper with pagodas. Papa Pete brings Garlic Dills from the deli and they eat on the deck, Say goodbye. Hank tells truth about his dyslexia. the best things come from the heart. Bowed to each other. I glad we didn't follow the recipe. |
realistic fiction learning disabilities underachiever humor school friends city apartment family recipe |
| The Sea of Trolls | Nancy Farmer | 2004 | Very good story involving magic, legends, Vikings, trolls, dragons, bards, adventure, quest, duty to family.. Themes of life and death, being able to choose your destiny or having it decided, what is a life for? Very good adventure story with some great language and timeless questions of existence. Ties in to myths and legends particular Norse and English. Jack February Cold Mom, Dad-Giles Crookleg farmer, and Lucy - lost Princess Father tells Lucy stories that she is a Princess and was carried off by Trolls. Jack tends sheep, thinks of Adam's sin and God and why punishment for 100 years? Giles wanted to be a priest but parents were poor and couldn t afford it. Went to Holy Isle to get leg fixed, couldn't Jack takes food to Bard who lives in the Roman house, came two years ago and started giving orders. Knows magic Jack s mom seems to know magic, talk to animals? bees Bard talks to Jack and asks if he would be his apprentice. Dad needs me. So arranges it so Chief s son and blacksmith s son will work for you. Can go home on Sundays and help mom with bees when needed. Move to Bards. Watch world and learn songs Dream of Trolls (Jotuns) Father s complaints are like crows easing disappointments of life. Walk three days in woods. Bard has vision that King Ivar the Boneless and wife Queen Frith (half Troll) are planning to invade and raid. Sit quiet and all comes to you. It is a long slow process and you Jack opened the door too soon. Feel the life force. People didn t want to be animals so they walled off the life force to be able to choose their destinies. Valley of Lunatics in Ireland is where all failed Bards are drawn. Graduated Bard and went to Hrothgar s golden hall as he needed a Bard. Practice harp, magic, stories, fire (6 times - know when to quit), anger belongs to death. Life and death are constantly struggling. No way for happiness to exist alone. Hrothgar s golden hall is too beautiful it attracts destruction. Ogre Trolls hate light, laughter, and feasting. Come bite head off 10 soldiers and took bodies home. Warriors avenge, found Grendel had a protection from weapons charm. Beowulf attacked when Ame tore off arm restraining him, went to Swamo and died. Mother Frothi came to Hall took son s arm back to Hrothgar and hung it over fireplace. Beowulf called, but she didn t come. I ll go ... wait ... spells... Down... didn t return H and warriors left Bard exchange bodies with pike swim, beautiful women half troll, fish jump into castle flop around, she switches to troll battle... celebrate story poem... Jotuheim sister Frith. Sent fire dragon Beowulf too old... fought died. Ivar Boneless sucked marrow out. Turned to half mad tyrant last good thing did was to put me adrift in the Caracle. Jack goes to shore to celebrate 1 year and finds box of a Berserker... (make drink from plant). Tells Bard. Bard says to tell people don t attack run into the forest and let neighbors fight. Hide stuff and then we work. Only Brother Aiden survived. Jack it s like Hrothgar s hall all bright things attract destruction. What now? We make the biggest fog. Another day more fog. Bard gets a fever. Jack used mom s medicine. Bard Nightmare: Go to forest, home. Lucy wouldn t stay in forest had to come home. Mom in garden. Says they will come on the Roman road. Hears Lucy calling doesn t want to become human again, anger, Lucy ... cry... I ll come to you. Voices... hunting horn... rabbit... leaving... Lucy... Knights to take me back... Here I am ... escapee no stay and die with her, blackness... wake... sick at sea. sister... Thorgil found and took Lucy. She will he her thrall. Haack belongs to Olaf One-Brow. I will kill her if you displease me. Thorgill is Olaf s Shield maiden. Storm, go to shore, rain, slaves, knight always gets worse before knight. Sail land town sell slaves not Lucy offer not enough. Hack offer was less, but saves himself by singing and saying he is a Bard. Olaf decided he would like a Bard and doesn t sell him. Gives back the dagger the Picts offered for Jack, picked up Jack and left. Sailed fine wind, Olaf teachers Jack. Norse have different heavens and people wind up with the afterlife they expect, so have a good one. Skald = Bard. Thorgil tells Olaf Jack trained by Dragon Tongue and the Queen sent a nightmare to kill him and they should have searched for the body. Jack remembers seeing crow before with missing left foot before Bard lost his wits. Sees crow at see calls him down, names him Bold Heart. Call wind, rain, sink boat... stops... row sing Fame never dies Stop along shore, drink Wolf s brew, go berserk attack village. Thorgil mad because she is left on boat. Burn village, murder, pillage, silver, salt, horse (Cloud Mane) Jack goes to watch and write his song. Rune will give him one. Practice verses - complicated, nothing called by its true name. more variations you work in the better. because that helps create the magic. Songs draw power from Yggdrossil (great tree that rises through 9 worlds- life force. Bold heart takes Lucy s toys. Jack talks to him. Others think witchcraft, magic, and crow is his familiar. Thorgil attacks Jack, Olaf stops. Jotuns - Trolls walked over icy Sea of Trolls. Trolls don t lie, or talk, they thin in your head. Can t be ambushed by them because they can t lie or think lies at you. Berserkers can fight Trolls because they are out of their minds and Trolls don t know what they are thinking. Thorgil sees Jack play with charm, fight, touch it and gets burned. Queen half troll, shape shifter, no hold on reality, hates everything. Reach Olaf s home Thorgil alone... Dogs greet her. Speaks to them in Saxon. Thorgil born to Allyson Thorgrim, greatest Berserker ever. Wanted a son, rejected her, sent to woods to die. Dogs found and suckled her. Because of that they could reject her and had to raise her, but they didn t talk to her. In the morning Jack was put in his slave collar. Thralls tell him to clean pig stye. Trick to get him with Golden Bristles (troll boar). He sings to it, pets it and uses magic. Bullies thralls with fear to get them to clean the pigs.... Later they a get along fine. Find out that Golden Bristles is to be sacrificed in Freya s Fen Skakki is Heidi s and Olaf s son. Heidi tells Olof not to take Jake and Lucy to court or it will be his doom. On way to hall to see King Ivar they meet guests Sven the Vengeful, Egil Long-Spear, and Tree foot (wooden leg carved by Olaf, because his was bit off by a troll). Queen was cold, but if looked at her she was beautiful and made you warm. Rund said don t look. She will pull you to where she is between two worlds. Thorgil gives Lucy who tells Frith the story of her being a Princess that was stolen by trolls...and Lucy calls Frith MOM. Lucy asked to join Berserkers. Olaf gives necklace of leaves to Frith, So Thorgil gives up first capture and necklace and doesn t get to be a berserker. Queen Frith wants Jack but Olaf says no. King said sing Olaf s praises. Jack sings Frith Olaf s praise Song, Listen, ring-bearers, while I speak Of the glories of battle, of Olaf, most brave. Generous is he, that striker of terror. Lucky are they who sit in Olaf s hall, Gifted w with glory, treasure, and fame. The wolf-headed men call him leader. Odin s skull-pickers name him friend... Very long poem wonderful... Is this Skald a gift, asked Ivar? No, old friend, I have given you much of my beauty... I am ashamed to appear greedy, bow head. I have never though of you as greedy. Then I suppose that means I am, said the Queen. Take something else... War horse. Fighting the Queen s beauty, and the cats around his legs, fear, This land has laws, Ivar is King, he s told you not to take me. I ll sing your praises, Great Queen, but I must honor King Ivar s will. Sing me a praise song... Call off cats... They are not mine they are Freyas... Mention of cats, one bites Jack, Shouts, spell broken and Jack feels the life force strongly. Frith s hair detached itself from her head and fell t the floor with a little sigh. Frith screams... Bold heart, Crow seen in rafters.... Rune whispers, that was the biggest snit I ever saw. Go to unhitch oxen from Golden Bristles cart. Jack cuts leather straps. Good-bye, piggy, whispered Jack. Golden Bristles escapes. The King wants Olaf, Jack, and Rune and Thorgil. Queen - I want him punished. Rune - if you do, you ll never get hair back. He was trained by dragon tongue. Freya priestess agrees only person cast spell can undo it. Remove spell. I don t know how. Rune - he can get magic from the Well of Mimir in Jotunheim. Quest. safe passage with Queen s chess piece. Save Lucy if back before need to sacrifice. Olaf kills grouse, eat cave, sleep, food cache in tree, night noise and food gone in morning, Day - Jack sees dragon eat elk Thorgil bath because smell from cleaning grouse and will draw dragon or troll bear. writes poem... better than Jack... never because I am a warrior not poet... Girls can t write poetry. Troll bear, attack drink wolf brew. fame never dies Jack - Why everyone want to die? What s wrong with living: Troll bear Crow eye, Olaf foot, Thorgil foot stuck, rescued by Jack Olaf and bear break through tree fall Olaf dying. Thorgil made his daughter of my heart. Give chess piece, sun stone for Skakki, Thor s hammer, Funeral pyre, poem fire, Thorgil die? If killed by thrall go to hel. Dragon thinks fire is invading dragon or honoring Olaf... flies over and screams. 292 It made me what I am today. Being beaten... living with dogs... Maeve. Jack make crutch, staff, go, argue with Thorgil, on quest need to the honorable thing for Olaf your father. You are right I will... Odin wasn t allowed to drink until sacrificed something of importance. His eye. The path is guarded by Norns and they choose who finds it. The Norns keep the Yggdrassil tree alive. They decide what you will be when you are born. Feel like donkey in a lead mine. miserable die. Thorgil lean on him, carry Bold heart. Dragon catches them and takes to her 4 dragonlets. Bold heart talks to mom and she flies off. tells larger male dragon take advantage and take charge... Kills 3 sisters by throwing them off cliff. Victory scream... Thorgil stabs between plates and kills. Dragon returns to nest. Sneak down to valley, Thorgil leads the way. berries, birds, chicks, didn t kill... apples, walnuts... Troll boar... Golden Bristles... Jack remembers Lucy... Thorgil talk to Golden Bristles, practicing seider... you lied to me! No I didn t. I don t know what he says, but I do know what the birds are saying. Heard owls talk about valley and water where the dragon is forbidden to go. You re like Sigurd... dragon blood turned you into a witch. Stay in valley recuperate, When leave see owls starving, enchanted. Pick up and carry out of valley. Golden bristles going to Queens cave because she is a good friend. Talk pig, crow, Jack Thorgil... Cross rainbow ice bridge. Ride Troll boar. Eagle talons Jack s back, fall off hang by tied cloak, Jack faint and wake in bed Jotuns. Troll from and sister Forath. We don t eat humans anymore. Especially with the Queens missing chess piece. Frith sent? Queen loved Olaf and since I m his daughter... Thrall collar? Thorgil removed. I inherited you and said on return to set you free, but decided to do so now. Queen Glamdas Golden throne help quest with Norns, but they obey no one not even the gods. Norns come to play chess. don t speak unless spoken to. What is stronger than gods? time. the Norns are time itself. Norns summon Jack. I serve the life force I don t believe in Ragnarok Ice walls fall away and back to valley... Mimir s well? The ash tree Yggdrassil. Creatures feed on it. Mimir s well tornado of bees, sit think peaceful... happy, up hill well, look (will I see Odin s eye at the bottom?) reach for bucket and great force swats him away and rolls down the hill. Thorgill - told you must sacrifice something important. Jack - don t believe in sacrifice, I believe in the life force and Odin was an idiot. Thorgil - rage I ll kill myself for you you after I draw the water from the well. I offer my life to Jack so he may heal the Queen Frith, and save his sister. I swear by... 366. goes up hill, bees not hurt her, reach for bucket, swat, roll down hill. I will kill myself anyway. Jack - rune of protection crystal around neck... Put on Thorgil... Thorgil - Mother, I can see her in my mind. Queen Glamdis? No my real mother. Thorgil stories of how she mistreated people and dogs, who showed compassion/love for her. I feel strange. I don t want to kill myself. I don t want to fall in battle. I lack the desire to slash and burn and kill. You have given what you love Berserk and I the charm we can both drink from the well. Walk up hill hand in hand. No bee tornado gone and bees dancing, get bucket, lower into well, sweet smell of life, drink, smell taste sweet full of life. Thorgil new found beauty in everything. Jack fill bottle for Rune. Nonrs say no. He gave his voice in service of people and his greatest poem to me and he s too old to come, he deserves it. and poured rest out on Yagdrassil s roots. Instead of cutting off his ear or something the giving of the talisman created a win win ... selfless act. Return to Mountain Queen sleeping. Food dust (Norns enjoy turning food to dust). Fight for the same land. never give up. to refuse to battle would do neither of us honor. Ragnarok Give vloaks spun of spider silk, take colors around hide from dragon. Don't go near rocks on side of valley, walk next to river, travel by dark, hide by day. reach forest go North around field of flowers, follow elk trail. Gave staff (Fire wizard) never bring back. Last part of trail decide to walk in day. Dragon... go to hide in rocks... spiders caught. Tied to top of tree. Crow. sing by twanging the web and put spider to sleep. Bold heart brings four white birds (owls) to thank Jack for saving their lives. Reach shore, fire, ship Eric Pretty Face - killed sea serpent and head on ship, Rune asks where is Olaf? Morning Rune drinks well water. Thorgil poem, talk to birds, nothing wrong accept her Olaf did. Skakki - you are right... I name you sister. Wait Queen Frith calls, visit, messy room , fat... filthy... Lucy... she was disappointment, rage, feel fire easy to call in staff. Thorgil hand on Jack without here no healing This will restore your hair he was no longer a mere boy but an agent of the Norms. They spoke through him. Take one-third of the cats hair, a white clothe to catch the moonlight, put the hair on it, lie down... beauty restored at Zenith. Cuts all hair from cats. Jack free Lucy and Heide, Thorgil cats chase Frith into Fen. Freya call her kitty... Lucy clean up, cut hair, talk, toys, Bold heart... give back, when go home? Lucy - tired of adventure. Thorgil and Skakki. Thanks rid us of Frith. All bright things invite destruction. Rune - Life and death constant battle no way for happiness to exist alone. Thorgil - I have written a poem... Jack and Jill went up... won t last because it s silly. Its fame will never die. Thorgill necklace silver leaves gives to Lucy Left Jack and Jill Norse legend of two children sent by their father to collect song-mead from Mimir s Well. On their way back, with a full bucket of mead, they were carried off by the moon god. |
fantasy fiction family brother and sister Northland druids Vikings trolls Saxon Bards Jack and Jill |
| Sahara Special | Esme Raji Codell | 2004 | Another nonstop read by Esme. Every page is more compelling than the one before. no question you will turn these pages to the end. A must read for teachers. Particularly in grade 4-6. Sahara a fifth grade girl struggles with the loss of her father while maturing emotionally and intellectually in a Chicago neighborhood. language use is incredible. I felt like I was floating on the ceiling, like smoke from something burning. It s like they re walking on ice, and the ice is made of other people s opinions. The only reason a girl your age should wear makeup is if she s a rock star or a hooker, and the minute you start showing promise in either of those areas we ll hop on down to Target and stock you up with everything you need, she promised. Don t tell auntie I said that, now. Loving children is what teachers do for extra credit. It s not the main assignment. Sahara and Darrell Sikes sit in hall... I was proud, really proud of my mom not being afraid of failure. I am. I;d sooner not try than fail. They may think I am stupid, but I m not. Knowing I m not stupid is enough for me, I m enough for me. Mother signs papers to retain... Oh thank you, Darrell Sikes, for being wild and nasty and rude and getting me out of the Program and makin me Normal Dumb, not Special Dumb. I owe you one, Darrell Sikes. Was she thinking I loved her less because I missed my daddy more? I felt like I was floating on the ceiling, like smoke from something burning. Can t a women get a divorce without her kid going special ed on her? If I could have put out a cup, I would have made some change. 2- It s like they re walking on ice, and the ice is made of other people s opinions. But there s something not-nice about shy people, too. Something kind of stingy in the way they make you talk first, and then their answers are just one word. That s why it took so long for Rachel to join us upper graders in double Dutch. Always holding back. I had to go over to the fence, special, to get her. I m going to be a writer. The only reason a girl your age should wear makeup is if she s a rock star or a hooker, and the minute you start showing promise in either of those areas we ll hop on down to Target and stock you up with everything you need, she promised. Don t tell auntie I said that, now. What she does with Rachel is her business. ...nothing more attractive than a sensible girl... to who? God... if mom had to name her best friend, I might top the list. ... dad could do anything... he liked to try new things.... all the time. 3- When I read books the rest of the world melts away. In a story if you write a happy ending it never has to change. It stays happily ever after. Paris... imagine if best friend ... 4- First day of fifth grade for the second time. New teacher... I don t want to give them any more material for their precious file on me. We are not even blinking, frozen like statues in our first-impression pose. 5- I couldn t decide if she was white, Asian, Puerto Rican, or light-skinned black. Flowers, diploma, Madame Poitier, rules... yes looking, yes listening, yes consideration... schedule puzzling time travel and world exploration or mad science, read aloud, read together, read alone, art of language. You each owe me two dollars journal. I don t know that Sakiah tells on people yet, So far, I onlyknow that about you. Assign Darrell Sikes to watch her back, since he was concerned about it. Boring is a swear word. I am a writer I believe you 6- I knew why I was angry at my teachers, at my counselor. I don t know why Darrell is angry. At everybody. Aesop 7- George Washington and cherry tree. Accountability means, if you ve got the guts to do soemthing, at least have the guts to say you ve done it. Darrell s mom comes in accuses Miss Pointy of calling him a jackass... We don t swear in my classroom. Hardly ever. And we don t hit. Much. Journaling 8- Stickers. none. Luz sticker take (she ahs plenty), Paris offer to see her journal. sticker on floor Paris picks up, gives to Luz, accuses her of stealing it... Recess Paris.. you going to take care of your business? I need a trouble basket. 9- rachel s brother flu, watch... Saharah sick homework... I brought it... That was nice of you, Especially since she doesn t do it, does she? Well, it s still hers, to do or not do.... She is going to be a writer... I didn t say she was... Read to her.. leave lots of pens and paper around... You know she has been held back? It will be great material... artist stuffer... I lent two bucks.. you advance her? Now? Now s good. You really haven t read the file on her. Can I read it, sorry it s hers now, you ll have to ask her. she wouldn t rip out blank pages, would she? I like snooping, too... I ve never failed a child. She, on the other hand, may fail herself. Failing other people? Never occured to me. Failing myself, I could handle failing other people, just say I m sorry, but my self? I didn t want to fail myself, I didn t know how to appologize. WRITE in journal share with Rachel. 10- Special ed comes for Darrel... lies about paper she has from his mother about him not being pulled out... Put poem on Darrell s chair... Sometimes I look in his journal.... well don t get caught. Talks about her WRITING didn t time travel... to get this good? Extraordinary? it s all there... talent. Earned sticker and gave it to Luz. 11- At home, he was beaten. He was poor. When he walked to school, the trees didn t talk to him. When he came to school, the children didn t talk to him. After some time, he started feeling jealous, too. Why can t I read? Why can t I write? Why can t I have friends? We became quiet. He couldn t act angry at his father or he would beat him.... classmates.... who was left? teacher... Loving children is what teachers do for extra credit. It s not the main assignment. I wish she was not my teacher. He wanted to hurt someone, because it felt like someone was always hurting him. Miss Pointy makes up story of teacher and apple and student... 134- Wish box - I wish for the letters in my file. Club library - meeting on Saturday 12-I ve told you enough stories, You tell me... Sahara Jones name 157 and her story... Writes like a grown up. story in library... Darrell moral of story... proud... cactus with red flower and Sahara s file. Darrell you sent me that dumb poem... I am not an orphan... neither are you... I know. 13- Dar daddy, I love you. I miss you. I hope someday you re smart enough to be sorry, but if you re not, that s okay. I m smart enough not to keep all this in my file. Love, your daughter and secret writer. Sahara Jones, now and forever. Write about teacher and students. poem ... it was extra credit. www.planetesme.com |
realistic fiction view of inside a fifth grade classsroom from a student s perspective single family retention special ed writing figurative language |
| The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place | E. L. Konigsburg | 2004 | Margaret Rose Kane is sent to summer Camp Talequa by her parents as they head off to Peru. Margret would rather have stayed with her Uncles Alex and Morris Rose. Unknow to her there reason to seemingly reject her was their concern for her as they didn t want her present as their towers were being demolished. Great story of family, free will, persistence in maintaining ones values, creative expression, use of words, particularly clever play on words, and social activism. Other people s response from this book agree it s - fantastic Konigsburg know how to write a story. Margaret Rose Kane goes to summer camp at Camp Talequa as parents go to Peru. Margret handcuffs to tower... Next day six girls climb refuse to come down over weekend Loretta company buys from Margret and plans to relocate to hill... Later becomes center of housing development where all seem to live. |
realistic fiction family summer camp art social activism individuality Hungarian Americans clever play on words |
| Kingdom of the Golden Dragon | Isabel Allende | 2004 | The second book in a trilogy. The first being City of the Beasts. Adventure continues on a different continent with the same characters of good. An adventure of a struggle for preservation of the ancient way against people that would exploit them for personal gain. The intrigue is still here, but a small step below City of the Beasts. Buddhist monk, Tensing and his disciple, Prince Dil Bahadur, Brave heart, in Himalayas seeking rare plants in the Valley of the Yetis.... Find dragon excrement... has magical properties... shield, transport, cure broken bones in minutes... Are found by Yetis who think they are gods come to help them. Grr-ympr, wise women, said. Taught them to milk chegnos. What is making them sick and children die? Water master... Lavender colored water must be strictly forbidden. Showed short cut to Chenthan Dzong monastery and said farewell. In NY Alexander Cold, Jaguar, and grandmother Kate Cold, diamonds from People of the Mist, finance Diamond Foundation for People of ... Kate and professor Lebalnc set up. Nadia Santos (Eagle) had a black monkey (Boroba), photographers Timothy Bruce and Joel Gonzalez... (see City of Beasts) Fly to New Delhi. Visit king see tapestry with winged dragons like they saw in the City of the Beasts. Acupuncture, salve, food meditation Charge cave, blue warriors, Take different way and send girls to village. Need to lower over cliff, need more rope, clip hair, braid rope lower all 4 send on way. Nadia wants to stay and go too... Leave go to valley of Yetis. Grr-ympr is dying. Want some warriors to help, Will if cure me... Can't Trades himself for six years to help after her death for warrior's help. yes free to die. helicopter.. take off... jumps out... air crash...ten Yetis chase lue warriors... Father tells to go immediately to the Chamber of the Golden Dragon... GPS medallion... figure it out. Allows Nadia and Alex to go... Tells 1. marry a women as strong as you. 2 preserve the natural world and traditions. trust nothing from outside. 3 don't [punish Judit. Seek counsel from the Golden Dragon? Lean closer... Dil give dragon droppings for Alex's mom |
modern fantasy greed himalayas golden dragon statue family friends supernatural budahism respect for all living things respect for life adventure |
| Fish | L. S. Matthews | 2004 | Powerful story of a family that seeks to escape from a civil war in Africa. The author delves into human nature and the struggle of survival under a cloud of mistrust and fear of persecution and death. Is survival possible without trusting someone? If not, how do we decide who and when to trust someone not only with our life, but the life of our family members? Mom, Dad Tiger, plays in mud puddle, begins to dry up, worry about fish, save... |
historical fiction survival war refugees trust fear persecution elitism |
| Gifts | Ursula K. Le Guin | 2004 | Ursula K. Le Guin tells a tale of contrasts between worlds and people. Set in a fantasy world where families compete to create unions for security to pass their gifts through generations. By telling tales within tales she helps the reader understand how the characters are caught in their feudal history and the lineage of the parents. The story of Orrec, the main character, is of a boy coming of age and his struggle to find his place within his family and his responsibilities. Only Le Guin could create such an intricate thought provoking tale set in fantasy with themes recognized through all time and all worlds within 274 pages, powerful. | science fiction dystopian society frowing up adolescence family responsibility taking chances |
| The Supernaturalist | Eoin Colfer | 2004 | 14 year old Cosmo Hill is unwanted by parents sent to Satellite City Clarissa Frayne Instutute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Put to work by the state. Escape or die. Supernaturalists parasites... Part Blade Runner part Dickens; Midnight Rider, Ghost Busters, Men in Black, War of the Worlds... Action adventure |
science fiction future satellite troubled adolescents supernatural action adventure |
The City of Ember |
