Younger Readers
Baker, Jeannie. Home.
In this wordless story, children watch Tracy grow up as her neighborhood,
shown through a window of her home, is transformed from a community
of concrete and graffiti to a place of greenery and scenic beauty.
( j Baker)
Beaumont, Karen. Baby
Danced the Polka. Illus. by Jennifer Plecas.
While Papa and Mama prepare for a party, Baby gets ready to dance
with stuffed animal friends. The rollicking fun appears on sturdy,
colorful pages with foldout flaps that invite toddlers to participate
in the story. ( j Beaumont)
Brown, Don. Odd
Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.
Without requiring an understanding of Einstein's universe-shaking
theories, Brown's picture-book biography leads children to an
appreciation of the revolutionary scientific thinker as he grows
from childhood into adulthood. (j921 Ei68br)
Chen, Chih-Yuan. Guji
Guji.
When Guji Guji, a crocodile raised as a duck, learns his true
identity, he must decide if he will help the bad crocodiles or
remain loyal to his feathered family. Humor and tension abound
in both the line-and-wash illustrations and the satisfying telling.
( j Chen)
Crews, Nina. The
Neighborhood Mother Goose.
A thoroughly urban, thoroughly multicultural, thoroughly delighted
assemblage of children romping their way through traditional Mother
Goose rhymes, this puts a decidedly modern shine on some old classics.
(j398.8 Crews)
English, Karen. Hot
Day on Abbott Avenue. Illus. by Javaka Steptoe.
Sizzling-hot summer weather sparks tempers between best friends
Kishi and Renée, and they experience a "best-friend-breakup
day." ( j English)
Ernst, Lisa Campbell. The
Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book.
A visually imaginative alphabet book, this reveals images from
the ordinary to the unusual if a child turns it clockwise. ( j
Ernst)
Fleischman, Paul. SIDEWALK CIRCUS. Illus. by Kevin Hawkes.
Posters advertising an upcoming circus prompt a young girl's exuberant
imagination; sitting at a bus stop, she turns ordinary street
scenes into acts of death-defying bravery.
Fox, Mem. Where
Is the Green Sheep? Illus. by Judy Horacek.
This cheerful book of opposites and contrasts challenges preschoolers
to find the green sheep in a flock of blue and red sheep, near
and far sheep, sun and rain sheep, and more. ( j Fox)
Henkes, Kevin. Kitten's
First Full Moon.
Henkes employs boldly outlined organic shapes and shades of black,
white, and gray with rose undertones to tell a simple story of
a kitten who mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. The 2005 Caldecott
Medal Book. ( j Henkes)
Hopkinson, Deborah. Apples
to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave
Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes,
and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains. Illus. by Nancy
Carpenter.
It's "Apple, Ho!" in this original tall tale, as a pioneering
papa moves his precious fruit trees and his family from Iowa to
Oregon in the mid-nineteenth century. ( j Hopkinson)
Knutson, Barbara. Love
and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains.
Cuy, a clever guinea pig, repeatedly outsmarts hungry but foolish
Tío Antonio the Fox, who wants to eat Cuy for dinner. (j398.2
Knutson)
Lehman, Barbara. The
Red Book.
With simplicity that belies their depth, Lehman's nuanced watercolor
illustrations transport a city girl, an island boy, and the viewer
beyond their familiar worlds. An enticing visual journey with
surprising twists. A 2005 Caldecott Honor Book. ( j Lehman)
Look, Lenore. Ruby
Lu, Brave and True. Illus. by Anne Wilsdorf.
In this short chapter book, Asian American Ruby Lu, almost eight,
is enthusiastic about her younger brother Oscar, about magic,
and, in the end, about everything - even Chinese school on Saturdays.
(Juv Fic Look)
Neubecker, Robert. Wow!
City!
Two-year-old Izzy and her father fly to Manhattan where they discover
(wow!) the sights and sounds of a big city in this bold, oversized,
almost wordless picture book exploding with lively, colorful scenes
of the city. ( j Neubecker)
Prelutsky, Jack. If
Not for the Cat. Illus. by Ted Rand.
In this engaging book of 17 animal haikus, readers solve the riddle
of each poem: - Which animal is the haiku about? Beautiful watercolors,
clever poetry, and elegant design unite in this lovely tribute
to all creatures, great and small. (j811.54 Prelutsky)
Ravishankar, Anushka. TIGER ON
A TREE Illus. by Pulak Biswas
Ravishankar's nonsense story features a tiger in rural India and
the villagers who rescue it and then decide what to do with it.
Striking orange-and-black artwork, entertaining verse, and unique
lettering distinguish this handsome book.
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. LEMONS ARE NOT RED
Using brilliant colors and die-cuts, this cleverly designed concept
book entices children to turn the page and view the true color
of items such as lemons, apples, the sky, and grass.
Sierra, Judy. Wild
About Books. Illus. by Marc Brown.
Evoking the spirit of Dr. Seuss, Sierra tells a rhyming story
of a Springfield librarian who "accidentally" drives
the bookmobile into the zoo and converts all of the animals into
readers. Brown's lush, full-bleed paintings, packed with comical
details, add to the ebullience of this thoroughly entertaining
picture book. ( j Sierra)
Thompson, Lauren. Polar
Bear Night. Illus. by Stephen Savage.
In a satisfying, soothing bedtime story, a baby polar bear leaves
the warmth of its mother and snug den to wander through the Arctic
moonlight. Savage's textured linocuts are as simple and gently
absorbing as the story. ( j Thompson)
Willems, Mo. Knuffle
Bunny: A Cautionary Tale.