Jeanne DuPrau | 2004 | The city of Ember was designed to save humans from extinction. The builders created the city and supplied it so the inhabitants could survive 220 years. They gave a box, with a time lock, to the first mayor, with instructions to pass it down from mayor to mayor. However, over the years the box becomes misplaced, city is failing, and many citizens are bogged down in their traditional roles. Two young children, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are turning 12. A time to be assigned to their life long jobs. Lina is assigned as a pipe works laborer and Doon a messenger. Lina wants to be out and about, not down under the city, and Doon wants to fix the cities generator, which is accessible to a pipe worker so they switch jobs. Lina’s baby sister finds the builders box, tares, and chews on the papers inside it. Lina thinks they are from the builders, but can’t get any officials interested in them. So she tries to solve the mystery and confides in Doon. Together they discover the mayor is corrupt and officials try to catch and jail them. As they piece enough of the message together they escape down river to … Taking Poppy with them they arrive at the entrance of the city, find a diary, send a message to the city and leave … |
modern fantasy science fiction future city dystopian society growing up good v. evil |
| Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World | Katherine Hannigan | 2004 | It was one of those days that start right and just keep heading toward perfect until you go to sleep. My insides started itching and my feet started hopin, one then the other, because they were ten minutes past ready to go. So I decided to speed things up a bit. These are quotes from Ida B. The book is filled with interesting descriptive language as well as a great story about Ida B and her struggle to accept change and how people that believe in children can make a difference by believing in goodness will prevail. Also very supportive of reading and writing. Great story particularly for teachers. Author notes Ida B Applewood, Mama, Daddy, Lulu - cat, Rufus - slobbery Dog Apple trees have names, ... one of those days that start right and just keep heading toward perfect until you go to sleep,... My insides started itching and my feet started hoppin, one then the other, because they were ten minutes past being ready to go. So I decided to speed things up a bit. Help wash dishes with parents, play in orchard, talk to trees and brook. Made a soap mask to keep her face clean without having to wash it all the time. We don t own the earth. We are the Earth s caretakers. Dad says. and when we are done with it, we should leave it better than we found it. Ida B. I think the earth takes care of us, too. Go to school kindergarten, we will use given names not nicknames. not Ida B. Ida. needed to wait till it was time... When is time for fun stuff? I would never be able to make a plan again. Thought fot in a class for bad kids. Told mom... This will not do. Try tomorrow... Mom decides to go to school to visit. Decides to home-school and told Ida you would have to good on test or go back to that school. NO problem Ida said and that is how it went for 4 years. It was finer than fine. Mom Dr. appointment, lump, cancer surgery chemotherapy, Mom tired... Dad ahd to sell part of the orchard to pay medical bills and told Ida he can t take care of the farm and teach her and mom is too tired. Need to go to school. Argue with dad... says that s how it s got to be. Decides she will, but not going to like it or accept it and heart changed to sharp, balck stone small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. So hard no one could break it and so sharp it would hurt anybody who touched it. She decided she would not like anything or anybody and she would win. School thinking over and over I hate this over and over... Teacher what would you like to be called? Nickname? no Ida. Play at recess? no... Made posters to hang on house being built to scare new people away. Ms. Washington everyday at recess came and sat beside Ida and asked if there is anything she would like to talk about. It got harder and harder to say no day after day. Silent reading Ms. Washington asked her to help Ronnie to learn his multiplication tables. Hi Ronnie, first time talked to anyone in school. Want to play a game? Brain game? For money? Another day, voice to tired to read. Ida? yes. She read to the class like Ms. Washington from her practicing at home. Had to tell about reading at home. Meet Claire, the new girl next door, and yelled at her and her brother even though Claire had tried to be nice to her at school. and Claire said right to her eye... YOU re mean. and walked away. Decided to confront parents with an edict of never to sell... and give them an ultimatum to sign. Parents preemted her and asked if she would like to plant more apple trees. NO way how unconsiderate... Dad get real mad... breathes, waits, calm and says... Mom... I know it s been hard, maybe we should have talked more.... Ida not going to let them in again. Ida worried about Claire retaliating... watched and waited... What if Claire was right and I was plain mean? Asked to read and says can t. Afraid other would be thinking she was mean. Talks to Ms. Washington, listens, ... Did you ever? ... yes, ... what did you do? ... I just had to say I m sorry. Plans to apologize. Can t find time, Claire knows she is following her tells her to stop. After school walks to her house and tells her she is sorry that she scared her. Also told little brother and that she would never do it again. Like spring cleaning.... Appologize to trees that she couldn t protect them. Recess Ms. W. Anything you want to talk about? Look her in the eye and said no ma am and smiled. Ronnie asks to play dodge ball. asks a bunch of questions and does. hit out longer second time. Mama asks her to read the story to her she read in class.... The silence needed me to cross it. All right I said... glow traveled around the room. Daddy walk? okay, mom? no too tired. Dad. We are the earth s caretakers, Ida B. I was surprised to hear that... are you all right? I m sorry.Hand on shoulders, looked deep into his eyes as deep and hard as I could, till I could tell that the sorrow that was in there was paying attention. Then I nodded my head, twice. And that was it. All right, daddy said. Daddy yes Ida B. i think the earth takes care of us. I think you re right, Ida B, he told the sky and the stars and thevalley, and then we headed on home. A quiet chorus came back riding on the breeze. |
realistic fiction family cancer home schooled Wisconsin apple orchards saying sorry apologizing conflict resolution |
| Abarat: Days of Magic Nights of War | Clive Barker | 2004 | Candy Quackenbush quest in Abarat continues as she makes a startling realization as to who she is, and the forces of night plan for war. Imagination, characters, plot, setting, story, writing, use of art... Everything in this book is creative. After reading the first I thought it was a bit off the wall. Reading the second puts it on the wall and everywhere else. I can't wait to see and read the third and discover the latest in Candy's quest. Small edited sample:
As the nightmares feed on Todo's fears in the background. Okay, I did select probably the most graphic, but what s a quest without danger? Trust me it all comes together in a great story. I think the use of art in the book may make these pieces a landmark in the history of children's literature.
Candy and Malingo on Yzil (Noon-Day island) and see the goddess breathing out a living creature. The means by which most species in the Abarat were brought into creation by the Creatrix.Wizard Wolfswinkel was Malingo s master from which he escaped with Candy s help. He read Wolfswinkel s magic books and learned magic, but won t teach Candy because he says he doesn t know enough about it. Part 2 things neglected, things forgotten Comfort tree Hotel where Norma Lipnik gave Candy the tour and the ghost Henry Murkitt and his beloved wife Diamanda left him and the town council changed the name of the town from Murkitt to Chickentown. Graffiti of HIGHER GROUND. Norma concluded that the graffiti was the work of a dead man Henry Murkitt, but what did it mean. Norma goes to the room and summons Henry who appears. Norma runs and tells the staff. Later as the whole town learns about it a crowd assembles, police come. Meanwhile Lavinia remembers the gossip that came to her from her daughter-in-law Vivien about the Comfort Tee Hotel. That Norma suspected the ghost wrote the message in room nineteen as a warning. She connected that to the salt air, the jetty, blue lobster... and knew she had to warn everyone starting with Vivian. Unable to overcome the panic attack that overcame her she tried to reach the phone, but couldn t. Soon the pain was so intense she whispered enough and her heart heard her and she was gone. Part 3 A time of monsters part 4 The sea comes to chickentown Wormwood sinks, you re young Geneva said Death doesn t move you so much, because you can t imagine it ever happening to you. Candy contemplated for a moment, I think I can. Are we going, staying, boat pulls chimney over, all run to safety of roof, don t want to go... |
modern fantasy family abuse adventure art multimedia |
| Among the Brave | Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2004 | Men in grey coats, people being killed, people being led off in handcuffs, secret rooms, riots, population police, and being a third child is some of what Luke has to deal with at the beginning of this story. WIll he survive? If so how and will there ever be a time when the population police are not in control and people will be free to make personal decision? men in gray uniforms building fence around Grant s house. Line to join the population police. try under fence. electric! zap, guards Mark dragged off. |
science fiction population control society freedom fear coping panic attacks adventure |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | 2004 | Fantastic story of intrigue, art theft, and problem solving to recover a master piece. Calder, sixth grade girl mysteriously finds a book. Suddenly this book seems to be getting more involved in her life than any ordinary lost item should. Class assignments, people she meets, and other happenings seem to be related somehow to this book. Trying to understand unusual people, hidden messages in pictures with frogs and codes to decipher messages, and solve the mystery becomes her obsession. WIthin the story the reader is introduced to pentominoes, different views of art, and the University of Chicago as the setting. Great mystery and use of problem solving. Other people that I have talked to that have read this book agree. lausability is a stretch due to ESP? |
modern fantasy Vermeer art mystery detective story friendship pentominoes Chicago University frog |
| The Keys to the Kingdom: Grim Tuesday | Garth Nix | 2004 | It s the second day of the week and the second book in The Keys to the Kingdom. Will continues in his quest for a return to normalicy in his world and with his family, although normalicy with his family is not a typical normal. However, the main action for this adventure is not on Earth and his family is unaware of his recent acceptance of this responsibility. Nix has created not one world, but seven connected to each other and life on Earth. Mere happenstance saved Will s life, but involved him in the creation of what will be the future of the entire universe . Keys is the adventure of that quest to attain and distribute the keys in amanner that saves the universe from evil exploitation. | adventure good and evil modern fantasy |
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 | Rick Riordan | 2005 |
|
mythology fiction modern fantasy teens adventure gods friends |
| Nasty Book | Narry Yourgrau | 2005 | 43 humorous short stories. Internet witches, Panda marauders... | fantasy |
| Where I Want to Be | Adele Griffin | 2005 | Two teen sisters Jane and Lily drift apart, but death brings them together. This powerful story of Jane, with mental illness, and its grip on her family is told in alternating voices from two very different sisters who try to bring light to each other. The mixing of voices blurs the line between imagination and reality, life and death, grief and guilt, hanging on and letting go. | realistic fiction |
| The Last Universe | William Sleator | 2005 | Fourteen year old Susan s brother insists to be taken into the mysterious backyard garden that was designed by their quantum physicist great uncle. Each twist and turn of the garden maze creates unpredictable results of fortune and misfortune. What is the key? Is there one or are they doomed to the same fate as their strange uncle. Sister brother Sister accepts the cancer her brother has to save her brother? Quantum physics and reality of reality. Change until the future is acceptable. |
science fiction space time quantum theory brothers and sisters illness Massachusetts maze gardens |
| Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two | Joseph Bruchac | 2005 | A story told in American Indian oral narrative style about Ned Begay and a group of Navajo men that were taught in a boarding school and were then recruited by the Marines to become code talkers in World War II. Great story and very good read if the didactic preachy tone is overlooked. | historical fiction World War II North American Indian troops Navajo language cartography Marine Corp multicultural |
| Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment | James Patterson | 2005 | First in the Maximum Ride series - Mutant Erasers abduct the youngest members of their group. In pursuit of their abductors they find themselves struggling to find out their own origins and purpose. The book starts with a warning and again in the first paragraph: Yes, you, standing there leafing through these pages. Do not put this book down. I m dead serious - your life could depend on it. Genetic mutants? Author of adult murder mysteries Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls. |
science fiction genetic engineering adventure |
| The Keys to the Kingdom: Drowned Wednesday | Garth Nix | 2005 | The third installment, of the saga of Arthur Penhaligon. How could any 12 year old survive a week of this... Wait it has only been three days. Start with Mister Monday, then Grim Tuesday for a wild adventure. How long? Seven days? or in real time how long till Garth Nix turns out the rest of the story? | modern fantasy adventure good and evil |
| Bone: Out from Boneville | Jeff Smith | 2005 | Cartoon that may be too advanced for me. I don t know why, but I did read the uncolored version from beginning to end and would like to know WHAT? This one is colored and it really adds much greater style and tone for ... ? The entire series that started as a newspaper cartoons is now available. | graphic novel fanatasy picture book art cartoon people and social interations |
| Gooney Bird and the Room Mother | Lois Lowry | 2005 | It was early November in Mrs. Pidgeon s seconod grade with students hard at work on their Pilgrim mural and of course - Gooney Bird Green who likes to be in the middle of it all, is indefatigable, and feels ennui when she wears matching socks. An entertaining story about class life that incorporates vocabulary, dictionary skills, a unique way to introduce foreshadowing, predicting, and reasoning with Gooney s stories and second grade students literal interpretations. Gooney seems to be a model student and class leader. But, will Gooney solve the problem of finding a room mother so she can be rewarded with the role she want for the Thanksgiving Pageant? | picture book realistic fiction Thanksgiving school true stories story telling vocabulary |
| Book One Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop | Michael P. Spradlin | 2005 | Beverly Hills teenager Rachel Buchanan gets in trouble with the law and ends up in the mysterious Blackthron Academy in PA, where she uncovers secrets about the school and becomes entangled in a case of international espionage. | realistic fiction boarding school juvenile delinquency spies supernatural |
| The Color of Fire | Ann Rinaldi | 2005 | Fast paced action laden Phoebe s best friend is charged with setting fire to buildings and starting an uprising. Threatened to be burnt at the stake unless he identifies the leader, Phoebe is plunged into this outcry of fear and mob brutality desiring a scapegoat needing to decide to do what is right or seek her own freedom. | historical fiction 1741 war Spain New York History Catholic slavery freedom scapegoat mob decisions race riots |
| Red Ridin in the Hood: and Other Cuentos | Patricia Santos Marcantonio | 2005 | Creative collection of modern fairy tales told from a Hispanic perspective. Fantastic read aloud or read alone for that matter. | Hispanic Americans fairy tales red riding hood, snow white, pied piper jack and the beanstalk emperors new clothes three pigs sleeping beauty |
| The New World Order | Ben Jeapes | 2005 | Instead of the European invasion of the Americas in the sixteenth century how about an alien invasion of England. What a turn around when a superior civilization comes through a gate with a modern invasion force. Oliver Cromwell and the King Charles of England must deal with this invasion in this turn about adventure. Within the story Dhon Do s son, Daniel, comes of age within the story of political intrigue. I don t know what sixteenth century politics was like, but the story line includes interesting possibilities that suggest how behind the scenes negotiations, deal making, and dastardly deeds might have changed history. Great story. There is some discussion of different kinds of sex acts as cultural descriptions to set a tone of reality not gratuitous in nature. | science fiction Great Britain history civil war space time Oliver Cromwell Christianity Charles I King of England adolescent |
| Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls mystery | Peter Abrahams | 2005 | Ingrid, an eighth student, is challenged from a variety of directions. Her algebra teacher, soccer coaches, brother, parents, friends, desire to be an actress, are making life more complicated everyday. How can she deal with all of them when an even greater concern is what the sheriff might know about her and her shoes being at a murder scene. Will she be able to save herself with the use of her intellect, as her idol Sherlock Holmes did? This is the best children s murder mystery I ve ever read. If you like adventure movies like the Goonies, Ferris Bueller s Day Off, and Home Alone (without the slapstick) you ll find this story compelling. Ingrid Levn-Hill (13 grade eight), mom (real estate sales, dad (financial advisor for Ferrand Group), brother Ty (ninth grade only ninth grader that will start on the football team), friend , past classmate Chloe and her father... her father s boss Mr. Ferrand. Grampy Sherlock Holmes fanatic, read all his stories... At orthodontist, done, mom not there, worried late for soccer practice and will not get to play. Decides to walk to practice. Doesn t know the way. Gets lost. Ends up at Cracked up Katie. You lost? No. Look like it. Run away? No. Tells her name is Griddie. How can you be lost in your home town? Call cab. Hears footsteps upstairs. Lightning... Asks, what is your passion? Honk... Huge cat tinny bluebird in its mouth. Practice... Mom... where have you been? I have been here three times. I decided to walk. You could have told someone.... won t happen again will it. Mom explained why all the way home. 99 Maple Lane two-story Cape built in the 1950 s Uses quotes from Sherlock... Uses I could run.... Appliance for teeth... forget Mia McGreevy Algebra - can do problem, but not sure how... Play audition. Alice in Wonderland. Katherine Eve Kovac was murdered. Echo Falls police... Friday night football, Ty could run, running ran in the family. Tail gate cooks burgers... Tries to tell Ty tip for flea-flicker.... Get off field.. not good... two touchdowns. Ty benched. Reference to Ferris Bueller s Day Off and others Stacy - friend... Not allowed to go to Stacy s to watch videos. good night sleep??? NOT soccer match... Can t find her red Pumas (loved red....) Benched for sass. Forgot earrings too. Team down one score. Ingrid put into game and played the best game of her life. WIN. She sees police and taxi driver, gets hit in head out... Knocked out... Wakes with team around... A spark went off in her head. She left her red Pumas at Cracked-Up Katies. Internet chat talk ... Joey Strade Needs to get shoes... Echo printed Kate s address, mapQuest, learning town, fear - good and bad (fear passing test so study, but when bad is going to happen for sure, then fear only hurts. Grampy, mom visits, marshmallow, go get, shoot guns, mom - sell off small part of land... NO Night, sneak out to get shoes, go through woods... bars pull off, down the rabbit hole. Noise, glass, two guys in alley, replace grate... no shoes where left them, up stairs, shoes, noise downstairs, hide under bed, Adidas tennis sneakers with dark-green paint spatters, Prescott Players handbill for Dial M for Murder, police, out back door, run... flashlight on. off, officer crashed into tree, meet big dog, wrong direction, deep down the rabbit hole, home after sunrise, mom, appliance. Phone Jill Montenro auditions, Ty argue, tease about football flea-flicker, hits her, black eye, big dog follow into woods, Joey Strade dog Nigel, Chief Strade, looking to see if guy Sergeant Pina was chasing dropped something... We got the murderers, bottle prints, used to smash window, same prints inside all over, murder one, and think there may have been a third accomplice. Slept bed boat, not so snug, Ms Groome A on quiz and note see me, cheated... change to F... appeal, Stacy Joey s dad is a real jerk .9 only .1 over and gave DUI to her brother Sean. hard-ass. No more Prescotts in Echo Falls. hadn t been for 30 years. Heritage society and plans to fix up the theater.... Chloe Ferrand daughter of Tim.... most beautiful 13 year old girl in town. try out for Alice. Vincent Dunn (dark ) tries out for part. Thanks about murderer. Ms. Grooome and her buddies in the math police.... p 136 spends more time figuring the rate she should do problems to get done in 10 minutes and doesn t get the problems done. Stacy look at TV show murderers... shoes no... Mom as kid wanted to be a poet, memorized poems... Jill Montenro calls, got part... Alice. Prescott Alaska... Kate... Dad calculus track to go to Princeton... Red? homework, moved to pre algebra, Joey s catapult, workshop, dinner, Philip Prescott - last - Alaska, farewell letter to Echo, never heard from, what about money? Mom, guidance counselor, Ms. Groome, make a deal to let Ingrid back in class, grounded... e-mail, chat, rehearsal, after no ride, Vincent gives ride to... 337 Packer Street in the flats... Talk about Holmes and if he is cold or caring, acting, key three - like fairy tales, in side look around, audio tape man, home through woods, Ty starts next game, she was going to have to solve case, no one to go to for help. Put keys into mom s coat. Next day, sick, home, goes to Echo Falls newspaper office, visits with editor, school project, The Life and Death of Kate Kovac. Article about audio tapes, go to get audio man, garbage retrieve, Chief stops bike ride no helmet, school, take back to school, talk about murder, red shoes, connection Kate and soccer, bike bus? Mr. Sidney Tell him you re Aylmer Hill s granddaughter, he will, and drops at school and she rides off to home, hide shoes in Ty s room. Attic, tape machine, listen to tapes, Kate and Philip, movie The Accused Will Rise, talk, MOM, should we talk? Vincent in car... back to tape, Dial M for Murder... clipping, Playbill, needs to see it. Joey calls, asks about project? call back he didn t. Vincent covered for her? Ty back acme? Vincent wants key, stage freight, Ingrid gets ride home from Mr. Ferrand, phone call from Jill about key and says no absolutely not. Talk to Stacy, she thinks Ingrid is rich, Ingrid thinks not Mr. Ferrand... practice, Ty arm wrestle, Ty... Grampy wins, last time... Proposal for Grampy, Sell? Partnership? Dad we need this things aren t too good at work right now. Biotech start up told to go slow, Tim didn t... Ty let grampy win for his pride, dad said that? YES. Mr. F own Adidas? Google them Prescotts, Ferrand..., big game tailgate, face paint, taxi driver, couldn t say if her,(Holmes master of disguises) Ingrid never saw him before, Eleanor Kovac on Moodus Road calls old women. Chief, shoes, soccer team red? Rat on team members? no, Joey science fair? Nigel maze food... variables, Chloe squash shoes, Adidas? shoes from England special made... rehearsal Jill Piano head Fresca... (Vincent) Convoy to hospital, ride with Vincent, talk about movies... Vincent director, key Mr. F... Grampy, Saturday all gone... tractor, dynamite, toad eggs water, Caddy visit Mrs. Kovac granddaughter Kate, letter, engagement ring in safety deposit box, wanted to talk more, asked to leave, took sealed manila envelope, found glasses and hung on her doorknob. Typed letter to Katie (misspelled?) from Philip said to have accidentally killed David and that is why he must go to Alaska. Holmes Eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth, back Grampy drives home as she starts to put all the pieces together. Mom drive to Blockbusters, The accused will rise? no try Wally s, closed, David Vardack, Vincent? Rehearsal, not go well changes to darker, Alice is an intruder not supposed to be a comedy? Dad on time, sensed, something go wrong? next time, phone call - Vincent better if Chloe, you can withdrawal for illness, Ingrid never, extra rehearsal? yes okay . Boat bed worms sinking... Brucie Berman on bus, thing in The Echo way cool. Lots of people read the paper? Best quote dogs don t vote. Life and Death of Kate Kovac story project... Goes to Wally, video missing, no scene with Barb Stanwyck spooning honey into tea, not in any of her films, not only is video missing, but also the back up system to the backup systems back up is gone. it s weird... Back home in bed middle of day wishing in school, Ingrid, Chief Strade, freeze, I can help, doesn t answer, goes to theater extra practice. Mom drops, no one there, but Vincent, strange girl interested in murder. I decided Chloe will take over the part, March Hare? no sit this one out. Put on his gloves... Ty mom s been honking five minutes... Acting is for losers anyway Ty said your okay at soccer. Googled Philip Prescott, David Vardack Vincent Dunn... bike Prescott Hall, Vincent s car was there. big cat, cat flap down the rabbit hole. heard scraping, metallic, sees play bill and dvd box the accused will rise... Wally s sticker... laptop playing it. look down well and see... David Vardack and Vincent Dunn were one and the same, heavy duty green plastic garbage bag (30 years ago was there green plastic garbage bags?) with typewriter, skull, sneakers with green paint spatters, renovation worried find, cat, Don t you realize what I could have been? Brando, Olivier, but couldn t be in movies as long as Katie thought he was dead. You kind of trapped yourself with that good bye letter, chase, shatter glass jump through, run, come out bulkhead doors, slip on frost, catch, struggle fall in river, flow to the falls, caught in boom struggle, underwater, grab, kick, slide off... motor police, Chief Strade It s all about shoes... ,. (A few coincidences here? out of the probable, but what makes it seem plausible and possible, what? Nigel was the hero, woke noticed Ingrid not there, whine bark claw... call police, later police get call from Murad taxi driver noticed kid on bike. Connect two dots. Chloe resigned from the production, Jill Montenro returns, Chief Strade came to house had a long talk off the record, Dunn s body found, Joey building a telescope, Play Echo witty portrayal of a girl trying to project sanity into a world gone mad. |
mystery detective realistic fiction adolescent |
| Summer School: What Genius Thought that up? | Henry Winkler | 2005 | humorous story... What else would it be? | realistic fiction |
| The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic | Avi | 2005 | This book isn t the book without words. It has 200 pages of them. The story is set in 1046 England. Master Thorston dies and dies some more toward the climax of his lifelong quest to discover the meaning of a book without words so that he might create gold and eternal life. Sybil, his servant, with the aid of Oto a talking Raven, must continue the master s work to rediscover the use of magic to find the secret of the Book without Words and the truth to this fable. | medieval magic mystery fantasy fiction fable |
| 47 | Walter Mosley | 2005 | Story of a slave, 47, who endures harsh treatment, meets Big John, hopes to escape... | slavery historical fiction |
| Project Mulberry | 2005 | Girl and friend explore their roots and difficulties of unforeseen events as they work together on a school project. | realistic fiction |
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| Red Bird | Astrid Lindgren and Patricia Crampton translator | 2005 | Marit Tarrnqvist reimagines Lindgren s wistful tale of two children (author of Pippi Longstocking) alone in the world that watch and follow a red bird. Notice the change in color as the children move from their colorless world of poverty to the meadow... to ... Translated from Swedish by Patricia Cramption. |
Swedish author global |
| Septimus Heap Book One Magyk | Angie Sage | 2005 | After learning that Jenna is the princess, she is whisked away from her home and carried to safety by the Extraordinary Wizard. Leaving those who she had always thought were her family she is pursued by the same characters that killed her mother ten years earlier. Action packed adventure of good versus evil. First children s book to include a CD? | magic Princesses wizards fantasy fiction series |
| The Last Codfish | J. D. McNeill | 2005 | 15 year old Tut lives with his father and hasn't talked since his mother died. He is befriended by Alex, talkative, outgoing, in your face type. Compelling story of loss and survival, with one of a kind characters. | realistic fiction |
| On a Summer Day | Lois Lenski | 2005 | Classic 1953 picture book is back with bright colors. Summer means the outdoors to kids. |
picture book |
| The Whispering Road | Livi Michael | 2005 | Joe and Annie escape the abusive farmer they work for and head for Manchester in Victorian England. It is an adventure with helpful strangers and swindlers that would even sell them. No matter how he tries Joe and Annie get separated, Joe joins a gang, and it is questionable if they will ever find what happened to their mother. Epic novel that will grip the reader from the first page. Winner of four English awards for novels for adults. |
historical fiction |
| Arizona Kid | Ron Koertge | 2005 | 16 year old Billy, from MO, spends summer with his cool gay uncle Wes in Tucson and works at a race track; where he meets an outspoken horse exerciser Cara Mae. Billy discovers that gaining stature and manhood come from places you least expect. Wes is a strong character and positive role model. |
gay lifestyle growing up love sex adolescent |
| The Whole Green World | Tony Johnston | 2005 | Young girl with her shaggy dog plant seeds, care for them, and then enjoy the flowers and trees that make the whole round world. Each verse matches actions in the book with a repetitive verse. Folk art paintings with detailed actions of nature. Art is paint and paper. Search of detail will find many wonders. Use to increase students respect for the Earth. | picture book |
| Forest of the Pygmies | Isabel Allende | 2005 | Third book in Isabel s trilogy (City of Beasts, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon). Alexander (18), Nadia, and Grandma Kate are off on a new International Geographic expedition too Africa. Jaguar and Eagle totemic animal spirits help return leadership to its rightful hands and a transformation of an extraordinary friendship. | fantasy international |
| Seen Art? | Jon Scieszka | 2005 | Museum of Modern Art in N.Y. City is the setting for this work on art appreciation and first person narrative that becomes tiresome by the end of the book. Why did Scieszka believe lame humor would add to the quality of his book? Forget the rule of three, even Letterman wouldn t repeat the same gag over twenty times. Jon Sciezka, on the other hand, in one way or another repeats the title of the book as a pun twenty or more times. However, the shape of the book and display of art is worthy a view; especially before a trip to a gallery or an online art study. The gag line, I am looking for Art, have you seen him? MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). |
picture book art humorous art galleries museum |
| Story Time | Edward Bloor | 2005 | After getting in trouble and being sent to a new school the main character discovers that the school has gone mad with desire to have all students do well on achievement tests. A madcap adventure lampooning the standards testing movement in schools in the style of the best madcap satyr movie comedies. Maybe more interesting for teachers than students. | realistic fiction |
| Age of Science and Revolutions 1600-1800 | Toby E. Huff | 2005 | nonfiction |
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| Night Wall | Duncan Weller | 2005 | Julie and her sister Sarah are on vacation and desire to build a wall to keep out the wild things (Maurice Sendak revisited?). Rich detailed forest scenes... Sarah helps her sister find the monsters. |
fiction |
| Harrry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | J, K. Rowling | 2005 | If you have read previous J. K. Rowling Potter books, then you will know most of this book. How do you write a sequel and not include pages of information to remind the reader of the intricate relationships of the characters and the characters ancestors while at the same time keep the story moving ahead at earlier paces? Probably not a problem for the average reader, but for the avid Harry Potter reader and movie viewer the reminders overshadow the continuing plot. However, what avid Harry fan isn t going to read and enjoy Harry reruns? | fiction fantasy good vs. evil |
| Giant Surprise | Hiawyn Oram | 2005 | Picture book with rich fanciful color pictures of the main characters (Puddleglum the Marsh wiggle and his niece Lally) are on an adventure to save their mice friends from the marauding and frolicking giants in the land of Narnia. The setting of Shribble Gorge, The Giants castle, and Lally s Rocks is colored with rich earth tones and supports this tale of rescue well. The illustrator s personification of background objects assists the fanciful tone of the story with objects such as rocks and clouds personifying characters in the story. The story is markedted as a new Narnia adventure based on characters in C. S. Lewis The Silver Chair. |
picture book fiction fantasy |
| The Game of Silence | Louise Erdrich | 2005 | Continuing story of Omakays, Little Frog, an Ojibwa from the first book in the series: The Birch Bark House (1999). The series follows an Ojibwa family on an island in Lake Superior beginning in the summer of 1847. First book Grandmother's Pigeon, takes you through a year with all the seasons. Omakays is 8 winters old. Very good cultural and historical view. |
historical fiction Native American Ojibwa Lake Superior |
| Burning City | Ariel Dorfman and Joaquin Dorfman | 2005 | Simmering summer of 2001 in New York City. Heller is the youngest employee of a messenger delivery service that delivers bad news orally. He is the best deliverer of bad news and is allowed to deliver by bike instead of roller blades. He is drawn into a wildly diverse cast of characters and learns to relate to people in a whole new way. | realistic fiction New York City |
| Project Mulberry | 2005 | Girl and friend explore their roots and difficulties of unforeseen events as they work together on a school project. | realistic fiction friend shool | |
| SilverTin | Charlie Higson | 2005 | James Bond in print for the younger set. | adventure spy fiction mystery |
| Ranger s Apprentice Book one: The Ruins of Gorlan | John Flanagan | 2005 | Excellent high fantasy tale set in the background of the story of the main character, Will, coming of age, being selected apprentice for the mysterious and feared Ranger Corp against his desire for apprenticeship as a knight. The story describes Will's struggles as his boyhood friendships develop to life long friendships. As he discovers who he is. As he accepts his abilities and desires for what he would become rather than what he believes others would want him to be. And how he discovers the uses of force for good and evil as well as the limits of force when people use it to control or attempt to control other people. | modern fantasy survival |
| The Riddles of Epsilon | Christine Morton-Shaw | 2005 | A fourteen year old girl, Jess, must solve a series of riddles to save more than just her Mom. The author twists and turns this story creating riddles with secret artifacts, strange markings, letters, notes, diary entries, sketches, and character behaviors that make it difficult to know if a character is allied with good or evil or what might be the right thing to do. On top of all these puzzles is the mystery of how a person living around a hundred years earlier seems to know Jess and what she has done before she herself does. | modern fantasy riddles mystery |
| The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch - 1 | Joseph Delaney | 2005 | Joseph Delaney brings the thrill and scary spiritual world to the adolescent reader. This is the first children's book that could realistically raise a few hairs on the back of the neck of the typical adolescent reader. The story is set in what could be England or New England in the 1700's or early 1800's before industrialization. Inhabited by typical human beings of that era with the addition of ghasts, ghosts, boggarts, and other nasties that people of that era are known to have imagined and some they might not have been capable of imagining. Thomas Ward, as an apprentice, must learn what all the different spiritual entities are, their strengths, weakness, and how to control them if he is to protect the country. How far can he stretch his beliefs and still be true to what his father taught him and he wants to believe. However, in this book the fears aren't imagined they really do exist and result in real consequences. One chilling chapter after another. |
modern fantasy witches ghosts boggarts and other dark evil entities |
| Inkspell | Cornelia Funke | 2005 | modern fantasy books | |
| The Ratbridge Chronicles Volume 1 Here Be Monsters | Alan Snow | 2005 | ||
| Barkbelly | Cat Weatherill | 2005 | ||
| The Dark Hills Divide The Land of Elyon Book I | Patrick Carman | 2005 | ||
| Dark Reflections Book one The Water Mirror | Kai Meyer | 2005 | ||
| The Land of Elyon Book 2 Beyond the Valley of Thorns | Patrick Carman | 2005 | ||
| Ranger's Apprentice Book Two: The burning bridge | John Flanagan | 2005 | modern fantasy witches ghosts boggarts and other dark evil entities | |
| Minerva Clark gets a clue | Karen Karbo | 2005 | realistic fiction | |
| The Sisters Grimm book two The Usual Suspects | Michael Buckley | 2005 | modern fantasy | |
| The Sisters Grimm book One The Fairy Tale Detectives | Michael Buckley | 2005 | modern fantasy | |
| The Secret Under My Skin | Janet Elizabeth Mc Naughton | 2005 | The Secret Under My Skin is a futuristic story that takes place as the earth is recovering from a global ecological disaster. The main character, a teenager, orphaned at age six as a result of a power struggle for government control. As she grows her curiosity and love of reading open doors of opportunities. However, she is concerned and confused by her perceived obligations to others and her obligation to herself. The author sets her struggle against the struggle of another major character. The contrast of the way these two girls work differently ignoring each sometimes and working together makes an interesting story of intellectual and emotional development about adolescent girls. | science fiction adolescent |
| The Riddles of Epstion | Christine Morton-Shaw | 2005 | Fourteen year old Jess moves to a remote island with her parents and attempts to dispel an ancient curse if she can befriend a supernatural being, Epsilon, and solve riddles. | modern fantasy adolescent |
| The People of Sparks | Jeanne DuPrau | 2005 | After Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow exit the City of Ember, they wait. 417 people arrive. What would they eat, sleep, do to survive? Mrs. Murdo found their note, tells the mayor who gathers his supplies and men and tries to leave first. However, Lister Munk and Mrs. Murdo discover them at the river. Pandemonium … some fall into the river get swept away, many leave, others stay behind as city is failing. Gather outside, find road and follow a road where they find a Sparks. Whose inhabitants are conflicted with so many new arrivals and to discover another post-Disaster city was so close. Lina learns about the world before the disaster, war, disease, movies, gasoline, … How to provide for so many new people? What will they do? Where will they go? How will they learn everything they need to know in such a short time? How much will the resentment of each other group grow? Resentment grows fueled by malevolent leaders as citizens from both cities must learn how to collaborate to deal with their struggles for survival. However, they first must learn how to stop the hate and to step forward with good. Reminds me of the picture book John Jeremy Colton |
modern fantasy science fiction future city dystopian society growing up good v. evil |
Modern fantasy book is a series of five. Being made into a movie by 20th Century Fox.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children of the Lamp book two The Blue Djinn of Babylon | P. B. Kerr | 2006 | The story continues ... 12 year old twins Philippa and John Gaunt live at number 7 East 77th street in New York continue to learn what it means to be djinn and not human. They learn there are different tribes, wicked such as Ghul, Shaitan, and Ifrit who enjoy tricking people and other nasty things. They find they are of the tribe Marid, a good tribe and must continue the struggle against Akhenaten s ghost and Iblis the leader of the Ifrit. Fast moving exciting adventure. |
fantasy genies djinn Cairo magical power adventure brother sister Egypt twins uncle family |
| The Keys to the Kingdom: Sir Thursday | Garth Nix | 2006 | The fourth installment, of the saga of Arthur Penhaligon. How could any 12 year old survive a week of this... Wait it has only been four days. If you have read the first three, then you are hooked and this is a must read. | modern fantasy adventure good and evil |
| The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2 | Rick Riordan | 2006 |
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mythology fiction modern fantasy teens adventure gods friends |
| Summer of Discovery | Melody Herr | 2006 |  Very interesting story set in Bridgeport NE during the summer of 1939. Ben and Dave are intrigued with the discovery of an arrowhead and manage to tag along with Mr. Daley and archaeologist from Lincoln, NE museum of history. The adventure to discover the story behind the giant arrowhead reveals much about the history and geography of Nebraska and neighboring states. From dust, to tornado, to wild fires, ash hollow cave, ice age hunters, first people, cowboys, first horse, Fort Robinson, and much more. An interesting story that could spark readers to search for what is true and what might have been created by the author for a better story. |
historical fiction archaeology Indians of North America great plains dust bowl |
| Anahita s Woven Riddle | Meghan Nuttall Sayers | 2006 | Set in Northern Iran in the 1880 s Anahita is informed that at this time next year she will be old enough to wed. She wants doesn t want to be married to someone that doesn t match what she is. From her love of riddles she decides that it must be someone the enjoys riddles and if they do, then they would be able to solve the riddle that she would weave into her rug. However, not everyone thinks her idea is a very good one. The story is a year of controversy between her family, tribe members, and even herself as she struggles with her decision set in the 1880 s of Northern Iran. Suggestion while reading - As the characters are introduced in the book take notes on what what the character traits are for each character - what they value, and what they believe. Use the notes about the character to predict what their interpretation of the riddle might be. How do your ideas compare with the answer to the riddle that each gives in the book? How does each character s personality match their interpretation of the riddle? | fiction realistic historical Iran nomads family marriage eternal love |
| Archer s Quest | Linda Sue Park | 2006 | Action adventure of Kevin Kim who is befriended by Chu-mong, a legendary King of Korea, who is transported to present day New England. A sense of urgency is discovered as the magic needed for Chu-mong to return might only be available for the current year, which ends tomorrow. Mystery, problem solving, play with words and phraseology make this an interesting and delightful read. Major objection I have for the book is the narrow and inaccurate description of mathematics from a mathematician or mathematical perspective. See discussion in math ... | fiction adventure legend Korea history math Tongmyong Wang king time travel magic Korean Americans |
| The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane - 2 | Joseph Delaney | 2006 | Joseph Delaney continues with his second book that takes off where the first ended. More thrills and scares from the spiritual world for the adolescent reader. It will raise more hairs on the back of the necks of adolescent readers. Again set in English or New England community of the 1700 s or early 1800 s before industrialization. Inhabited by typical human beings of that era with the addition of ghasts, ghosts, boggarts, and other nasties that people of that era are known to have imagined and some they might not have been capable of imagining. Thomas Ward, as an apprentice, continues to learn, but now with is master weakened he is thrown into life and death situations not only for him, but the people he has vowed to protect. This second book has stepped up the action, suspense, and mystery to the next level. One chilling chapter after another. |
fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| Voices | Le Guin, Ursula K. | 2006 | fantasy |
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| Half Moon: Investigations | Erin Colfer | 2006 | Not Artemis Fowl, but Fletcher Moon realistic junior detective set in | realistic fiction mystery seventh grade friendship peers boy girl relations |
| Desert Crossing | Elise Broach | 2006 | realistic fiction mystery love peer relationship responsibility accidents identity intimacy | |
| London Calling | Edward Bloor | 2006 | ||
| Horns & Wrinkles | Joseph Helgerson | 2006 | ||
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 2006 | Kendra, thirteen, and Seth, eleven, were unexpectedly told by their parents that they were left with no option but to have them stay with their mysterious grandparents at their country estate. Wondering why they seldom see their grandparents and not their grandmother for ages they arrive at the estate so their parents can go on a required other half of the family cruise. Seth, who has way more curiosity than would be needed to kill the proverbial cat, and Kendra arrive at the estate where it doesn t take long to sense that there is enough danger available that a curious child probably would not survive. As the children explore, Kendra much more reluctantly than her brother, hangs back but soon is drawn into a battle of survival that endangers not only her brother but her grandparents and possibly herself as they discover the estate is one of many secret sanctuaries for magical creatures that are maneuvering for an epic battle between good and evil. | fantasy grandparents magic brothers and sisters |
| Tanglewreck | Jeanette Winterson | 2006 | ||
| The Green Sea | Ellen Klages | 2006 | Its 1943 and Dewey is on a train in New Mexico to live with her father. The destination is the secret town, Los Alamos. Her father works developing the Gadget - first atomic bomb. Dewey, a girl who likes science and mechanical things experiences struggles relating to children her age, 11. However, she is at home in a world of mathematicians and scientists that are interested in her thoughts and ideas and willing to support her thinking and helping with her creations. She befriends a young budding artist, Suze and together they help each other through the ensuing years. A very interesting story about struggles of being different as well as a realistic and well documented view of life and the culture of 1943 . Including a low key look, comparatively speaking, at the development of the weapon that changed the world. | historical fiction audio book available nuclear weapons Manhattan Project |
| The Road to Paris | Nikki Grimes | 2006 | The struggles of a biracial girl in a predominantly white town. Her mother has left her often enough that she and her brother are part of the system. Changing from home to foster care back and forth, but at least she has always had her brother, David, However, this time was going to be different. The system was separating them. A story told with the intensity and feelings that is becoming associated with the writing of Nikki Grimes. 153 page story about the struggle, growth, and empowerment that Paris attains when conditions finally provide her the support necessary for her to be able to take risks and seek positive change. | realistic fiction biracial broken home runaway mother growing up accepting self concept |
| 11 000 Year Lost | Peni R. Griffin | 2006 | Fiction about a girl who wonders back in time and can t return. she is accepted into a family that survives by hunting mammoth. A year long adventure where she struggles with responsibility and survival. An interesting view into what life might have been like for nomadic hunters in early North America and how archeologists might construct their understanding of earlier people and animals from small amounts of evidence and a lot of creativity and logical thinking. | |
| Among the Free | Margaret Peterson | 2006 | Last in the series of the Shadow Children Books. | |
| Firegirl | Tony Abbott | 2006 | A middle school boy's life is changed when a new girl Jessica, a girl disfigured by burns, starts attending his Catholic school while receiving treatment at a local hospital. This is a powerful book about friendship and personal relationships easily among Ida B, Bridge to Terrabithia, | fiction coming of age burns and scalds disfigured persons |
| Flyte Septimus Heap Book two | Angie Sage | 2006 | with CD see notes for one and three... |
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| The Wright 3 | Blue Balliett | 2006 | The adventures of three friends continue in Hyde Park Chicago as they struggle to save the Robie House, designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Their struggle turns up buried treasure, ghosts, hidden treasure, and a coded message left by Frank Lloyd Wright that might be understood with the Pentominoes. Mysteries to solve in life and death situations to restore justice, but will they survive? | realistic fiction mystery detective |
| Avalon high | Meg Cabot | 2006 | Ellie, daughter of college professors that are medievalists moves to a new school where she gets a chance to start over... Well according to her best friend Nancy. Cabot weaves together modern day characters and their popularity struggles in high school with medieval England and the story of King Arthur. Romance, action, mystery, and fantasy. Interesting very interesting story. |
realistic fiction King Arthur |
| Small Steps | Louis Sachar | 2006 | ||
| Changeling | Delia Sherman | 2006 | fantasy New York fairies demons mermaids folk lore | |
| Fairest | Gail Carson Levine | 2006 | A creative fairy tale that combines song and story. Listening to this book presents it in a unique interesting way. Story of a plain commoner and her struggle in life until happenstance and her unique gift lead to a fairly tale ending. Great story for middle grades and above. | fantasy fairy tales beauty personal singing songs self-acceptance identity |
| The Higher Power of Lucky | susan patron | 2006 | Lucky (10) lives with her mother until she is electrocuted by a power line downed in a storm. Her father, who doesn t want to care for her, arranges for - Brigitte, his ex-wife, to leave France and take residence in Hard Pan California to care for the child. Hard Pan (pop. 42) is in the middle of the California desert. Lucky's choice of activities and friends is very limited to say the least. She likes to listen to addicts tell their stories of addiction, has an unusual friend who is a genius for tying intricate knots, and often looks after an attention starved little boy. She is worried that Brigitte will up and leave, but has been able to keep her fears in check with the creation of a survival kit backpack and searching for her Higher Power. The colorful characters, language, and impending plot move the reader forward with a desire to understand Lucky and know how various conflicts in her life will be resolved. | realistic fiction abandoned children interpersonal relations runaway |
| An Abundance of Katherines | John Green | 2006 | Great story for adolescents. Colin Singleton is not your ordinary high school prodigy and he is not going to become one or even become ordinary anytime soon. Far from it. He and his high school friend, Hassan, embark on a road trip that becomes one soul searching and eye popping adventure. The reader discovers how 19 different Katherines have edged Colin to obsess about having a Kathrine in his life. However, that doesn t mean there isn t action in this story. Plenty of action from wild boar attacks, to alcohol, tobacco, characters frolicking in the woods naked, mysteries about who is buried where, and what is grandma up to anyway? This is probably not a book to read aloud in school and it might even have trouble making some reading lists, but for those that like adventure, sex, and hoping for the days that the nerds dominate, this is a read for you. I really want to know what others think about it. Anyone read it, let me know | realistic fiction interpersonal relations self perception graphic methods |
| Copper Sun | Sharon Draper | 2006 | Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteen-year old Amari has only one thing left of her own - hope. Two 15 year old girls one a slave and the other an indentured servant escape their Carolina plantation and try to make Fort Mose Florida sanctuary. Coretta Scott King Award | historical fiction indentured slavery south Carolina colonial America Florida Africa Americans |
| Rules | Cynthia Lord | 2006 | Catherine and her autistic brother David have a Frog and Toad relationship. Any brother would be proud to have a sister as insightful as Catherine. She sees the depth in most situations, which isn t always helpful in making decisions. I m torn between all losing choices. David will scream if I make him go inside now. Mom ll think I m selfish if I beg her to take him with her. Then there is Ryan. I cross my arms and pick the one maybe choice. Maybe Ryan doesn t want to look bad in front of Kristi any more than I do. Lord tells a story that not only captures the special bonds between brother and sister and how Catherine has learned to cope with his special problems, but additionally Lord opens new doors for Catherine with the introduction of adolescence and coping with peer pressures as she becomes entwined in Jason s life. Jason is about 14-15, wheelchair bound, and communicates with a speech book. Catherine uses her experiences, her insight, and her creativity to cope with her adolescent peers and create winning situations. A compelling story about a really remarkable girl as well as giving a genuine glimpse into special populations and their families. | realistic fiction autism paraplegic brothers sisters disabilities |
| Letters to a young mathematician | Ian Stweart | 2006 | Very good letters. However, they might get repetitive or too much of a good thing for some readers. One or two a year read orally would be a good diet for all middle school students. Be selective. | nonfiction mathematics |
| The Secret Country The Eidolon Chronicles | Jane Johnson | 2006 | fantasycats animals myths space time England | |
| The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil | Wiley Miller | 2006 | This is really creative, interesting, adventure, for primary students that like good guys versus bad guy stories. In addition to the marvelous pictures on every page. | picture book Fantasy |
| Lucy Rose Busy Like You Can t Believe | Katy Kelly | 2006 | fiction multiplication | |
| Victory | Susan Cooper | 2006 | A picture of Lord Nelson, an excerpt from Shakespeare s Tempest, a flashback to Lord Nelson s funeral, and the giving of a piece of flag to Samuel Robbins all happens before the main character, Molly, 11, is introduced. In the first chapter she is rescued from drowning, we learn of her sideways moments (seizers), her complicated family situation, recent birth of a brother, her stepfather s relocation from America to England, and her mother s and new family s desire for her to develop a love of sailing. Things get more complicated when she is drawn to the book - Life of Nelson. Flashback to Sam Robbins, 11 and his farming family in Kent, England in 1803 where Sam and his Uncle are pressed into service for His Majesties Service on the Victory . The story of Molly and Sam are intertwined even though their lives are separated by more than 200 years. Within this story is a sub story about Admiral Nelson, the Victory, and the battle at Trafalger that changed the course of history. This story is compelling enough to stand on its own while the story of Molly while interesting Cooper didn t sell the connection of the past to the present. Time travel, over active imagination brought on by seizures, or some other mysterious connection that wasn t explained, but left the reader wondering. | historical fiction navy Great Britain sea stories HMS Victory Admiral Horatio Nelson |
| Quantum Prophecy: The Awakening 01 | Michael Carroll | 2006 | Ten years after the disappearance of superhumans, both heroes and villans, thirteenyear old Danny and Colin begin to develop their super powers, making them the object of much unwanted attention. A sci-fi adventure that raises interesting ideas with respect to science, super heroes, friends, and trust. | science fiction super heroes villains peer pressure society trust human nature reasoning |
| Vive La Paris | Esme Rai Codell | 2006 | Esme Tai Codell is a master of the story. She has done it again. A story about a young girl Paris, whose father is a drummer, and wants all of his children to be able to play an instrument, sends her off to piano lessons with one of her brothers. While Paris s relationship with her piano teacher is central to the story so too is her family with five brothers and a few classmates of hers and her brothers. These characters are intertwined in a powerful story about abuse, bullying, dreams, being Jewish in World War II and concentration camps. Out of which comes an inheritance accompanied by a deeper understanding of human nature that enables Paris to make decisions that all people make to help one another. Powerful use of language to create a beautiful story. | realistic fiction bullies holocaust brothers and sisters family African American Jewish |
| How to Get Suspended and Influence People | Adam Selzer | 2006 | Gifted eighth grader, Leon Harris, becomes an overnight phenomena when his class project is declared too risqué and censored by the school power brokers. The dialogue and conversation of the characters is humorous and right on with feelings that 13 year olds can experience in junior high or middle school. Selzer has written a very creative and imaginative novel. | realistic fiction realistic fiction adolescent sex masturbation middle school production movie video gifted motion pictures |
| Maximum Ride: School s Out - Forever | James Patterson | 2006 | Second in the Maximum Ride series - After the wild adventures in The Angel Experiment the six meet up with Ann Walker FBI and begin a normal life as far as even attending school. While the question of their origin and purpose of their being has not been answered Max s desire to understand grows until she has to take flight and seek answers. The answers will not come easy and it is one intense thrill after another as they seek answers to the mystery and remain alive. | science fiction genetic engineering adventure school |
| The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Katie Di Camillo | 2006 | ||
| Flotsam | David Wiesner | 2006 | A boy s visit to the beach has an underwater camera wash to shore at his feet. The fantasy of the camera s voyage is photographically depicted in the film contained in the camera. Of course it is the duty of any curious young child to explore and discover the camera s purpose so that he can send it on its way to the next waiting young girl. | picture book Fantas y recursive picture in a picture |
| Marvel 1602 | Neil Gaiman | 2006 | Between a graphic novel and comic book. Historical birth of super heroes on Earth. | graphic novel fiction comic |
| Ranger s Apprentice Book Three: The Icebound Land | John Flanagan | 2006 | high fantasy adolescent growing up friendship responsibility heroes | |
| The Pull of the Ocean | Jean-Claude Mourlevat | 2006 | Jean-Claude Mourlevat brings Charles Perrault s character Tom Thumb and seven brothers into modern day France. Tom, the youngest, convinces his brothers to flea their parents and head for the Ocean. The story is told by the accounts of the different characters as they experienced the boys. A very creative story for children who enjoy self-reliant and industrious characters in an adventure. | loosely based on Charles. Perrault's Tom Thumb; seven brothers in modern day France flee their poor parents farm led by the youngest who although mute and exceptionally small is exceptionally wise |
| Sold | Patricia Mc Cormick | 2006 | Travel to India and Nepal where she interviewed women of Calcutta s red-light district and girls rescued from the sex trade. | historical fiction |
| Confessions from the Principal s Chair | Anna Myers | 2006 | After Bird ( 14 year old Robin) participates in a cruel prank, her mother moves them to Oklahoma, where fourteen-year-old Robin wants to each her mother a lesson which leads to helping the middle school students as a result of her being mistaken for the substitute principal. While it is realistic fiction their are parts that require a bit of readership willingness to go along with the story. If they are, they will get to see a new perspective on bullying, | fiction bullying school friendship mothers daughters Oklahoma classroom management |
| The Tourmaline | Paul Park | 2006 | High school or upper upper middle school | fantasy |
| The Cat On the Mat Is Flat | Andy Griffiths | 2006 | Collection of stories for beginning readers. Illustrated with pencil sketches. Outragous read! Simple pencil drawings to inspire young artists! | picture book fantasy poems humor |
| Fancy Nancy | Jane O Connor | 2006 | Let s be fancy for a day... | picture book fantasy costume dress manners customs family life |
| Arrival | Shaun Tan | 2006 | A picture book or a graphic novel that includes images so the viewer feels both an apprehensiveness and strangeness as well as a sense of adventure and wonder that flip-flops through the viewers mind as scenes of family, family goodbyes, standing alone, reflecting, longing, waiting, anticipating, among crowds of immigrants as they travel, arrive, and begin a new life in an unfamiliar, strange, and hopeful place. Tan s pictures both urge the viewer on and ask them to linger and interpret the story in this wordless book. | picture book historical fiction immigration wordless books cartoons |
| Everything that Creeps | 2006 | picture book surreal art | ||
| The Story of Salt | Mark Kurlansky | 2006 | If you don t know about the importance of salt now and historically, there is information in this book that you might want to know about. I is filled with information about salt that can be found to be fascinating. However, it requires a person with the disposition of wanting to know about salt to be a good read. It does lack a style and plot that pulls the reader into reading and encourages him or her to read and turn the pages. | picture book non fiction salt |
| Marco Polo | Freedman | 2006 | Want a nonfiction story about Marco Polo, then this has the information you desire. It is a good read for those motivated to know about Marco or early exploration. However, it doesn t have that punch to draw non motivated readers into the story. | nonfiction history China travel spices trade |
| Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony | Colfer, Eoin | 2006 | fantasy child prodigy adventure | |
| The Mailbox | Audrey Shafer | 2006 |
Can't be any one more down. His mother and father are gone and he is living with his Uncle who is in the process of changing his life because of Gabe. One day when Gabe comes home he finds his uncle dead. Afraid he will be sent away he hides his uncle's death from the local authorities, as he is not prepared for what happens when this secret is discovered. An excellent story about how a friend of his Uncle, a Vietnam veteran, and other characters work together to try to do what's best for Gabe. A scared young boy who needs to find himself and how others who help him each end up helping themselves in return. A frustrating, but real story that gets below the surface of the different troubles the more significant characters in the book have and how more people work to help them, instead of so many being jerks as is usually portrayed in many television programs. |
realistic fiction foster care home Vietnam veterans |
| Endymion Spring | Matthew Skelton | 2006 | fiction Johann Gutenberg apprentices magic Oxford England mystery detective story family problems Bodleian Library quest | |
| Amelia Rules Super Heroes | Jimmy Gownley | 2006 | graphic novel |
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| Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm | Rob Kidd | 2006 | Have a reader that wants more of the Pirates of the Caribbean and would enjoy a much younger, but still egotistical Jack Sparrow with plenty of sarcasm? Then this is the book for you. | fantasy |
| Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind | Judy Finchler & Kevin O Malley | 2006 | realistic fiction school teaching federal mandates Everybody reads in America program | |
| Quantum Prophecy: The Gathering 2 | Michael Carroll | 2006 | Ten years after the supposed disappearance of the world s superhumans these new heroes begin to develop their powers and before they can fully realize their potentials, their secret identities of the three newly endowed super heroes are mysteriously leaked to the press. The teenagers must take refuge at a hidden military installation that houses and trains other new super heroes. A sci-fi adventure that raises interesting ideas with respect to science, super heroes, friends, and trust. | science fiction super heroes villains peer pressure society trust human nature reasoning |
| The Prophet of Yonwood the third book of Ember | Jeanne DuPrau | 2006 | This story is mostly about Nickie (11) and how her summer in Yonwood ties to the rest of her life and a journal she will write, which Lina and Doon will find when they leave Ember. However, that story is mostly told in the the last chapter, about what happens after the summer of this story. However, Nickies story is an interesting story about how summer plans (goals) can change, how people aren’t always the kind of person you think, what is good and evil, how to deal with them, and the consequences. |
modern fantasy science fiction future city dystopian society growing up good v. evil |
| Ranger s Apprentice Book Four: he Battle for Skandia | John Flanagan | 2006 | After Ranger s Apprentice Will frees Evanlyn Will s kingdom of Araluen join forces with rival Kingdom Skandia to defeat a common enem. | high fantasy adolescent growing up friendship responsibility heroes war |
Modern fantasy book is a series of five. Being made into a movie by 20th Century Fox.
Twelve year old Gabe is down on his luck.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Keys to the Kingdom: Lady Friday | Garth Nix | 2007 | The fifth installment, of the saga of Arthur Penhaligon. It is beginning to look as if this 12 year old will survive the week, but the Piper, not a Day person, seems to be ... If you are not hooked on these, you probably don t do fantasy. A modern day fantasy adventure that is action, action, and more action. Each time I am eager to read the next one and had to wait. If you haven t read them, You have great books and counting waiting for you. | fantasy fiction adventure good and evil |
| The Invention of Hugo Cabret | Brian Selznick | 2007 | Brian Selznick created a novel that reads as if you are experiencing it from a front row seat of an early Parisian movie theater. Words and pictures combine to create a unique experience for the viewer/reader that tell the story of two orphans, The story is one of survival and discovery for Hugo and other characters in the book. Action packed mystery and story of Hugo s survival and desire to understand his life and have some control on his future. As he seeks answers to this he discovers that his past is entangled with Isabelle and Papa Georges. A great story about fictional characters while simultaneously providing a historical view of Paris and the birth of motion pictures. | realistic historical fiction picture book robots orphan automatons Paris France railroad stations history |
| The White Tyger | Paul Park | 2007 | third of trilogy started to read, but decided to read the first two books. I selected it because critics and other authors have reviewed it and compare it to Philip Pullman s novels, Ursula Le Guin s works and other clasic and contemporary fairy tales and fantasy. It is a dark drama about a Roumanian Princess. Adolescent level | |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 2007 | Imagine being gifted, creative, and an orphan with no one to relate to. Then one day an invitation to enter a contest arrives. Riddles and puzzles await many, but only four survive and become the Mysterious Benedict Society. How ever intriguing, interesting, and exciting the contest was these four soon discover that they have been selected to save the world s population from being brought under the control of one ambitious person. Soon there are more puzzles and mind games that need to be solved for higher stakes than winning a contest. A scheme is about to be initiated with a new stronger formula and a more powerful secret device that will make it impossible for anyone to resist. Making it too late to save the world from this evil fate. The puzzles and problems are interesting and Stewart make them more interesting by having multiple creative solutions. Very mysterious futuristic reading. |
science fiction fantasy puzzles riddles problem solving mystery future mind control adventure school |
| Dragons Keep | Janet Lee Carey | 2007 | No one must know her terrible secret. Her mother, the queen has forced her to wear gloves to hide her shame until a cure can be found. Rosalind, a princess who is destined to become queen and fulfill Merlin s six hundred year old prophecy that will restore the royal family to its rightful throne. So what does this have to do with dragons? Rosalind s curse is entwined with the fate of the bloodthirsty dragons that have been the bane of the kingdom for years. Rosalind discovers the bond between her and the dragons and through her actions discovers how her terrible secret has bound her to the dragons. How she discovers herself and is able to change her point of view for her kingdoms advantage is an outstanding fantasy adventure and story of compassion and change. The story presents opportunities to reflect on differences and how people choose to accept or not accept them and how those decisions can affect their lives. |
fiction fantasy fairy tale differences family being different fantasy getting along friendship |
| Children of the Lamp The Cobra King of Kathmandu book 3 | P. B. Kerr | 2007 | The Children of the Lamp action adventure series continues as the the tribes with the forces of good battle wits and djinn power with the tribes of the forces of evil. Mystery abounds as the twins, Philippa and John Gaunt, travel form New York to London to Napal on a whirlwind adventure to help their friend Dybbuk. How does a talisman and The Cult of the Nine Cobras figure into Dybbuk s friends murder? Does the absence of Uncle Nimrod and Mr. Rakshasas from their home figure in this mystery? Are Phillippa and John the real target of the Nine Cobra Cult? | fantasy fiction brother sister |
| Jack Plank Tells Tales | Natalie Babbitt | 2007 | Jack Plank was a pirate after the voyages of Columbus when the Spanish were busy stealing gold from the natives in the Caribbean. Jack didn't much like plundering and about the only thing he seemed to be able to do was to visit with people and make soup. Which was all right since all the Pirates on the Avarice (extreme greed for wealth or materials) enjoyed his company. As the years passed and it became harder to find gold to ship to Spain the Pirate business waned as the plundering came upon hard times. With only enough food to feed the plunderers Jack was asked to leave, which he did. He was put ashore at Saltwash with some gold so he would be able to find a place to stay until he found work. Mrs. Delfresno agreed to take him in on a trial basis until he found work when it could become permanent. The author uses clever stories and catchy wording to weave a pirate s tale into each day s adventurous search for a job. After a week of Miss. Nina s help and a host of suggestions from many characters Jack s talents are recognized and he finds a place among the landlubbers. Great for a storytelling theme. | fiction pirates storytelling boarding house friends imagination trolls crocodile octopus |
| Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree | Lauren Tarshins | 2007 | A quirky and utterly logical seventh-grade girl, Emma-Jean Lazarus, gets involved with the messy everyday problems of her peers. Great story with interesting possibilities for discussion. May seem a bit too logical, however that is typical of early adolescent thinking so it would be interesting to see what adolescents think about it. | fiction interpersonal relations problem solving middle school family peers |
| Shanghaied to the Moon | Michael J. Daley | 2007 | Dad didn t have to go on the emergency job to the moon. A thousand other computer network specialists could ve handled the job. Nope, Dad went to get away from me. Makes me shiver. It s 2165 and Stewart for the last seven years has been dealing with the death of his mother, the second greatest space pilot of all time. But, on his 13 birthday he learns from his counselor of the conspiracy to keep him from remembering his past. Why would they want to do that? What is so bad or important for him not to know? Who would benefit from him not knowing something? When the opportunity presents a chance to flee, he struggles with his counselor and runs to the oldspacer who offered him passage to the moon. The passage doesn t turn out exactly the way he envisioned, but it does present him with what he has search for unsuccessfully the last seven years. Great adventure story that moves along at a nice pace and keeps the reader intrigued and guessing to the end. |
science fiction space flight adventure |
| Un Lun Dun | China Mieville | 2007 | fiction |
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| Physik Septimus Heap Book Three | Angie Sage | 2007 | The saga continues from Magyk to Flyte and now Physik. This story introduces Snorri Snorrelssen, daughter of Olaf, a northern trader, from Magyk. She is an integral part of this story, but it is mostly Septimus this time as he faces the most daunting challenge of all. Included at various times are the rest of the family and characters in the earlier books. Except the evil this time comes in the form of Queen Etheldredda the Awful a many times great grandmother of Jenna s that was killed 500 years ago. Dragons, ghosts, spirits, adventure, mystery, spells, time travel, magic mirrors, and all the good fantasy stuff make for another good story. | modern fantasy audio book available |
| Owen and Mzee The Language of Friendship | Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu |
2007 | A true story about a hippo misplaced by a tsunamia being befriended by a 135 year old tortoise. | nonfiction tortoise friendship |
| Mr. Peabody's Apples | Madonna & Loren Long | 2007 | Madonna's second children's books is better than the first (The English Roses). The story has a strong message and interesting story that is an old tale from a Hassidic master. Wonderful art richly colored and exaggerated by Loren Long. So what did Madonna do? | Madonna |
| One Beastly Beast: Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales | Garth Nix | 2007 | Four short stories. The first is a creative and interesting fantasies about Video Pirates in the form of rats who steal Peter s Dvds and escape to Neverland. Making it mandatory for a boy named Peter to pursue them. After all those late fees are a killer. | fiction neverworld fantasy rats video pirates |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | J. K. Rowling | 2007 | It s Harry... However, the writing continues to get better with each book. How does she keep everything straight? |
modern fantasy good vs evil |
| Interworld | Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves | 2007 | 15 year old Joey Harker learns he is a walker - able to walk between dimensions. Soon he must decide if he will get involved with saving the world and join a team of different versions of himself from other dimensions to fight evil forces striving to conquer all the worlds. Suspense, adventure, along with life threatening situations not only for the characters, but all of humanity. Action like adventures reminiscent of the Matrix, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. | science fiction good versus evil multi-dimensions space time travel |
| Lemonade Mouth | MARK PETER HUGHES | 2007 | A disparate group of high school students thrown together in detention form a band to play at a school talent show and end up competing with a wildly popular local rock band... | realistic fiction high school interpersonal relations musicians |
| The Wednesday Wars | Gary D. Schmidt | 2007 | Gary D. Schmidt has written a novel that is at turns comic and compelling, down-to-earth and over-the-top. In The Wednesday Wars, he offers an unforgettable antihero in Holling Hoodhood, a seventh grade kid from the suburbs in 1967 who embraces his destiny in spite of himself. Holling s father believes the Hoodhoods need to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when there are rats, cream puffs, Shakespeare, and Ariel s tights to contend with over the course of the school year. | fiction coming of age William Shakespeare 1564-1616, Plays Long Island New York Junior high family |
| Demonkeeper | Royce Buckingham | 2007 | The beast moved to the feeding chute. With a new Keeper there might be an opportunity to get out into Seattle and the world of humans. Where there would be plenty of lost children to eat. Nat and his minions who just recently acquired sole care for a house full of strange entities the demon being the worst of the lot. Seeking information from an ancient book he travels to the library and meets Sandy who turn out to be more help than he can imagine at the time. Mean while two street teens, and the Thin Man converge on his home with foul intentions of their own. However, the beast itself has intentions of its own and plans on not letting anyone else get in his way. Unless they are taste young children. Will things ever be the same for Nat? Will the beast escape its chamber and have a tasty meal? Once it escapes will it ever be returned to the basement ? And what is the deal about this Thin Man? Slapstick humor, fast action high spirited romp of an unlikely hero in true misadventure -fast paced action worthy of any teen movie. | modern fantasy demonology supernatural |
| The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff: I You Wish | Jason Lethcoe | 2007 | When a miserable orphan unknowingly disrupts the balance of power between the magical realms of wishes and curses, he must join forces with the Wishworks Factory to reclaim his errant wish and set things right again. Will this take off as a series??? |
fiction orphans wishes magic |
| Agnes Parker... Kathleen O'Dell. Keeping Cool in Middle School | Kathleen O'Dell | 2007 | Agnes Parker tries to maintain her old persona and keep a low profile in middle school (sixth grade), but her best friend Prejean's problems, persistent harrassment from the eghth-grade boys, and a friendship with an interesting boy in her art class make it difficult. | fiction middle schools self-confidence Interpersonal relations |
| Dragonsdale | Salamanda Drake | 2007 | Where dragons and dreams take flight. | fiction audio book available |
| The Neddiad | Daniel Pinkwater | 2007 | Young shoelace heir Neddie Wentworthstein and his family take a train from Chicago to Los Angeles In the 1940s. When he winds up In possession of a valuable Indian turtle artifact whose owner is supposed to be able to prevent the impending destruction of the world, a stranger adventure begins. Distracted by not knowing how he could possibly save the world he finds he is accidentally left behind by his family at one of the train stops in the Wild West. Let the adventure begin. | fiction turtles Los Angles history 20th century humorous stories audio book available |
| The Alchemyst: The secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel | Michael Scott | 2007 | Truth: Nicholas Flame was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. He is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day, it is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Flamel lives because he has been making the elixir of life. Within the Book of Abraham the Mage is the most powerful secret capable of destroying the world. That is what Dr. John Dee plans after stealing it. Humankind won t know what is happening until it is too late. The prophecy says that Sophie and Josh are the only ones that have the power to save the world. |
modern fantasy Nicolas Flamel John Dee alchemist magic supernatural brothers sisters twins San Francisco Calif |
| Atherton: The House of Power | Patrick Carman | 2007 | Creative tale of a small planet with three tiers that are in the process of collapsing into one. What happens when people from each tier are united when they have grown to fear one another based on their lore, legends, and past. For the people of Aduana Dos see http://www.athertonseries.com/ |
science fiction |
| What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy | Gregory Maguire | 2007 | Amidst a terrifying storm, Dinah's parents go missing. While anxious Dinah and her brother and sister worry and huddle for warmth, their cousin Gage tells them an unlikely story-about tooth fairies, known as skibbereen, who are living in warring colonies right in the neighborhood. According to Gage, the skibbereen put those teeth to good use. And Gage has met them. Dinah is skeptical, but as the story unfolds and the storm rages on, she begins to believe. | fiction fantasy myth |
| The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio | by the Estate of Lloyd Alexander | 2007 | Naive and bumbling Carlo, his shady camel-puller Baksheesh. and Shira, a girl determined to return home, follow a treasure map through the deserts and cities of the infamous Golden Road, as mysterious strangers try in vain to point them toward real treasures. | fiction fantasy |
| The Jewel Box Ballerinas | Monique De varennes & Ana Juan | 2007 | Picture book - A rich woman purchases a magic jewel box and sets out to make the two tiny ballerinas within it smile again. | fiction fantasy magic friendship music box |
| The Garden of Eve | K. L. Ging | 2007 | Eve gave up her belief in stories and magic after her mother's death, but a mysterious seed given her as an eleventh-birthday gift by someone she has never met takes her and a boy who claims to be a ghost on a strange journey, to where their supposedly cursed town of Beaumont, New York, flourishes. | fiction seeds magic orchards death grief family life New York state - audio book available |
| The Land of The Silver Apples | Nancy Farmer | 2007 | Sequel to The Sea of Trolls Includes bibliographical references in appendix |
fantasy fiction mythology druids bards goblins elves Saxon - available audio |
| Letters from Rapunzel | Sara Lewis Holmes | 2007 | Thirteen year old Cadence Rae Brogan (Rapunzel) is trapped in her own tower as her father s world turns black, her mother s world becomes overwhelmed, and Cadence s world is collapsing at a most difficult time of of life - Junior High! Sara Holmes has created a character that you can t help wanting to know what and when things are going to Additionally Holmes use of fairy tales and fairly tale characters is delightfully creative. Of course any adolescent tale must include strong references to school; Homes story does not exclude that rule. Share what you think about this book. What is most compelling for you? How did you relate to Rapunzel? How do you believe middle school students would respond to this story? Winner of the Ursula Nordstrom First Fiction Contest |
realistic fiction parents depression school gifted fairy tales |
| Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy | Jane O Connor | 2007 | Fancy Nancy is out to convince her family that the dog they need ought to be fancy. | fiction picture book Papillon dogs individuality family |
| Mr. George Baker | 2007 | Watercolor illustrations depict one-hundred year old Mr. George Baker, African-American, and young Harry, Caucasian boy, develop a warm relationship as they share their struggle of learning a new skill. Good use of illustrations and language to develop the characters, mood, and style of the story. | picture book realistic fiction reading multicultural | |
| The Titans Curses: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3 | Rick Riordan | 2007 |
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mythology fiction modern fantasy teens adventure gods friends |
| The Scarlet Stockings Spy Edition 1. (Tales of Young Americans) | Trinka Hakes Noble | 2007 | Maddy Rose is a plucky young girl of a widow whose earnings come from spinning flax. Maddy, spends her days sewing and running errands for her mother. Maddy and her brother have created a code, but will it outwit the British? | historical fiction American revolution Philadelphia |
| Melting Stones | Tamora Pierce | 2007 | fiction fantasy audio | |
| George s Secret Key to the Universe | Lucy and Stephen Hawking | 2007 | Great adventure story about Annie and George who meet, fine they have a mutual love of science, and adventure through the solar system with the assistance of a super-computer. Their educational adventures soon take a turn to life and death situations for their father as an old rival - Dr. Reeper takes control. Will George and Annie be able to save her father? Will George win the science contest? Will George every have his computer? The story coauthored by Stephen Hawking, some claim to be the best physicist since Einstein, incorporates accurate information within the story for readers to learn about planets, the solar system, time, the universe, and other astronomical mysteries. A great read or read aloud to motivate science discussion in middle school and a pretty darn good adventure story at that. | science fiction fantasy space universe solar system black holes |
| Who Was First? | Russell Freedman | 2007 | Russell Freedman... | |
| Wild Girls | Pat Murphy | 2007 | Twelve-year-old Joan is sure that she is going to be miserable when her family moves from Connecticut to California. Then she meets a most unusual girl.... | fiction |
| Love | Jerry Spinelli | 2007 | Characterization, characterization, characterization. Spinelli knows how to create and align characters within a story to create high and low tides of emotional attachments. Attaching Stargirl to Leo, Dootsie, Alvina, Betty Lou, Charlie, Arnold, Perry, the Honeybees, and ... While at the same time attaching all of them to one another through themselves and Stargirl and most importantly through the reader s heart. Where is Stargirl now? Still in Pennsylvania? Is she back in Arizona? Is she moving toward Leo? Does she... How dare anyone question her existence? This story goes beyond realistic fiction. Stargirl exists in the reader s heart, soul, and mind. How could she not? When she has stirred so much love into my life. | realistic fiction |
| Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel | Colfer, Eoin and Andrew Donkin | 2007 | This creatively designed graphic novel tells the complete first story of Artemis Fowl in a way that was not possible in the mere novel. The authors, Colfer and Donkin, collaborated with the illustrators, Rigano and Lamanna to combine text and illustrations in a format that includes detailed character information in illustrations, text, and in character files physically embedded in the graphic novel. The combination of these three elements create a style and tone for the story that may provide more detail and a richer experience than the original novel. | fantasy fiction child prodigy adventure graphic novel |
| First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy | Carl R. Sams | 2007 | Delightful visual display. Photos blended into page with text overlaid. Many images across both pages. Some images may have been clipped from other photos and joined into others to create a multimedia display. | picture book photo book realistic fiction nonfiction |
| Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? | Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle | 2007 | Same patterns as in the book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1964) also by Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle, but with new animals. Red fox, flying squirrel, prairie dog, striped skunk, screech owl, mountain goat, blue heron, mule deer, rattlesnake, my baby bear … | picture book fantasy animals repeating pattern |
| The Kiss that Missed | David Melling | 2007 | A busy king hurriedly blows his son a goodnight kiss from the hallway, but it misses its target. Being a royal smooch with enchanting powers, it flies off on an adventure through a dark forest full of wild animals and is hotly pursued by a not-so-gallant young knight, who eventually finds himself face to face with an enormous dragon. However, the magical quality of the kiss tames even the wildest of creatures and when the shivering boy fears his demise, he is kissed rather than fried to a crisp. The knight catches the kiss and brings it safely home. Amusing, playful, colorful, cartoon like illustrations with great caricature expressions like the bewildered prince, the terrified knight and horse, and the gleeful royal family when the kiss is returned. Refreshingly original and relevant, showing a busy family full of love. B. Astengo | picture book fantasy kiss family bedtime stories dragons knights |
| Little Red Riding Hood | Jerry Pinkney | 2007 | In this delightful, old-fashioned version of a familiar tale, Little Red Riding Hood is a "sweet little girl" whose mother stitches her a lovely hood, which the child cherishes and all the village people affectionately recognize. Against a snowy, wooded background, the child sets out in her red cloak to bring Mother's chicken soup and raisin muffins to ailing Grandmother. The story proceeds in the expected way. The woodcutter kills the wolf "with one stroke of his ax" and cuts open the beast's stomach, releasing "the kindly old woman." With lively detail (but no blood and guts) and lots of pattern and colors, Pinkney's watercolors show the predator in nightcap and glasses under Grandmother's patchwork quilt and then, in a double-page spread, the menace as it appears to the girl: "Oh Grandmother, what great teeth you have!" The pictures reflect the danger and the coziness, and they are just right for their preschool audience. Hazel Rochman | picture book fantasy |
| The Castle Corona | Sharon Creech | 2007 | fiction fantasy |
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| The Lighthouse War: The Lighthouse Trilogy Book II | Adrian Mc Kinty | 2007 | Okay, I knew it was a trilogy and I picked up book II. Hey, I ve read dozens of multi book episodes. The authors include bread crumbs to jog memories or inform first time readers of situations past, so I plunged in hoping the book jacket was accurate with claims of action to keep the pages turning and a story few readers will be able to resist. The first sixteen pages introduced the Witch Queen - Twenty-seventh Queen of Balanmanek, Gag Macak - the glacier, The Lord Protector, Master Sarpa of the Science Guild, the dying planet - Altair, and the machine - soon to send a message to the Ui Neill world. Not that this information isn t important for the story, but it was a bit tedious until page seventeen where Jamie, Brian, and Ramsey, of the Ayatollahs of Funk, were deep in performance on Royal Avenue in Belfast. The song lyrics would have been humorous, had I read book one, instead of just bizarre. Enough of not reading book one. The adventure, for me did begin shortly after the main characters entered the story. It is an adventure where two teenage friends travel to Altair where the Lord Protector and Queen are diabolical and ruthless in the best of fantasy style. However, the story is more than the usual high fantasy. Mc Kinty brings together old world, today, and science fiction of future worlds in the style of a fantasy game, like Expedition to Barrier Peaks, which was referenced in the story. I found the timing of my selection of this book to read strange as Gary Gygax, creater of Dungeons and Dragons, died while I was reading it. Fitting tribute. The dialogue includes references to present day music, celebrates, events, Warcraft, Dungeon & Dragons, and even political references are inserted throughout the narrative. The typical character conversation between Jamie and Ramsey is typical creative adolescent banter. As the party grows Jamie s mother - Anna and Ramsey s thirty year old brother - Brian are drawn into the adventure and provide additional creative opportunities for dialogue. These four and two aliens - Wishaway and Lorca make up the adventure party. The antagonists include typical fantasy adventure types: Witch Queen, Lord Protectorate, King, Princess, Guildsman, and the typical support casts of evil and not so evil characters. However, the depth of evil is questionable as the plot for control of the Salmon has a life and death connection for all. No question ,the claim of being a page turner on the cover is accurate. If you find love triangles, fantasy adventures, advanced alien technology, space travel between two worlds - Earth and Altair, or have ever pondered the philosophical question of our exist and mortality... interesting. And who doesn t? You should enjoy this book. |
fantasy science fiction lighthouse trilogy space travel war Ireland |
| Twelve | Lauren Myracle | 2007 | fiction birthdays twelve | |
| The Higher Institute of Villainous Education | Mark Walden | 2007 | Intense, action packed, violent, wild, life threatening James Bond style adventure to save the world from evil forces. Only these heroes are teenage special ... Well for now let s just say special. | science fiction schools genius good and evil artificial intelligence science |
| The Book of Time | Guillaume Prevost translated by William Rodarmor | 2007 | Sam Faulknwe travels back in time to medieval Ireland, ancient Egypt, and Renaissance Bruges in search of his missing father. | science fiction time travel missing persons |
| Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf | Jennifer L. Holm | 2007 | Is this a book, graphic novel, picture book, or a new genre? It takes the form of a scrapbook or photo journal of Ginny Davis in middle school. A very creative way to present a story of Ginny during a time that is troubling for her and her single mother. | graphic novel picture book journal a year life journal middle school family single parent graphic novel |
| Alex and the Ironic Gentleman |
Adrienne Kress | 2007 | Alex lives with her uncle in an apartment above his doorknob shop. That alone should suggest the story is whimsical, clever, and creative. Which by the way describes Alex who is dreading sixth grade. However, things break her way when Mr. Underwood arrives and is assigned to teach sixth grade. Just when things appear to be getting manageable at school the adventure really begins in chapter four. Thugs show up looking for the descendant of the dreaded pirate Captain Steele and a treasure map. A fire and the lose of her Uncle and the kidnapping of Mr. Underwood Alex finds herself pitted against these thugs, an evil vicious group of old ladies known as the Daughters of the Founding Fathers' Preservation Society, and various obstacles in her quest to find the treasure map and Mr. Underwood. | fantasy fiction |
| The Last Apprentice: Night of the Soul Stealer - 3 | Joseph Delaney | 2007 | Joseph Delaney continues with his third book that takes off where the second ends. More thrills and scares from the spiritual world for the adolescent reader. It will raise more hairs on the back of the necks of adolescent readers. Again set in English or New England community of the 1700's or early 1800's before industrialization. Inhabited by typical human beings of that era with the addition of ghasts, ghosts, boggarts, and other nasties that people of that era are known to have imagined and some they might not have been capable of imagining. Thomas Ward, as an apprentice, continues to learn ... |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| The Last Apprentice: Attack of the Fiend - 4 | Joseph Delaney | 2007 | Joseph Delaney continues with his fourth book that takes off where the third ends. More thrills and scares from the spiritual world for the adolescent reader. It will raise more hairs on the back of the necks of adolescent readers. Again set in English or New England community of the 1700's or early 1800's before industrialization. Thomas Ward, as an apprentice, continues to learn, but now he learns of his real destiny ... |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| Maximum Ride: Saving the World and other Extreme Sports | James Patterson | 2007 | Third in the Maximum Ride series - The time has come for Max, Iggy, Fang, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel to face their ultimate enemy and despite many obstacles try to save the world from a sinister plan to reengineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race. | science fictiongenetic engineering adventure Antarctica |
| Elijah of Buxton | Christopher Paul Curtis | 2007 | Elijah of Buxton is the first freeborn child of Buxton a settlement on Lake Erie in Canada created by escaped slaves in the mid 1800 s. Elijah tells the story of his ordinary life who his momma is continually telling him that he is too frag - ile. However, as we travel with him as he does his chores, does odd jobs in the settlement, interacts with the characters that have become central in his life, and of course going to school we find that Elijah is not an ordinary boy at all. He has a gift of story telling and creative exaggeration with explanations that achieve and surpass the best metaphors and similes penned by even the classic tall tale authors of all times. While the literary style and tone is expertly done with subtle events and happenings being wove together for a powerful climax the plot is agonizingly slow moving. The first chapters are more like short stories tied together with the passing of time and Elijah s struggle for recognition as an adult as his values and character is discovered by the reader. It might be a good read aloud, but I wonder how many young readers will maintain enough interest to read through most of the book. It isn t until the reader is closing in on the end that the plot finally unfolds a multi chapter event with enough excitement to propel the reader to a compelling ending. An ending that can only be achieved by a character who has gained enough insight into the complicated decisions of an adult world and a reader that has gained insight into the complications of slavery in the United States in the 1860 s. | historical fiction race African American slave |
Modern fantasy book is a series of five. Being made into a movie by 20th Century Fox.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Lake Moon | Kevin Henkes | 2008 | This is two compelling stories with plots intersecting when Mitch Sinclair (12) and Spencer Stone (10) meet. Mitch is suffering from the recent announcement of his parent s divorce. Afraid of the unknown it causes him to act out in ways he never would have. Spencer along with Lolly, his younger sister, and both of their parents are attempting to recover from the lose of Matty who drowned in Bird Lake. Suspense, characterization, and altering point of view by chapter from Mitch s perspective to Spencer s perspective makes this an outstanding novel. Lolly creative antics of talking in different dialects and deciding to give each voice a name. Language such as - yesterday you were soaked in sunshine . Today - rain. - His mind was an aquarium , and his thoughts were darting around, this way and that, like little fish. - ... all its lines, angles, and corners were softened like the edges on a well-used bar of soap. |
fiction realistic divorce friends family death grief Wisconsin |
| The Missing: Found Book 1 | Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2008 | Adopted thirteen year old friends, Jonah and Chip, receive two mysterious letters. The first says, "You are one of the missing." The second, "Beware! They're coming back to get you." Soon they discover they were stolen out of time as babies and placed on an airplane. To the people that found them the plane appeared out of nowhere, full of babies, with no adults on board. A mystery that involves time travel and two philosophically opposed groups, each trying to capture the 36 missing who are now 13 year olds, each of them for a different purpose. What should they do? Or do they have a choice? These people can appear and disappear at any time and seem to be able to take matters into their own hands. It's just a question as to which hands will prevail. A compelling plot with challenging situations that create enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages. Haddix does a good job keeping things plausible, particularly with respect to time travel. age 12 years - seventh grade topics time travel mystery adoption What should they do? Or do they have any choice in the matter as people who appear and disappear at will might be able to take matters into their own hands. Compelling plot with suspenseful situations that are challenging enough to keep turning the pages. As with the time travel Haddix does a good job keeping things plausible. |
science fiction time travel mystery adoption |
| White Sands, Red Menace | Ellen Klages | 2008 | It s 1946 and the author picks up shortly after where she left Dewey and Suze in her first award winning book - The Green Sea. The story continues in the same accurate historical style that depicts the countries cultural and political climate of the day. Set in the southwest state of New Mexico Suze s father has been offered his opportunity of a life time to work on the development of unmanned rocket ships. The story of this unconventional family begins in May of 1946 as they arrive in White Sands. The story unfolds throughout the next year ending in May of 1947. Dewey s and Suze s relationship as unofficial sisters strains during the year but never breaks as it blossom s into a brother relationship with a creation of a mechanical and artistic wonder labeled in their words as the Wall . The author historically recreates the plausible lives of these two adolescent eighth grade girls. An interesting story and slice of life of the times. Masterfully touching on intercultural, racial, gender, and political themes of the time as well as the characters love of art, things mechanical, a mother that is not happy being stuck away from her career all intertwined within relationships that grow toward a climax with the return of Dewey s birth mom. | historical fiction atomic bombs radiation slave labor world war 2 cold war rocket ships space vehicles adoption teen pregnancy unwanted pregnancy mathematics mechanical art |
| Sunrise over Fallujah | Walter Dean Myers | 2008 | Robin Perry who felt compelled to enlist as a result of his experiences of 9-11 joins the service and is sent from Harlem to Iraq in 2003 as a member of the Civil Affairs Battalion. Robin nicknamed Birdy by his comrades - Marla: a tough talking wisecracking blonde gunner and Jonesy, a guitar-player who just wants to open a blues club become comrades in arms. This trio struggles to find meaning in their service to secure, stabilize and win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Robin s time there profoundly changes him as his innocence and intentions of good will are overcome by a need to survive and question why he is there. An important book that offers insight to the intense relationships and profound implications that result during a war and more specific for today s youth - Iraq. | historical fiction Irag war 2003 African Americans human cost of war |
| The Battle of the Labarynth : Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4 | Rick Riordan | 2008 |
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mythology fiction modern fantasy teens adventure gods friends |
| The Dreadful Revenge of Ernest Gallen | James Lincoln Collier | 2008 | When Eugene starts to hear voices inside his head telling him to do awful things, it leads him to look into his small town s past during the early 1900 s. He and Sonny discover long-hidden secrets about his neighbors and his town. | supernatural fiction horror story depressions |
| 13: A Novel | Jason Robert Brown & Dan Elish | 2008 | Evan Goldman, almost thirteen, learns what it means to be a man when his parents separate and he and his mother move from New York City to Appleton, Indiana, right before his bar mitzvah. Knowing no one he mysteriously is befriended by two people: Patrice and Bret. Bret the superstar of the school and Patrice not part of of the cool crowd. I am sure you are beginning to connect a pretty transparent plot where the main character is conflicted by his desires to have a big in crowd at his party and also not wanting to be part of a crowd that ostracize, Patrice, someone whom you care about. Normally a plot this transparent might cause me to rate such a story much lower. However, the dialogue the author has Evan use is creative, humorous, and entrances you to keep reading to see in what interesting manner Evan is going to tell his story. A very good read for students in middle school interested in peer relations. Isn t that about all of them? | realistic fiction interpersonal relations peer pressure Bar Mitzcvah Indiana divorce school 13 moving, popularity friendship fitting in growing up family |
| 11 Birthdays | Wendy Mass | 2008 | Amanda and Leo, unbeknownst to them, have been linked at birth by an ancient spell that has been around unsuspectingly for years. An unknown protector has arranged for them to spend their birthday s together since birth to protect them from being enchanted by the spell. Unaware of the dangers that could be fall them if they don t celebrate together they independently celebrate apart. Entranced or bewitched Amanda continues to wake up to a Sponge Bob balloon and has to relive her present and worst ever birthday - her eleventh birthday. A ... Really clever way to see the consequences of ones actions and how one s actions sometimes work the way we expect and other times don t. Groundhogs Day for young readers. | fiction fantasy birthday time friendship interpersonal relationships |
| Zorgamazoo | Robert Paul Weston | 2008 | 281 pages In rhymed verse with a sing song rhythm. Creative use of fonts and lettering size and orientation throughout as well as a smattering of ink drawings of the zany characters. It is an engagingly enchanting story of Katrina Katrell and her zany romp with Mortimer Yorgle a zorgle and their zany and suspense filled adventure. | verse fiction fantasy |
| The Graveyard Book | Gaiman, Neil | 2008 | Expect strange when the author is Neil Gaiman and this book doesn t let you down. Nobody Owens - Bod parents are killed when Bod is born and he is raised by a couple in the graveyard. Yes they have been dead for several years. The spirits of the graveyard take care of him and provide for his education. Eventually he desires for more than what can be provide by the graveyard and is sent to school. having been warned not to draw attention to himself he can t but do so when he feels a need to act against injustice. His forays beyond his protected boundaries result in the forces of dark being able to detect his presence and act to destroy him. He is reunited with a girl of his childhood and together they attempt to resolve the situation once and for all. A thrilling action filled novel. | fantasy fiction supernatural adventure excitement dead cemeteries |
| Jack and the Box | Art Spiegelman | 2008 | Jack get a new toy a - Zack in the Box. The humor is a little advanced for real young children. As the first time Zach comes out of the box Jack ends up in his mother s arms. Through the book Jack is frightened, frustrated, mad, bewildered, and amused. The genre is a cross between a comic book and picture book. It is creative and as zany as the cat in the hat. A simple way to explore how to include surprise as a style element. | picture book fiction graphic comic jack in the box dark humor surprise as style element |
| Highway Robbery | Kate Thompson | 2008 | In England in the 1700 s there was Dick Turpin. Who was a house-breaker, torturer, murderer, horse-stealer and all-round real nasty piece of work who was fictionalize as Dick Turpin, Highwayman and Knight of the Road. However this story isn t about the character of Dick, but of the unidentified main character who tells the story in first person whose character was asked,by Dick Turpin, to hold Black Bess until he returned. This main character is undeniably ethical as we discover in the story that begins with the following dialogue: The rider sprang off as light as a cat and pulled the reins over the horse's head. Then he marched straight over to me and put them into my hand. ... Hold the mare for me, lad. And when I come back, I'll give you a golden guinea." The style of this chapter book includes pen-and-ink drawings by Duddle and Dress, large font and line spacing for easy reading, fast-paced action, dry humor and an ending that begs to be talked about. In fact it would be a great read aloud with its flamboyant narrative and those detailed comical illustrations to accompany it. The plot is suspenseful, precise and with twist to make it richer. |
fiction historical robbery adventure horses Richard Turpin Great Britain eighteenth century |
| Children of the Lamp The Day of the Djinn Warriors Book 4 | P. B. Kerr | 2008 | The Children of the Lamp action adventure series continues as the the tribes with the forces of good battle wits and djinn power with the tribes of the forces of evil. Mystery abounds as the twins, Philippa and John Gaunt, travel form New York to London to Napal on a whirlwind adventure to help their friend Dybbuk. How does a talisman and The Cult of the Nine Cobras figure into Dybbuk s friends murder? Does the absence of Uncle Nimrod and Mr. Rakshasas from their home figure in this mystery? Are Phillippa and John the real target of the Nine Cobra Cult? | fantasy fiction brother sister genies magic twins museums |
| The Willoughbys | Lois Lowry | 2008 | realistic fiction brothers & sisters family orphans humorous | |
| Tunnels | Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams | 2008 | Book one - Will Burrows and his friend Chester embark on a quest to find Will s archaeologist father, who has inexplicably disappeared, they are led to a labyrinthine world underneath London, Full of sinister inhabitants with evil intentions toward Topsoilers like Will and his father. | fiction archeology adventure England London Brian James Williams underground |
| Smiles to Go | Jerry Spinelli | 2008 | fiction realistic friendship brothers sisters self actualization family life high schools protons | |
| The Calder Game | Blue Balliett | 2008 | fiction realistic mystery detective England sculpture art | |
| The Ice Cream Con | Jimmy Docherty | 2008 | fiction realistic Scotland mugging criminals bullies robbers outlaws friendship Glasgow England | |
| Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing) | Alison Mc Ghee | 2008 | fiction realistic fear Saint Bernard dogs family life Minnesota Minneapolis neighborhood | |
| Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express | Megan Mc Donald | 2008 | fiction realistic guinea pigs animal rescue automobile travel Virginia humorous | |
| The 13th Reality: Book 1 The Journal of Curious Letters | James Dashner | 2008 | Twelve clues to solve the riddle or puzzle... | fiction |
| Attack of the Growling Eyeballs | Lin Oliver | 2008 | Adventures of Daniel (10) when he finds he is able to shrink in size and not only that, but he has a twin brother that is as small as his fourth toe. Not only that, but his gGandma Lola has know it since his birth and kept it a secret. Wild and zany fun filled adventure. | realistic fiction family life sisters brothers humorous size |
| Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head | Nancy Viau | 2008 | Great story of a girl that loves rocks and how she deals with being teased and her mother being a single parent. | realistic fiction sister's temper problem solving goals family life behavior Grand Canyon |
| Nurk the Strange, Surprising Adventure of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew | Ursula Vernon | 2008 | Nurk a sort-of brave shrew, packs up a few pairs of clean socks and sails off on an accidental adventure, guided by wisdom found in the journal of his famously brave and fierce grandmother, Lady Surka the warrior shrew. | animal fiction adventure dragonflies shrews diaries courage letters |
| Boots and Pieces | Emily Ecton | 2008 | Arlie can t understand why the Sheriff wants to keep the disappearance of Stacyi Sizemore so hush hush. Easy reading, fast paced, funny, and difficult to put down. A story about gummy bear mutations with a growing appetite that is covered up by the town sheriff that is more worried about the turmoil that would be caused if prom is called off, than if he admits a few teenagers were murdered by a mutant monster. Can you solve the mystery before Arlie and Ty? | science fiction prom genetics evolution mutants mystery |
| The Magician: The secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Book 2 | Michael Scott | 2008 | The story continues with the struggle between Nicholas Flame and Dr. John Dee to save or over throw humankind, which won t know what is happening until it is too late. The prophecy says that Sophie and Josh are the only ones that have the power to save the world, but can they figure out who is the good side before it is too late? A third in the works - The Sorceress... |
modernfantasy Nicolas Flamel John Dee alchemist magic supernatural brothers sisters twins San Francisco Calif |
| The Diamond of Darkhold the fourth book of Ember | Jeanne DuPrau | 2008 | If you have read the previous books of The City of Ember series, this is the fourth. While it includes answers to previous unanswered questions it provides opportunities for more wonderments. The story starts with additional background information about the builder’s plan to provide help to the people of Ember when they leave the city to rebuild the world. However, the vault with the information, isn’t found when they leave Ember. The story continues with the struggles of living in Spark. Struggles from the lack of resources: food medicine, energy, and materials for building and manufacturing. Doon continues to learn about magnetism, electricity, and solar energy. Roamers enter into the plot and provide conflict as Doon, Lina, and different groups of people return to Ember to salvage resources and find the vault. The ending suggests future opportunities for Earth, but also, a missed opportunity for an interstellar connection. |
modern fantasy science fiction future city dystopian society growing up good v. evil |
| The Last Apprentice: Wrath of the Bloodeye - 5 | Joseph Delaney | 2008 | Joseph Delaney continues with his fifth book that takes off where the fourth ended. More thrills and scares from the spiritual world for the adolescent reader. It will raise more hairs on the back of the necks of adolescent readers. Again set in England before industrialization. Inhabited by typical human beings of that era with the addition of ghasts, ghosts, boggarts, fiends, and other nasties. Thomas Ward, as an apprentice, continues to learn, but now he deals with Bloodeye. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| Ranger's Apprentice: Sorcerer of the North Book Five | John Flanagan | 2008 | Sequel to - Ranger s Apprentice Book one: The Ruins of Gorlan and Book two The Burning Bridge; Book three The Icebound Land ; Book four The Battle for Skandia Will is a full fledged Ranger now and is asked to go disguised as a jongleur and travel north to investigate strange happenings. Alyss is sent as a confidant to assist in assessing the situation. As they are just beginning to discover the strange happenings and struggle for control of power their cover is blown and Will must make a critical decision so save the mission or Alyss. |
high fantasy adolescent growing up friendship responsibility heroes male Australia |
| Maximum Ride: The Final Warning | James Patterson | 2008 | Fourth in the Maximum Ride series - On a mission to save the world from global warming, 14 year old Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock are pursued by their creator, the Uber Director, who wants to auction them off to the highest bidder. | science fiction genetic engineering adventure Antarctica female survival |
| The Keys to the Kingdom: Superior Saturday | Garth Nix | 2008 | The sixth installment, of the saga of Arthur Penhaligon. It is beginning to look as if this 12 year old will survive the week, but it is hard to know since the book doesn t bring day six to a resolution. It turns midnight, but the reader is left hanging... A modern day fantasy adventure that is action, action, and more action. Each time I am eager to read the next one and had to wait. If you haven t read them, there are six good books and one to come waiting for you. | modern fantasy adventure good and evil male |
| What's Up Duck: A Book of Opposites | tad Hills | 2008 | picture book opposites up down | |
| Queste Septimus Heap Book Four | Angie Sage | 2008 | Septimus, Jenna, and Beetle hope to rescue Snorri and Nicko trapped in the past. They are unaware that Merrin has used summons and aided the ghost of the first Chief Hemetic Scribe to send Septimus on a wizzard s Queste. All wizzards chosen for this Queste have never survived it. The story is a well paced adventure with a twisting plot, passionate spirited characters, and told with the authors humorous tone. | fiction fantasy audio book available |
| Ladybug Girl | Jacky Davis | 2008 | Lulu dresses as Ladybug Girl and finds that her parents are busy and she will have to figure out her own fun time. She tries her brother and he tells her she is too little to play baseball and bugs don t play baseball. She goes exploring with the dog Bingo: inside finding L s, measuring a plant, outside to explore finding ants, puddles, fort, wall, rocks, wind, tree, her brothers game, blue jays, and home. | picture book fiction imagination ladybug brother sister |
| The Last Apprentice: Clash of the Demons - 6 | Joseph Delaney | 2008 | Joseph Delaney continues with his fourth book that takes off where the third ends. More thrills and scares from the spiritual world for the adolescent reader. It will raise more hairs on the back of the necks of adolescent readers. Again set in England before industrialization. Inhabited by typical human beings of that era with the addition of fiends to the collection of ghasts, ghosts, boggarts, and other nasties that people of that era are known to have imagined and some they might not have been capable of imagining. |
fiction fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| If You re Reading This It s Too Late | Pseudonymous Bosch | 2008 | Second in the Secret Book series: The book begins with a Binding Contract outlining the reader's responsibilities, followed by a prologue that warns about mysterious things and a monster 400-500 years old - impossible to make more impossible to kill. A few more pages of ... then In enormous letter: "IF YOU RE READING THIS, IT S TOO LATE." The story eventually starts with chapter 33 and runs backwards... like a count down to a rocket launch or a bomb so I won t have to finish it. BUT finish it he did. Another saga about the kids who discover a mysterious society desiring immortality, which gets them into all kinds of troublesome situations. Sarcasm, playfulness of the author, and suspense moves the reader through mysteries and adventure as the characters search for the mysterious sound prism, discovering Cabbage Face, and a humunculus and trying to figure out how they all come together. |
fiction fantasy mystery |
| Amelia Rules - When the Past Is a Present | Jimmy Gownley | 2008 | Amelia (fourth grade) is an only child who lives with her recently divorced mother. She has one melodramatic adventure after another. Each packed with freewheeling energetic antics. Her good and bad traits are illustrated in full colored graphic art. Jealousy, meanness, sadness, confusion, generosity, and love splatter the pages. Five stories included in this book are: Funny Story - mom s date The Runaways - divorce, talk with Tanner Let s hear it for Joan - date?, cross town boy, how long is a year - father in army... When the past is a present - old photo album to see Amelia s roots Hangin out - |
graphic novel comic book picture book friends family super heroes growing up |
| The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones Book 1 | Rick Riordan | 2008 | The book introduces us to Amy Cahill (14) and her brother Dan Cahill (11) and their ecentric grandmother Grace. We soon discover she as created a world wide game of find and seek with a cash prize of a million dollars and a formula for world power during the reading of her will. Almost before the lawyer is done reading the will different family branches are off to uncover the clues and to thwart other family members. With Saladin in tow, a Persian cat fond of red snapper, and Nellie Gomez their au pair they set out find the first clue. First of ten books along with sets of cards in each book, additional cards available for purchase, and a companion web site that offers prizes. | realistic fiction science fantasy games family adventure mystery |
| The 39 Clues: One False Note Book 2 | Gordon Korman | 2008 | Amy, Dan, Nellie, and Saladin are off to Austria and Italy in search of another clue. Run ins with the Holt family of five, Irina Spasky, their Russian cousin with ex-KGB ties, and Ian as they attempt to decipher how Mozart, Ben Franklin, and Mozart s sister can provide information to decode clue number two. As they travel from Paris to Salzberg and on to Italy there seems to be a cousin around every corner trying to thwart their success. From visits to museums, art galleries, the catacombs where Mozart and his sisters remains are located, and a family stronghold action and adventure moves the reader through this book adventure of mystery and adventure. | fiction science fantasy games family adventure mystery |
| The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave Book 4 | Jude Watson | 2008 | fiction science fantasy games family adventure mystery | |
| Ranger's Apprentice: The Siege of Macindaw Book Six | John Flanagan | 2008 | Sequel to - Ranger s Apprentice Book one: The Ruins of Gorlan and Book two The Burning Bridge; Book three The Icebound Land ; Book four The Battle for Skandia; Book five Sorcerer of the North The books continues where book five left off after Will makes a critical decision to save the mission, Alyss is left prisoner in Macindaw Castle. See first book in 2005 |
fiction high fantasy adolescent growing up friendship responsibility heroes male Australia |
| Cool Zone with the Pain & the Great One | Judy Blume | 2008 | realistic fiction brother sisters schools family life | |
| Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls Moving Day 1 | Meg Cabot | 2008 | fiction realistic moving household rules best friends schools behavior family life | |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 2008 | The first book in a trilogy about a future nation of Panem, who controls its 12 districts with a yearly televised Hunger Game fight to the death. Two contestants, one male and one female, are selected by lotter to compete. Katniss Everdeen, steps forward to take her sister's place in the games. Her struggle to survive begins with her questions about her existance, humanity, love, and extends into politics and fight to who controls government across the trilogy. catchingFire
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distopican society science fiction trilogy |
Modern fantasy book is a series of five. Being made into a movie by 20th Century Fox.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Rules - The Whole World's Crazy | Jimmy Gownley | 2009 | Amelia (fourth grade) is an only child who lives with her recently divorced mother. She has one melodramatic adventure after another. Each packed with freewheeling energetic antics. Her good and bad traits are illustrated in full colored graphic art. Jealousy, meanness, sadness, confusion, generosity, and love splatter the pages. Five stories included in this book are: The Whole world is crazy - The Gym Class System - Loosely in Disguise, and Frightened - Amelia McBride and the Other Side of Yuletide - Speak Softee to Me - |
graphic novel comic book picture book growing up friend's divorce |
| When You Reach Me | Rebecca Stead | 2009 | Losing your friend since birth, being a latchkey kid, why does the man on the corner sleep with his head under the mailbox and yell at the sky? Why does mom need a boy friend? Why would someone punch someone for no reason at all? Why wold I talk to a person that punched Sal? Why do people do what they do? How can a person know what is going to happen? Why is A Wrinkle in Time her favorite book? This is growing up story. Miranda (12) struggles to gain the confidence in understanding herself and others so she can safely be what she believes she should be. The author uses a subtle style of writing with a steady stream of emotionally connected ideas, phrases, and words in the narrative to create a very powerful experience for the reader. | scienc fiction or realistic fiction? friends Wrinkle in Time time travel |
| Catcing Fire | Suzanne Collins | 2009 | The second in the trilogy about the future nation of Panem, who controls its 12 districts with a yearly televised Hunger Game fight to the death. Two contestants, one male and one female, are selected by lotter to compete. Katniss Everdeen, steps forward to take her sister's place in the games. Her struggle to survive begins with her questions about her existance, humanity, love, and extends into politics and fight to who controls government across the trilogy. catchingFire
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distopican society science fiction trilogy |
| The Last Olympians: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5 | Rick Riordan | 2009 |
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mythology fiction modern fantasy teens adventure gods friends |
| The Islands of the Blessed | Nancy Farmer | 2009 | Sequel to The Sea of Trolls and The Land of Silver Apples |
modern fantasy mythology druids bards goblins elves Saxon - available audio |
| Emmaline and the Bunny | Katherine Hannigan | 2009 | While the book is a picture book about bunnies and Emmaline. It isn t your usual young children s picture book about bunnies. Emmaline is a very special young girl who wants a bunny very much. The story is told in verse with rhymes, alliteration, invented words, figurative language, and abstractions - If I went to away. Emmaline isn t neat and likes to romp out side. Which is prohibited in Neatasapin by Mayor Orson Oliphant. Emmaline hears of a place which is very untidy and goes to visit a bunny and the Old One who tells her she must invite a bunny if she wants one to live with her. She returns home where she convinces her parents to stand up to Mayor Orson Oliphant and they create an invitation yard. | animal fantasy picture book bunny clean neat and tidy |
| Little Mouse Gets Ready | Jeff Smith | 2009 | Great book well illustrated and story tells the procedure of getting dressed with great detail and accuracy my Little Mouse as Mamma and other family members patiently wait for him to finish. What mice don t wear clothes. | animal fantasy picture book mice mouse little getting dressed humor |
| George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt | Lucy and Stephen Hawking | 2009 | George and Annie have been grounded since the last adventure when Cosmos exploded from the sheer effort of mounting their rescue. They have been involved in more Earthly pursuits such as going to their father s come as your favorite space object party. Where guests come as dark matter, black holes, red shift, exploding star, and microwaves. However, the party ends on a downer when George discovers that his best friend and her father will be packing up and moving to the Global Space Agency in the United States. Grandma comes through and agrees to go with Cosmos so he can join forces with Annie and help to solve the problem with the errant Mars Rover. Of course the adventures Annie and George take aren t that simple so before long they are on a Cosmic Treasure Hunt. Action packed suspense to move the reader along and of course plenty of accurate space information to boot. | fiction science fantasy space universe solar system black holes |
| Skeleton Creek Ryan's Journal Book 1 | Patrick Carman | 2009 | House bound with a broken leg and full cast caused by a falling accident in a dredge on Skeleton Creek, Ryan (15/16) and Sarah (16) have been forbidden to contact one another. Illustrations & sample pages. Urged on by evidence seen with their own eyes and video recording documentation of that encounter with a phantom the pair are drawn back together with a desire to seek answers to their questions and possibility to solve a mystery. Ryan's record of events in his journal, this book, and Sarah's collection of video evidence, viewed online at her web site, sarahfincher.com and accessed with passwords in Ryan's journal combine these media to tell this story. An interesting read and viewing can be had from this embryonic merging of these two media. Example, in print, is the statement by Ryan. If this were a video, not a journal, I'd have to stop. I'd have to rewind. I'd have to play that line again. However, in the beginning there are places where the text is a bit clunky or a bit juvenile for believability of the character's actions and interactions for their intended ages. Even beyond the supernatural expectations. Ryan's over blown reactions to some trivial incidents and Sarah's over acted expressions in early videos seem a bit belabored, but get better with the best video by far being the last one. The biggest pet peeve I have with recent serialized books is the trend of authors to edge closer to a story plot without a resolution. A plot that stops without an ending, without a point in the plot for the reader to exhale, relax, or a bit of a resting place, before the plot takes off again in the next serialized text. In this story the author only takes the reader to the climax. Making it a full fledged cliffhanger. How long will readers have to wait to resolve the Sarah - Ryan dredged dilemma? How long are readers willing to bite their finger nails or dangle with a clenched grip? I suppose I am old fashioned in that I think a text will provide more than a serialized television program. However, this is cutting edge and quality needs to mature. I am willing to invest in future art. Whether it is this series or another, time will tell if books and multimedia can merge artfully. This may not be as good as the next, but it most definitely needs to be enjoyed first. |
fiction realistic web casts mystery multimedia web casts mystery detective best friends parents ghosts supernatural |
| Ghost in the Machine Ryan's Journal Book Two | Patrick Carman | 2009 | Skeleton Creek, Ryan (15/16) and Sarah (16) are still forbidden to contact one another. However, with time running out and urged on by additional information the two continue to conspire to solve the mystery of the ghost and the Skeleton Creek Dredge. Illustrations & sample pages. Again this is a multimedia event with Rya's record of events in his journal, this book, and Sarah's collection of video evidence, viewed online at her web site, sarahfincher.com and accessed with passwords in Ryan's journal combine to tell this story. Where as the first journal was a bit clunky, that may be excused as it is the means to the second journal. The author does a very good job of bringing together an intricate twisting plot with surprises that involve multiple characters with differing and essential purposes for the story that drags the reader to an unexpected and enthralling climax. The video is essential for the climax and not just a nice accompaniment making a very good wedding of the two medias. Well Done! |
realistic fiction web casts mystery multimedia web casts mystery detective best friends parents ghosts supernatural |
| Odd and the Frost Giant | Neil Gaiman | 2009 | Odd, 12 year old Norwegian lad, has been very unlucky the last few years. Losing his father, handicapped from a tree falling on and crushing his leg, and his new stepfather, Fat Elfred, miss treats him. Escaping into the woods he is about to go on an adventure that will change his life and save the city of the gods - Asgard. This book is small, but it is no light weight. Gaiman brings Odd into a tale with and for the gods - Thor, Odin, Loki, and Freya. As Odd wanders through the woods he befriends a Bear, Eagle, and Fox. They join forces to rescue Asgard from the Frost Giants, return it to the gods themselves, and bring spring to the Earth. The style is a true Norse epic with Thor s hammer, Mirim s well, and other intrigue between and among gods, frost giants, and humans. However, the ending isn t of typical Norse mythology ending with a swing of Thor s hammer or a battle like the ride of the valkyrja. Instead Odd uses insight and intelligence to recognize the traits of the different gods and frost giants to initiate a peaceful solution that is a win win for all. | modern fantasy heroes loki Norse deity Thor Odin Giants mythology |
| Wishworks Inc. | Stephanie S. Tolan | 2009 | Max is a dreamer and proud of it. He looks forward to a quiet place where he can fantasize about life with a big red dog, King, that he wishes he could have in real life. He lives with his mom and younger sister being relocated in a new town after his mom s divorce. He feels pressure from his dad as phrases like Only losers and wimps give in to bullies and their henchmen echo in his head while three third grade classmates steal his lunch. During Adventureland, Max finds Wishworks, Inc. where his wishes are guaranteed. The only problem as the proprietor warns Max is - you need to be very careful about a wish. As you imagine Max wishes for a dog and ends up with Ratty. Not exactly the dog of his dreams. He wishes for a dog like King, but as you can imagine it isn t that easy. As with most children s stories Max will discover much about himself, his family, friends, caring for dogs and life in general. Great read for third grade and above. | fiction imagination dogs friendship bully divorce wishes miving |
| The Magician's Elephant | Kate DiCamillo | 2009 | Sends Peter to market to buy fish and bread. Spends money to have his fortune told. Who tells him his sister lives and to find her he must follow the elephant. Meanwhile a magician who intended to conjure a bouquet of lilies instead conjured an elephant that fell on Madam Betine LaVaughn who was to receive the bouquet and crippled her. The author, intertwines the lives of Peter, his guardian, a local policeman, the magician, Madam Betine, a beggar, his dog, a sculpture, a nun, and Peter s sister to tell an imaginary timeless tale about the deeper needs of all these people and how they are intertwined. How positive empowering actions can change situations for the better if we are to reach out and believe. The illustrations match the rhythmic imagery narrative and the stories tone of a hazy mysterious timeless era where the compassion of the human spirit pulls people together to care for one another. |
fiction fantasy orphans missing parents elephants brothers and sisters |
| Children of the Lamp: The Eye of the Forest Book 5 | P. B. Kerr | 2009 | The Children of the Lamp action adventure series continues as the tribes with the forces of good battle wits and djinn power with the tribes of the forces of evil. Mystery abounds as the twins, Philippa and John Gaunt, travel form New York to the Amazon Jungle with Uncle Nimrod to resolve the mystery of missing Incan artifacts. | fantasy fiction brother sister genies magic twins Amazon jungle Inca Peru rain forest |
| Blueberry Girl | Neil Gaiman | 2009 | picture book verse children love growing up nontraditional families family parent child relationships | |
| The Roar | Emma Clayton | 2009 | Imagine a science fiction story that weaves ideas of - plague, environmental collapse, kidnapping, hostages, prisoners, classes of well to do, abject poverty, overcrowding, government, education, twins, mental telepathy, dream connections, competition, poor, technology, cybernetics, video gaming, the secret, elven, relationships, animals, nature, technology, cyborgs, classism, auras, connections of twins, world conservation, politics, clubs, fear, violence, army, anger, control, healing chambers, imaginary animals, fairy tale, communication, power of money, ethics, power of adolescence, and you get The Roar a story that ROARS from start to finish... Well not exactly finish. The book ends on page 481 with the reader knowing enough about the future world Clayton has created to understand any civilization with extreme differences between classes of people, unequal distribution of wealth and unequal allocation of resources isn t going to solve the problems and create utopia easily. After all it s science fiction not a fairy tale. How many sequels will it take? | science fiction war classism siblings twins control society government |
| Syren Septimus Heap Book 5 | Angie Sage | 2009 | Wolf boy is sent on an errand by Aunt Zelda, while Septimus and Spit Fyre fly off to bring their friends home, but they land on Syren Island with dangerous inhabitants and dangerous secrets. Aunt Zelda, Nicko, Spit Fyre, HJenna, Beetle, Sorri, Lucy Gringe, Wolf Boy, and a few other new characters unite to stop Tertius Fume to use Jinnie to overtake the castle and gain control of the kingdom. Sage has the magic to continue to bring readers back again and again. |
fiction fantasy magic wizards fantasy English author audio book available |
| Murder at Midnight | Avi | 2009 | fiction murder mystery murder poor Italy Pergamontio 1490 mystery | |
| The Potato Chip Puzzles | Eric Berlin | 2009 | Five star puzzle book. Winston is called to the principal s office to decipher a coded message. He decodes what he believes is a phone number, calls it, and finds he has just won for his school an invitation to compete in a puzzle contest created by the eccentric Dmitri Simon - president Simon s Snack Foods. Little does he know the contest will become an expedition with teams racing around the city looking for clues to solve six puzzles. With a lot of money being awarded to the winner the prize money provides motivation for someone to attempt all kinds of nasty tactics to insure the money goes to him. The plot is driven forward by the time element of having to be the first to solve the puzzles to win and the need to make up time by being the recipient of the first dirty trick. And later as the plot moves to the climax by recognizing the need to catch the culprit if the contest is to be finished fairly and finally how to decide if there is a winner and how it might be decided fairly. A good mystery story which includes among the six contest puzzles others. The inclusion of which adds an interesting tone and style to the story. In addition to these puzzles there is the social puzzles on how students interactions with each other as well as with their teacher result in shaping each others behaviors. Each learning from each other and about each other with the teacher too learning something important about himself and his teaching methodology. |
realistic fiction puzzle book puzzles friends school |
| The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow | Tim Kehoe | 2009 | fiction science inventions | |
| This Book is Not Good for You | Pseudonymous Bosch | 2009 | Third in the Secret Book series: The evil masters of the Midnight Sun continue their evil quest to attain eternal youth - willing to destroy anyone or thing in their way. Cass s mother is kidnapped and used to coerce Max-Ernest, Cass, and Yo-Yoji to procure a magical tuning fork as a condition for mom s release. As usual the three join forces with the Terces Society and all mayhem breaks loose. A madcap adventure Indian Jones style with monkeys, trained bird, in a Rainbow Rain forest. Sarcasm, jocular language, non-linear plot where the book begins with chapter 15 followed by chapter 1 and with enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages. However, there is a strong family theme with the connections of the three main characters, granddads - Larry and Wayne, and Cass s adoptive mother - Mel united in love if not by blood. |
modern fantasy friends |
| The Last Apprentice: Rise of the Huntress.Book 6 | Joseph Delaney | 2009 | With each new book I am amazed at how Joseph Delaney continues to increase the depth of characters, intensity of plot, and supernatural dimensions of his writing style. This sixth book takes off where the fifth ended. The setting begins as previous books, but after gathering an unlikely group of evil and good characters together they are loaded on a ship and set sail for Greece. We finally get to discover more about Mam (Thomas Ward s mother). Her past, present, and future. How Tom has been learning and developing skills and strengths that Mam is counting on in her plan. Is Tom ready for the challenge? Will he be successful in what he unknowingly has been prepared to do. The plot and all the many characters cohesively fit together and tell a story that compels the reader through a dark base evil where not only life is at stake, but the lose of souls forever. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| The Missing: Sent Book 2 | Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2009 | Jonah and Chip (13) are trying to cope with discovering they are time travelers - children that were kidnapped from their birth time and transported to the future to be adopted. Now they are caught up in between two philosophical opposed groups - time interventionists and time noninterventionists. JB, a noninterventionist, wants to return the children to their birth time. Thus, he zaps Chip and Alex back to that time, fifteenth century England. However, things don t go as planned when Jonah and Katherine grab Chip s arm and are transported with them. Great tale with historical characters - Edward V - King of England, Alex his younger brother - Duke of York, their Uncle - Richard of Gloucester, and their struggle for power climaxing at a battle at Bosworth. This struggle now becomes a subplot in the stories major plot of how the characters might resolve their dilemma of disappearing from the past without changing history. | science fiction time travel mystery adoption |
| Thirteenth Child | Patricia C. Wrede | 2009 | A fantasy based on a large family and an expanding population into a wilderness through a frontier. Major character is Eff who is the 13th child and twin sister of Lan who is a Seventh son of a seventh son. A 13th child is thought to be extremely unlucky and doomed to failure for themselves and others around them and a 7th son of a 7th son is thought to be destined to great things. Eff s parents hope to leave this legacy behind by moving across the continent to the frontier. The main characters are well developed and their growth as they struggle to realize their potential is well written and plausible. However, the strength of other characters and development of cultural background is claimed as weak by some readers. The strength of the characterization of the main characters and fast pace they interact with people and the environment and the problems that arise keep the reader moving forward. Add magical animals and magical spells to create additional kinds of challenges and opportunities you have an interesting fantasy. | modern fantasy frontier magic school twin brothers sisters |
| MAX - A Maximum Ride Novel | James Patterson | 2009 | Fifth in the Maximum Ride series - The bird kids were ill-conceived accidens. He, Devin was truly an evolved human. The CSM Coalition to Stop the Madness organized this whole show to promote their own agenda - saving the world s creatures. Snipers, bombs, talent agents, mom being kidnapped, and the usual desire to exterminate the flock continue. The hunt for mom leads the flock to the Pacific and underwater bases. Action packed thriller with the sarcastic biting comment of Max (first person narrator), 14 year old Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock are pursued by their creator, the Uber Director, who wants to auction them off to the highest bidder. Great read. | science fiction genetic engineering adventure Antarctica female survival |
| Deeper | Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams | 2009 | Book two - Will Burrows and his friend Chester team up with Cal, the brother Chester didn t know he had. The story of WIlls relationship to his birth mother Sarah unfolds in the beginning of the book as the chapters alternate between topside and underneath as Will continues his quest to find his archaeologist father, who inexplicably disappeared in the labyrinthine world underneath London. The deeper the boys go the more intense the story sinister inhabitants with evil intentions and very willing to use drugs, torture, intense violence, and death to gain control of not only the deep, but desiring to initiate plans to over take the topside by annihilating the humans on the surface. being a major part of the plot. The authors have created not only a world but a unique culture that is interesting. There are times when the plot or certain characteristics seem a bit implausible, but its unique setting, action packed story, plot twists, and tangled relationships between its characters are good enough to keep the reader involved. | fiction fantasy archeology adventure England London Brian James Williams underground |
| The Yggyssey | Daniel Pinkwater | 2009 | In the mid 1950 s in the wacked out Los Angels Hermione Hotel, Yggdrasil Birnbaum and her friends, Seamus and Neddie, follow Chase the rabbit down a rabbit hole to Old New Hackensack, which is in on another plane, to try to learn why ghosts are disappearing from the Birbaum s hotel and other Hollywodd, California, locations. Sequel to the Neddiad. | modern fantasy adventure ghosts witches space time hauting hotels motels Hollywood History |
| Children of the Dawnland | Kathleen O Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear | 2009 | 13 000 years ago in the Great Lakes Region of North America 12 year old Twig, a spirit dreamer, and best friend, Greyhawk, team up with an unpopular shaman, Screech Owl, to warn the villagers of an arrival of a meteor that is going to have cataclysmic affects on the earth and long term devastation on the environment. Evidence does exist to suggest this type of event did indeed happen about this period of time. Based on that assumption the authors describes how such an event might have been foretold and how people cold have coped with the destruction and might have survived. A disaster story that I know of no movie for the same event. | realistic fiction historical prehistoric people paleo-indians shamans climate change great lakes region North America |
| Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident | Eoin Colfer | 2009 | This creatively designed graphic novel tells the complete Artemis Fowl story of The Artic Incident in a way that was not possible in the mere novel. The author, Colfer collaborated with the illustrators, Rigano, and the fact file page creator Alexander Garkusha to combine text and illustrations in a format that includes detailed character information in illustrations, text, and in character files physically embedded in the graphic novel. The combination of these three elements create a style and tone for the story that may provide more detail and a richer experience than the original novel. It is a great feat, but not the first as Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel preceded it. Still a great experience. | modern fantasy child prodigy adventure graphic novel |
| The Sorceress: The secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Book 3 | Michael Scott | 2009 | Book 3 begins where two ended. Sophie, Josh, and Flamel in London and Perenelle at Alcatraz. The Dark Elders feel the end for Nicholas and Perenelle are eminently near and order Dr. John Dee to finish Flamel and bring the twins to him. And Nicolo Machiavelli to finish Perenelle and release the monsters that have been called to Alcatraz. Will it be that easy or are the Dark Elders underestimating the power that Josh, Sophie as well as the Flamels have. Before the end we the twins will meet William Shakespeare, travel to Stonehenge, to access a ley gate to San Francisco. The meet up with the insane Elder Gilgamesh to acquire the knowledge of the elemental power of Water Magic. The chase and escape plots are rather transparent and the inclusion of Billy the Kid is questionable. There are other times when the reader wonders why or what the heck and want the focus to be on the main characters and their plight. Of course if you are a fan of Sophie and Josh it is a must-read, but let s hope the action in the last three fits the needs of the characters and the plot development more closely. The coming books - The Necromancer book 4, The Warlock book 5, and The Enchantress book 6. |
modern fantasy Nicolas Flamel John Dee alchemist magic supernatural brothers sisters twins San Francisco Calif. Niccolo Machiavelli |
| Tentacles | Roland Smith | 2009 | Tentacles, sequel to Cryptid Hunters, is an adventure with plenty of suspense and can be read and enjoyed without reading the previous book. The author includes a list of characters in the beginning of the book which is nice, but not necessary. Typical good guy verses bad guy in the style of MacGyver, Bond, NASA race to be the first to discover, cryptids - animals thought to exist, but no direct evidence of that existence. Plot is a fast paced action thriller. With characters - Dr. Travis Wolfe matched against - evil Noah Blackwood in a race to catch a giant squid in the waters of New Zealand while hatching eggs found in the jungles of the Amazon. Eggs believed to belong to another mysterious cryptid, Mokele-mbembe, While also protecting Grace, main character, from her Noah Blackwood, her grandfather who wants to collect her too. The characters, Marty, Grace, Luther and Wolfe contrast with Noah to bring themes of right and wrong, moral decision making, and love of family into the story. Tentacles appeals to young adolescents and older who may not be avid readers, but are looking for a good adventure novel. | fiction |
| Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware - A Pals in Peril Tale | M. T. Anderson | 2009 | Jasper Dash star of his school's Stare-Eyes Team is pitted against the state of Deleware Champs. Jasper's concentration is interrupted when he receives a telepathic cry for help. Jasper, convinced there is something unnatural about the opposing team. He and his fellow technonaut s, Katie and Lily, follow the Stare-Eyes team into the wilds of Delaware. A dangerous region with impenetrable jungles with lofty mountains jutting out and the occasional exotic city. It seems Delaware is now ruled by a crazed military dictator and the plea for help is coming from a monastery where they are being held hostages. The thugs use the monastery's arcane powers to create an indestructible army. How can our heroes fight with peaceful coexistence to free the monks and bring democracy back to Deleware? The off-the-wall style, with mock-heroic dialogue, breakneck chases, fights, gnat eyelash escapes, and evil villains. parody of sports, gangsters, and travel guides. The author frequently steps out of the plot to comments and make general suggestion for the reader. Beneath all the absurdity is themes of loyalty, violence, peace, and self-acceptance. |
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| Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw | Jeff Kinney | 2009 | Greg Heffley, middle school student and family member living with both his parents, younger sister Manny and older brother Rodrick. He engages his parents in one up man-ship as he writes and illustrates his life with his family and at school in his diary from January to June. Kids love this series of books. This is the fourth in the series: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw | realistic fiction cartoon graphic novel whimpy tough middle school diaries diary families |
| The 39 Clues The Sword Thief Book 3 | Peter Lerangis | 2009 | The 39 Clues Book one The Maze of Bones The 39 Clues Book two One False Note The 39 Clues Book three The Sword Thief The 39 Clues Book four Beyond the Grave The 39 Clues Book five The Black Circle |
realistic fiction science fantasy games family adventure mystery |
| The 39 Clues: The Black Circle Book 5 | Patric Carman | 2009 | The 39 Clues Book one The Maze of Bones The 39 Clues Book two One False Note The 39 Clues Book three The Sword Thief The 39 Clues Book four Beyond the Grave The 39 Clues Book five The Black Circle |
realistic fiction science fantasy games family adventure mystery |
Modern fantasy book is a series of five. Being made into a movie by 20th Century Fox.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Are you a COW? | Sandra Boynton | 2010 |  Introduce young readers to a boisterous chicken who impatiently wants to know: What are you? Before answering the chicken rattles off possibility after possibility. Are you a COW? DOG? DUCK? FROG? LAMB? PIG? HIPPO? BEAR? PENGUIN? … YOU! |
picture book animals fantasy self-awareness human |
Missing: Sabotaged Book 3 |
Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2010 | The third in the Missing series. Haddix has fortified her fast moving action packed survival adventure plot, she has used successfully in many of her books, by incorporating two challenging thought puzzles: first, is the continuation of operationalizing time travel along with the paradoxes it would create if the past could be changed and second, what happened to the real Virginia Dare and other inhabitants in and around the Virginia colony. The book includes 17 pages of author s notes about this. While I think this is a great read and I think others will enjoy the story and thinking about these ideas I would caution the book doesn't conclude the episode about Andrea. While the reader expects there will be more books about other missing children a follower of the series might believe Andrea's story would conclude. However, the book is a cliffhanger leaving this episode unresolved and a time limit of 1611 to fix things or time itself might collapse. age 12 years - seventh grade topics time travel mystery adoption Virginia Dare Roanoke Colony Virginia | modern fiction time travel adopted history |
| Mockingjay | Suzanne Collins | 2010 | Third in the trilogy about the future nation of Panem, who controls its 12 districts with a yearly televised Hunger Game fight to the death. Two contestants, one male and one female, are selected by lotter to compete. Katniss Everdeen, steps forward to take her sister's place in the games. Her struggle to survive begins with her questions about her existance, humanity, love, and extends into politics and fight to who controls government across the trilogy. catchingFire
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distopican society science fiction trilogy |
| The Last Apprentice: Rage of the Fallen. - 8 | Joseph Delaney | 2011 | With each new book I am amazed at how Joseph Delaney continues to increase the depth of characters, intensity of plot, and supernatural dimensions of his writing style. This book takes off where the last ended. Is Tom ready for the challenge? Will he be successful in what he unknowingly has been prepared to do. The plot and all the many characters cohesively fit together and tell a story that compels the reader through a dark evil where not only life is at stake, but the lose of souls forever. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| The Last Apprentice: Grimalkin the Witch Assassin. - 9 | Joseph Delaney | 2011 | With each new book I am amazed at how Joseph Delaney continues to increase the depth of characters, intensity of plot, and supernatural dimensions of his writing style. This book takes off where the last ended., but focuses on development of Grimalkin and the essential role she plays and will play in the series. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
Missing: Torn Book 4 |
Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2011 | The fourth in the Missing series. | modern fiction time travel adopted history |
Missing: Caught Book 5 |
Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2012 | The fifth in the Missing series. | modern fiction time travel adopted history |
| The Last Apprentice: Lure of the Dead. - 10 | Joseph Delaney | 2012 | Setting wise this book takes off where the last ended. However, it brings together the usual characters as they prepare to gather enough power to defeat the Fiend. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| The Last Apprentice: Slither - 11 | Joseph Delany | 2012 | The story opens with Nessa's nightmare, then the death of her father, and introduces her to Slither, a haizda mage, from the dark that prefers human blood to feed its urges. Slither, believes it is honor bound to any trade it makes, which it combines with fear to provide its needs. Nessa's father, who has secretly protected his family with trades, makes his last trade at his death. A trade, which sets the plot of the story. A plot with Slither agreeing to take Nessa's sisters: Bryony, & Susan to their Aunt and Uncle in trade for Nessa. Of course there are many life and death situations to be over come to complete the trade. A reader of The Last Apprentice series will wonder what this book has to do with Tom's story, and will not enlightened by the end. All characters are new, until Grimalkin enters over half way through the story. Being on the run with the fiend's head she has ventured to this far north land, where her character becomes central to the plot, climax, and conclusion. |
modern fantasy witches dark entities |
| The Last Apprentice: I Am Alice. - 12 | Joseph Delaney | 2012 | Setting wise this book takes off where the last ended. However, the focus is on Alice as she gathers the sacred objects necessary for the ritual and she prepares herself for the part she must play in the battle to destroy the Fiend. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic bane thought control supernatural witches |
| The Last Apprentice: Fury of the Seventh Son. - 13 | Joseph Delaney | 2013 | Setting wise this book takes off where the last ended. Finally the battle to destroy the Fiend. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic demons dark gods thought control supernatural witches |
Missing: Risked Book 6 |
Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2013 | The sixth in the Missing series. | modern fiction time travel adopted history |
| The Crossover | Kwame Alexander | 2014 |
The plot centers on his family and their basketball life. A strong mother and father, who had a professional basketball career, and their twin sons: Josh and JB (12). Their personalities on and off the court, how they drift apart, deal with jealousy, family, making decisions, life, and death. Series of books, graphic novel, and Disney TV series 2023 |
realistic fiction adolescent novel verse poem sports TV series graphic novel |
The Darkness trilogy: A New Darkness - 14 |
Joseph Delaney | 2014 | Setting and plot wise this book takes off where the last ended. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic demons dark gods thought control supernatural witches |
Missing: Revealed: Rewriting the past to save the future Book 7 |
Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2014 | The story of the missing continues with the revelation Gary and Hodge are back and continue to carry out their plan to riches by selling the babies of 36 famous parents. Charles Lindbergh, is central to the plot as Johan Skidmore tries to unite the time streams that threaten to collapse time altogether. Katherine vanishes. Chip, Andrea, and all the other children from the plane disappear, while Jonah’s parents and the other adults in his town become thirteen again Johan and thirteen year old JB and Angela need to figure out how to stop Gary and Hodge from being successful before time ends for Johan and restarts for the 36 as babies with future parents. Interesting, and confusing, how three different time streams present different plots within the story. |
modern fiction adolescent novel time travel adopted history |
Missing: Redeemed Book 8 |
Margaret Peterson Haddix | 2012 | The conclusion of the Missing series. | modern fiction time travel adopted history |
The Darkness trilogy: The Dark Army - 15 |
Joseph Delaney | 2016 | Setting and plot wise this book takes off where the last ended. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic demons dark gods thought control supernatural witches |
| Ada Twist Scientist | Andrea Beaty | 2016 |
Aslo a Netflix series Ada Twist's head is full of questions. Like her classmates Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer, Ada has always is endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don't go as planned. Ada learns the value of thinking through problems and continuing to stay curious. Ada is an inquisitive second grader who was born to be a scientist. She possesses an unusual desire to question everything she encounters: a tick-tocking clock, a pointy-stemmed rose, the hairs in her dad's nose, and much more. Ada's parents and her teacher, Miss Greer, have their hands full as the Ada's science experiments wreak day-to-day havoc. On the first day of spring, Ada notices an unpleasant odor. She sets out to discover what might have caused it. Ada uses the scientific method in developing hypotheses in her smelly pursuit. The little girl demonstrates trial and error, while appreciating her family's full support. In one experiment, she douses fragrances on her cat and attempts to place the frightened feline in the washing machine. Other books in the Questioneers Series: The Questioneers Picture Book Series: Iggy Peck, Architect Rosie Revere, Engineer Ada Twist, Scientist Sofia Valdez, Future Prez Aaron Slater, Illustrator Lila Greer, Teacher of the YearThe Questioneers Chapter Book Series: Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote Ada Twist and the Disappearing Dogs Aaron Slater and the Sneaky SnakeQuestioneers: The Why Files Series: Exploring Flight, All About Plants, The Science of Baking, Bug Bonanza, Rockin' Robots Scientist Series: Ghost Busted, Show Me the Bunny, Ada Twist, Scientist The Questioneers Big Project Book Series: Iggy Peck's Big Project Book for Amazing Architects Rosie Revere's Big Project Book for Bold Engineers Ada Twist's Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists Sofia Valdez's Big Project Book for Awesome Activists Aaron Slater's Big Project Book for Astonishing Artists Source: Thrifbooks overview |
picture book science scientist minority scientist |
The Darkness trilogy: The Dark Assassin - 16 |
Joseph Delaney | 2017 | Setting and plot wise this book takes off where the last ended. |
modern fantasy apprentice magic demons dark gods thought control supernatural witches |
| The Great Undersea Search | Kate Needham | 2017 |
Detailed illustrations of underwater scenes by Ian Jackson to engage readers to search for hidden animals, objects, and other details. |
Oceans sea life nonfiction picture book seek & find |
| Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | 2017 | With a gun in his waist band he thinks … Does he know who he’s after? Does he know why? Where did the gun originate? Is the gun loaded? Will the rule of silence and revenge continue? Jason Reynolds, ends the story as the door opens to the lobby so we aren’t told How It will END ... As I reached the end I was thinking Will is being convinced to stop. However, seconds after turning the last page, I had the feeling that the culture of revenge, in spite of the terrible lose everyone suffers, is the compelling option. The discussion of alternatives and consequences is left for the reader and groups of readers. Jason tell the story in short, choppy, cutting narrative verse, along with repetitive words and phrases with hard consonants that creates an appropriate unique tone to communicate the harsh reality related to teenage gun violence. Award winning book (Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Printz Honor Book, & many more) Also graphic novel - 2020 |
Realistic fiction gun violence adolescent novel graphic novel verse poem |
| Hello Universe | Erin Entrada Kelly | 2018 |
Coming of age story about Virgil and his interactions with some of his class mates, two girls and one boy, as he learns how to accept himself and be brave [stand up for himself].
The author mixes the use of first and third person. Using first person when the focus is on Valencia. Some readers might benefit with a heads up to notice that when the chapter title is Valencia, she weitches from third to first peron. As the plot develops we learn about ecah charater's strengths and differences; and their social relationships, which will develop with the plot. The action elevates when Chet bullies Virgil, steals his backpack with Gulliver inside, (pet guinea pig), and throws it down a well. Chet goes down the well to rescue Gulliver and gets trapped. When Chet is late for an appointment with Kaori, she, Gen, and Valencia set out to find the missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery, and coincidence or universal interconnectedness, he is rescued. During the time trapped in the well Chet suffers with self-doubt and his fears as he aruges with himself and listens to voices and recounts past events and Lola's stories. As he does so and his time in the well passes, he begins to stand up for himself and become his own Bayani (hero). Intersting story told in a delightful tone and style that realistically communicates their unique character, their personal challenges, and how they become aware of them and what pro-social strategies will benefit them. |
Realistic fiction friends diversity Filipino-American Japanese-American learning disabilities hearing impaired hearing aids bully sixth grade shy social interactions self-limiting behaviors social strategies bravery differences Newbery award winner |
| New Kid | Jerry Craft | 2019 | 
Jordan Banks is the new kid whose parents convince him to attend an academically prestigious private school, instead of an art academy, that Jordan wants to attend. The plot is about Jordan’s year in seventh grade as a Black male in a predominantly White school. The subplots are often driven by cultural and experiential differences that lead to conflict through miscommunication with Jordan and several of his classmates as they grow into new kids! Additionally, to a well written, and illustrated story, Jordan’s journal pages, created by his character as short graphic novellas, are scattered throughout the book as two page black and white comic paneled sketches. Main characters
Other students
Older students as protagonists
Jordan's neighborhood friends
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Graphic novel realistic fiction Black experience cultural differences communication |
Josh Bell tells the story of his seventh grade basketball season told by Josh in verse with rhythm and beat.
Inspired by mathematician Ada Lovelace and physicist Marie Curie, this bestseller from author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts champions STEM, girl power, and women scientists in a rollicking celebration of curiosity, the power of perseverance, and the importance of asking "Why?" 
A story set in an elevator as Will (15) travels down from the seventh floor set on revenge for his brother's (Shawn) gun death. Stopping at each floor for another rider. Riders killed by gun violence and those involved in a chain of violent revenge related to his brother's shooting.
| Title | Author | Publication date | Summaries & Notes | Genre & themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Three Billy Goats Gruff | Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen |
2022 |
Illustrations are browns and blues with a hit of oranges. |
fairy tale picture book fantasy |
| Concrete Rose | Angie Thomas | 2021 | The book is set in Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give. Follows the events of Maverick Carter (17) strives to take care of his family. The son of a former gang legend, Mav survives by dealing for the King Lords to get money to help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison. Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend, and a cousin who always has his back, he has everything under control. Until, he finds out he’s a father. Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe he can prove otherwise. Can he just walk away? Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten ... especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man. |
historical realistic fiction |
| Firekeeper's Daughter | Angeline Boulley | 2021 | Daunis Fontaine (18) has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but a family tragedy, puts her future on hold. A bright spot is meeting Jamie, a charming new recruit on Levi’s (brother) hockey team. She becomes conflicted between liking the hockey star and the feeling he is hiding something. Then Daunis witnesses a murder, putting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Reluctantly, she agrees to go undercover. Using her understaning of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But her search is more complicated as secrets and old scars are uncoverd and the investigation seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims. Comlications mounting, Daunis must decide if she will be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) or someone else. |
historical realistic fiction |
| Brother Wulf: A Spook's Apprentice Adventure | Joseph Delaney | 2020 |
However, it is the 17 in a series, and starts after the The Dark Assassin (last in The Darkness Trilogy (3) preceded by 13 stories in the The Last Apprentice series. |
Fantasy horror fiction duty obligation |
| Wulf's Bane: A Spook's Apprentice Adventure | Joseph Delaney | 2021 |
However, it is the 18 in a series, preceded by Brother Wulf, which follows the The Dark Assassin (last in The Darkness Trilogy (3) which is preceded by 13 stories in the The Last Apprentice series. |
Fantasy horror fiction duty obligation |
| Brother Wulf: The Last Spook | Joseph Delaney | 2022 |
Plot summary
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Fantasy horror fiction duty obligation |
| Fox: A Circle of Life Story | Isabel Thomas | 2021 | Fox searches for food for her three cubs and teaches them how to survive in the wild. Until one day, she is hit by a car and dies. Her body provides food for scavengers and decomposers as fox is recycled back to earth to nourish the grass and air to sustain life in the forest. While the book suggest the kits survive, in real life they probably wouldn’t. As such it might be unsettling for some children. |
Non fiction Science environment death energy cycle life cycle |
| Tu Youyou's Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria | Songju Ma Daemicke | 2021 | Story of Tu Youyou who as a child is interested in learning and is sent to school. Unusual for girls in China at the time. At 15 she got tuberculosis. Her slow recovery inspired her to become a research scientist in 1955. The story describes her dedication, hard work and numerous challenges she overcomes to develop, from traditional medicines (sweet wormwood) a treatments for drug-resistant malaria. Her treatment, artemisinin has saved millions of children’s lives. |
Non fiction malaria Nobel prize, medicine, research |
| Snoozefest: The Surprising Science of Sleep | Tanya Lloyd Kyi | 2021 | 
An eye-opening illustrated look at the science of sleep. Everything an adolescents needs to know about sleep and what keeps them up at night! Information, crucial for our health and happiness.
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Non fiction sleep, health |
| Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill | Matt Lilley | 2022 |
What are you? You appear to be an egg. Yes, you are and you are sinking … day after day, one krill among billions, eating and eating while metamorphosing from one thing into another and trying to avoid being eaten. Questions and advice are hurled at the krill on every page, but the krill never responds-because, after all, krill can't talk, and this is nonfiction. An accurate narrative of krill and how they are really good at eating, which makes them really good eating. And perhaps the most important animal in their ecosystem. Dan Tavis's illustrations are accurate, expressive, and alive with humor. For example the main character krill is so good at gobbling up phytoplankton, that he turns green, so we can pick him out from the crowd racing to escape a penguin's beak or a blue whale's gaping maw. |
Non fiction environment krill life cycle ocean life |
| It Takes Guts: How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel (and Poop) | Belle Wuthrich and Jennifer Dr. Gardy | 2022 |  An illustrated 152 page book about the digestive system and microbiome for middle level readers with the story about the journey food takes from the time it enters our bodies to when it exits. A long and complicated process that involves many cells, tissues, and organs and the amazing tools they are at breaking down food with acids, enzymes, gastrin, ghrelin, villi, crypts, bile, insulin, an glucagon. The story also describes the role food and digestion play in your mood and immune system. And the incredible truth that not all bacteria is bad! Oh! the author also investigates the science behind burps, barfs, and farts, proving that learning about the wonderful world of your gut might not be everything you expected! |
Non fiction digestion digestive system, health |
| The Last Mapmaker | Christina Soontornvat | 2022 | Sai (12) is struggling to escape the lowly position she has been born into. Along the way her struggles provide insight into the social and ecological dilemmas we face when we try to improve our status at the expense of others or wildlife. And learn along the way about others, ourself, and our families.
Setting
Land beyond Mangkon - to exploit for a better life. An Lung - the capital city and home for Sai Characters
Plot Sai is working at the Goldhope Harbor Market delivering shrimp when she passes the master mapmaker shop and Paiyoon is dismissing his assistant. And frustrated he asks: is anyone who can use an ink pen? Sai raises her hand and is hired on the spot. Weeks later, Queen Siripatra announces a prize for ship captains who explore beyond the known lands and return with a map of their discoveries. Myths and other tales are told about the lands beyond and dragons and other sea creatures who protect them. We learn Sai lives in the Fens, hides her earnings and stiff clothes she wears at the map shop, when she returns each night. Her father, Mud, survives with a friend, Catfish, by scams and other schemes, and part of Sai's earnings. Catfish creates a plan to steal and sell valuable armor by using a forged letter written by Sai. She refuses at first and later thinks about how she might do it. Master Paiyoon discovers how Sai is able to make accurate copies. He then tells her, that he begged to be the official map maker for the Queens’s vessel, but has found out he will be unable to write if he goes because the medicine he needs to keep his hands from shaking can’t be preserved for as long as the journey will be. But, she could do the writing, if she would be willing, and they could go. Should they worry about what is below the Dragon Line or the Fiftieth parallel… Sai jumps at the chance, as it fits with her plans to leave A Lung and create a new life somewhere else. Weekend before departure, Mud finds out she hasn't been working for the shrimp shop and demands to know what she is doing. Not being able to tell him she is forced to flee shortly before the ship sails and almost misses it. Settles in after she gets her sea legs. Learns how to take readings, ... and fisherman's maps. Sail to Pitaya Island. Sai goes ashore, discovers lemon colored dragon haw, (turtle shell) eat, boy tries to pick her pocket. Return to the ship. Head to Fahlin. Rian befriends her. Shares part of Queen's decree that wasn't printed. Prize to discover the great southern continent (Sunderlands). Lineals or money as prize of honor. Wants Sai to convince Paiyoon to search and find the Sunderlands. Sai discovers a stowaway ... Bo ... pickpocket ... Sai comes face to face with Grebe. Continues her education with Paiyoon by mapping the islands of Deserdells. Sai talks about looking for the Sunderlands. Paiyoon says the Harbinger Sea is too violent to sail into and it is because there is no large body of land within it. Grebe and others on the crew who are afraid of dragons don't want to cross 50th parallel ... Befriends Bo. Find is is half Mangkon, born in Amnaj. His mom took him to Pitaya, left him, and died. They work together to review all of Paiyoon's documents looking for any evidence for where the Sunderlands might be. Don't find int of land ... or dragons ... and its like ships get sucked in ... Arrive Fahlin, fever flags. No one goes ashore, Get water, move on, head to Avens Island. Sai shares her research with Rian ... no evidence of Sunderland. Hopes and dreams ... Rian tells Sai Sangra is her sister, when born sent us away, wanted no part of us ... shares fisherman's map, ... See Slakes? ... Whales ... See whaling ship, watch catch whale, frightened by giant squid or ?? leave before finished harvesting. Discuss how hundreds of whaling ships will come when finish with mapping. Run aground?! Argue with Paiyoon over whose fault it is that whales are and will die, about the map causing the conquest of newly found worlds and people. That the maps saved lives of sailor's so they can navigate safely. Conclude ... I can't change the path behind me, but I can the path ahead! Captain Sangra takes ill. Rian volunteers to take care of her. Days later Rian talks to Sai to see how talk to convince Paiyoon to search for the Sunderlands is going ... Sai ... not going to happen. Well we could make you the mapmaker and ... Rian finds Bo hiding in the cabin. gets Sai to counterfeit two letters, she does, and when reach Avens Island she reads them to the crew. Depart to find the Sutherlands with Sai as map maker and a much smaller crew and Rian's fisherman map piece. Run into squall, Rian won't shorten sail, Sangra is better talks to Sai ... Finds out she is being drugged by Rian, and Rian's story is backward. She was given same as Sangra, but always wanted more... Finds out she had a child, left with her husband when she was called to war. He was killed, but his aunt took the baby to Pitaye Island. I searched for him, but couldn't find him. Amanat - Bo. Fire. Sangra takes charge. Order sailors to fight fire, trim sails .... Sai gets Bo ... Storm get worse. Sangra and Rian fight, Sangra pushed overboard. Sai connects Bo and Sangra and tells Bo ... Grebe comes for Sai going to mutiny and everyone needs to be together and the others don't trust her so she needs to ... Find Bo ...Tells that Mud saved his life so will return the favor... You set a good course so ... swim to ... that little island? ... Then what? ... You live another day. Some debris and row boat wash ashore. Finds Paiyoon's fisherman's map inside lens case. Know both halves go together.... Bo ... I took it when I was in her ... Sai puts both together and finds out Rian is sailing in the opposite direction of Sunderland. Use boat and leave island, Thinks about Mud and her sixth birthday when he gave her a bunch of presents and was arrested, served time, and probably met Grebe... Dream? See Slake looks into her eyes with his haw (second eyelid) and leaves. Row after her, land ahoy, sunderland. Find abundance, cave, Slake with eggs, explore, Rian finds her, asks if Sangra fell or she pushed her ... She fell ... You lie ... fight, use Mud's move, Bo comes capture Rian, put in brig, repair ship, return ... Home. Sangra alive, reunited with Bo, used reward for orphans, travel around kingdom trying to improve relations. Master Paiyoon is reunited with Sodsai Mudawan finish map of sunderland use names to discourage settlers and tell stories to discourage adventurers, but sailors tell different. Still looking for Mud. |
Historical fiction Map making cartography writing drawing exploration conservation colonialism sustainability mythology |
| How to Build a Human: In Seven Evolutionary Steps | Pamela S Turner | 2022 |
Excellent source for middle level and above. Only weakness in the story is not including epigenetics, (changes in an organisms by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code) along with the environmental impacts on evolution. Otherwise, an excellent source. |
Non fiction human evolution walking erect hands cooking |
| Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More | Alisha Gabriel and Sue Heavenrich | 2022 |  Fungi are everywhere! In the coldest corner of Antarctica and hot sandy desert dunes. In the air you breathe and the food you eat. They form partnerships with plants and are important decomposers for our planet. Some eat our crops; others protect them. Some cause diseases; others cure them. Some are bigger than you; others are microscopic. And now, people are finding ways to use fungi to make furniture, building materials, and even sneakers. So grab your gear and explore! |
Non fiction fungi life living mushrooms lichen mold |
| School Trip | Jerry Craft | 2023 |
Jordan Banks and a group of his school mates take a school trip to Paris, France. A prank by another group of students mixes-up the teacher sponsers, pairing them different groups than what was planned. This unexpectedly results in challenges for both teachers and students as they explore Paris with on the fly decisions being made that no one expected they would be making. Among the humerous adventures the cultural differences that have caused friction in school is hightened as the teachers and students are challenged with collaborating and cooperating as they travel together on their school trip. Main characters
Paris group
Older students as protagonists
Other students
Jordan's neighborhood friends
Other teachers Headmaster Hansen, Ms. Slate, Ms Brosnan, Ms. Hochstein, Ms Schweir, Ms. Rawle, Professor Mensky, Mr. Mellins, Mr. Bechenstein, Mr. Rivero, Mr. Backer, Mr. Rosner, Mr. Neuman, Mr. Disteler, Mr. Zigbi Previous graphic novel, New Kid - 2019 |
Middle school travel, cultural differences, getting along, what is funny or hurtful |
| The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom | Allison L Blitz | 2023 |
The best adolescent literature book I've read in years. Major characters Dodge Chad Setting Richard James Academy - Prep school includes an MFP (music focus program) |
High school relationships performing arts high school boarding school family friends love collaboration teamwork |
| Brother Wulf: Wulf's War | Joseph Delaney | 2023 |
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Fantasy horror fiction duty obligation |
| The Jockey & Her Horse | Sarah Maslin Nir & Raymond White Jr. | 2023 |
A story inspired by the childhood of the first Black woman jockey, Charyl White (17). Sorry of her life and struggles with her family and society to become the first Black female jockey. Who learns about herself and how to lose. |
Historical fiction family horses racing Black experience first Black women jockey winning losing history prejudice |
| The Chalice of the Gods | Rick Riordan | 2023 |
As Percy begins his senior year he learns that he will need to obtain three good recommendations for college. Which ends, what he had hoped, would be a normal year with Annabeth near by attending the School of Design, New York City (SODNYC) ... while he finishes his high school work at Alternative High School (AHS), Before he and Annabeth attend New Rome University. However, the counselor (Eudora) informs him, he will need three divine recommendation letters ... Flush to ... Poseidon who explains a quest is required for each letter. SO Percy advertises ... Percy Jackson will do your request (in exchange for college recommendatinletters) ... and waits. First request is from Ganymede, Zeus's cupbearer, to find and return the chalice of the gods. Then the adventures begin. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover team up to find and return the chalice in this the first of three (?) books. The quest has twist, turns, and detours to keep the reader turning the page to see what obstacle they will run into next and how they will solve the problem to return the chalice, before Zeus discovers it missing and turns Ganymede to ash. The dialogue is lighthearted and amusing as our heroes use humor to distract them from the serious and deadly nature of their quest. Since three quests are required it seems returning the chalice is the first, and we will need to wait for two more as Rick finishes the trilogy! Percy parents - Poseidon, Sally, Paul Conroy Annabeth Chase - parents - Athena, Grover Underwood satyr Ganymede, Poseiden, Athena, Hebe god of youth, River god Elisson, Gary god of old age Barbara dryad, Chef Naomi |
Modern fantasy Greek gods teens adventure friends family |
| Thieves' Gambit | Kayvion Lewis
|
2023 |
Rosalyn (Ross) Quest (17) has been taught the family trade as a thief, to trust no one but family, and her limited interactions with others her age when 9 was tramatic. When she decides to try something new for a few days, her mother rejects the idea. Taking matters in her own hands, Ross plans to skip our for a few days at a gymnastic camp. However, things don't go as planned, when her mother gets caught and held for ransom. Having no way to meet the demands for a billion dollars, she joins the thieves gambit to free her mother with the prize of one wish. Sequel: Heist Royale |
realistic fiction thieves, friendship, trust, stealing betrayal loyalty family |
| Rosie Frost & the Falcon Queen | Geri Halliwell-Horner | 2023 |
Prologue describes how on June 1st, 1563, Queen Elizabeth opens Heverbridge School in honor of her mother Anne Boleyn. Setting present day England, Bloodstone Island.
Characters:
Plot Rosie Frost is sent to Bloodstone Island and the Haverstone school for extraordianry teens, which is also a sanctuary for endangered species. Prologue describes how on June 1st, 1563, Queen Elizabeth opens Heverbridge School in honor of her mother Anne Boleyn. Chapter 1 Rosie is living with her mother and attending school where she is bullied and wrongly accused of stealing the teacher’s book and writing derogatory remarks on the board. After being sent to the principal’s office she is told by Cheif Inspector Clarke and lawyer Colin Fletcher her mother passed away and her final wishes were for her to attend school on Blackstone Island. She was given a red case and instruction only open it with Miss Churchill, and wished off to a helicopter and flown to the island. Her pineapple emojis were not answered. She received no answer and arrived at Heverbridge School feeling alone with no one coming to save her. She meets Mr. Hemlock, who takes her red case … introduces her to Ottilie and asks her to show her to her room. Reviews the history of the island and school, shows her the gallery of the Falcon Queens and locks her in. During the night she meets the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn … In the morning Charlie opens the door, talk, breakfast, … Learn of the Falcon Queen games and signs up … Any challenge you face have courage … a voice whispers , along with a waft of velvet plum, cloves and spices. Roomate Bina.. First challenge, cross a melty frozen lake … Rosie helps Charlie and they work to gather to complete the first challenge along with 30 others to move on. Animo, Imperium, Libertas! Hemlock plays power games with Rosie and her case, Ottilie and her squad bully Rosie, Rosie journals letters to her mom. Rosie explores the island and discovers wildcats - Mercury. Professor J. Isambard. Meets Jackson. Lunchroom trouble for Rosie, Ottilie, & Charlie. Assigned to Ms. Parr’s - Gutter Club. Look for case in Miss Churchill office and find little purple book. Charlie comes to find her… Then Hemlock … Book is locked. Key? Ghost portrait of Anne Boleyn … Gutter Club - Conservation Club Bina joins. Science experiment bam, Ottiie - lphoto, online, … Rules will teach you everything … Piece together materials in shed to make explosives. Challenge 2 - Rosie, Ottilie, Charlie, Jackson ...
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modern fantasy fiction history Spice Girls Ginger Spice Anne Boleyn Elizabeth 1 English |
| If I Were a Fish | Corook & Olivia Barton | 2023 |
A story of a young girl who wonders how people might treat her differently if she were a fish. With minimalist brightly colored sketches and Great themes:
To comprehend the plot and empathize with the characters and authors, a familiarity with cyber bullying and the internet might be necessary. Authors singing
Page from If I Were A Fish!  |
picture book modern fantasy internet technology feelings cyber bullying bully song |
| Ruby Bridges: This Is Your Time | Ruby Bridges | 2020 |
Nonfiction picture book, illustrated with black and white photos, and 35 pages of short paragraphs that tells the story of Ruby Bridges and her experience as the first Black student to integrate an all White elementary school in New Orleans. A concise well written summary of civil rights events in America and how they touched her life and the consequences for her, her family, others who touched her life, and all Americans. Born in 1954 in Mississippi, same year Brown v Board of Education ordered integration of public schools. She later moved, with her family, to New Orleans where in 1960 she began school and the start of desegregation of public education in New Orleans. Her walk to the school front door was made famous by Norman Rockwell in his painting The Problem We All Live With, see cover art. Additional Sources about her life:
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picture book nonfiction autobiography Ruby Bridges Black experience 1960's |
Traditional The Three Billy Goats Gruff story with a slighly different ending. As usual each big billy goat gets bigger and the Troll describes different ways to feast on goat . Until the last arrives with only his legs in the picture. This enormous goat butts the troll down the river where he is washed over three levels of waterfalls.
The story starts a new apprentice adventure trilogy and stands on its own.
The story is the second in a new apprentice adventure trilogy.
Hi!
Mangkon - a kingdom where the class of your ancestors determines your social condition. 
A great story told in seven steps along with detailed portraits by John Gurche. Seven steps on how, when, and why Homo sapiens: 1. stand up, 2. smash rocks, 3. get swelled heads, 4. take a hike, 5. invent barbecue, 6. start talking (and never shut up), and 7. become storytellers? 
Middle school trip ... 
Brother Wulf's War
The story of three friends, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, continues. 
A cross between the 
Rosie Frost is sent to Bloodstone Island and the Haverstone school for extraordianry teens, which is also a sanctuary for endangered species. 