An ordinary trip to the laundromat with Dad becomes a hilarious
epic drama of miscommunication when Trixie realizes that her beloved
stuffed animal has been left behind. This energetic comedy is
illustrated with an unconventional combination of sepia-tone photographs
and wry cartoons. A 2005 Caldecott Honor Book. ( j Willems)
Wormell, Christopher. Teeth,Tails,
& Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book.
Absolutely gorgeous linoleum-block prints challenge children to
examine not multiples of animals, but animal parts. ( j Wormell)
Middle Readers
Bang, Molly. My
Light.
Richly colored, highly focused illustrations coupled with straightforward
narrative chronicle the daily journey of the sun's nourishing
energy. An author's note supplies additional information and resources.
(j537 Bang)
Bernier-Grand, Carmen T. César:
¡SI, SE PUEDE! = YES, WE CAN! Illus. by David Diaz.
Using free verse, Bernier-Grand chronicles the compelling story
of César Chávez, whose given name was Cesario Estrada
Chávez. Diaz's luminous illustrations help make the Hispanic
hero accessible to young readers.
Bredsdorff, Bodil. THE CROW-GIRL
In this spare yet moving novel, the Crow-Girl and her grandmother
live in a stone house on a sea cove. After her grandmother dies,
the child follows the beckoning cries of two crows that lead her
on a journey during which she encounters people who attempt to
break her spirit, as well as those who open their hearts. A 2005
Batchelder Honor Book. (Juv Fic)
Coman, Carolyn. The
Big House. Illus. by Rob Shepperson.
In a good-humored, comical caper, the spunky children of career
felons are pitted against the sinister pair who sent their parents
to the Big House. (Juv Fic Coman)
Cottrell Boyce, Frank. Millions.
In this sweet, fast-paced, funny novel set in England, fourth-grader
Damien Cunningham and his older brother, Anthony, ponder what
to do after a big bag of furnace-bound, pre-Euro pound notes is
hurled from a train and lands at Damien's feet. (Juv Fic Cottrell
Boyce)
Gelman, Rita Golden. Doodler
Doodling. Illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky.
A bored little girl's imagination leads her in ever wilder directions
as she doodles her way through class envisioning "teachers
teaching," "fliers flying," "fliers flying
teachers," and onward to glorious absurdity. ( j Gelman)
Grandits, John. Technically,
It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems.
Poetry becomes image in this energetic series of concrete poems,
in which 11-year-old Robert expresses himself vividly and without
reservation. (YA 811.6 Grandits)
Grimes, Nikki. WHAT IS GOODBYE?
Illus. by Raúl Colón.
In tender, poetic alternating narratives that stretch across a
year, Jesse and Jerilyn relate their responses to the death of
their older brother. Sixteen expressive artworks offer space for
reflection in this sensitive, beautiful anthology of 52 brief
poems.
Hamilton, Virginia. The
People Could Fly: The Picture Book. Illus. by Leo & Diane
Dillon.
Exquisite color illustrations illuminate Hamilton's retelling
of a timeless tale about the slaves who escaped their horrific
life by acquiring the magic to fly away. A 2005 Coretta Scott
King Illustrator Honor Book. (j398.2 Hamilton)
Hesse, Karen. The
Cats in Krasinski Square. Illus. by Wendy Watson.
With the aid of some cats, two sisters cleverly outsmart the Gestapo
to help feed the Jewish people in the Warsaw Ghetto. Based on
a true incident, the story unfolds in graceful, poetic prose accompanied
by warm, delicate illustrations. ( j Hesse)
Hodges, Margaret. Merlin
and the Making of the King. Illus. by Trina Schart Hyman.
Hodges' retelling of three Arthurian legends is beautiful in its
simplicity; her stories retain the full flavor of the legends
but are accessible to children. Hyman's exquisite artwork is reminiscent
of detailed medieval manuscripts. (j398.22 Hodges)
Ibbotson, Eva. The
Star of Kazan. Illus. by Kevin Hawkes.
Orphaned Annika eventually lives happily ever after in this riveting,
old-fashioned rags-to-riches adventure set in a beautifully described
pre-World War I Vienna. (Juv Fic Ibbotson)
Jocelyn, Marthe. Mable
Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril, and Romance.
When 14-year-old Mable Riley leaves home for Ontario in 1901 to
assist her schoolmistress, she prays for adventure; she finds
it when she meets a radical suffragist in the conservative farm
town. Her experiences are cataloged in this witty, fictional diary.
A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (YA Fic Jocelyn)
Kerley, Barbara. Walt
Whitman: Words for America. Illus. by Brian Selznick.
Kerley's lyrical prose portrait of Whitman captures the remarkable
humanity and compassion of this quintessentially American poet,
and Selznick's evocative art, inspired by period photographs,
breathes visual life into this moving tribute. A 2005 Sibert Honor
Book. (j921 W5966k)
Landowne, Youme. SELAVI: THAT IS LIFE: A HAITIAN STORY OF HOPE
Hope survives for homeless children amid the hardships of Haiti
as they create family, find shelter, and begin to rebuild their
lives. Text and jewel-toned illustrations culminate with an afterword
by Haitian author Edwidge Danticat and with black/white photographs
that contribute historical context.
Matthews, L.S. FISH
The young narrator and her parents flee their adopted country
as civil war compounds the long-lasting drought. As they make
their way over mountains, their hope becomes embodied in the small
fish that they carry with them.
Montgomery, Sy. The
Tarantula Scientist. Photos by Nic Bishop.
Montgomery's vigorous and sometimes humorous text, enlivened by
Bishop's striking color close-up photography, introduces field
scientist Sam Marshall and his hairy subjects. An irresistible
invitation to real scientific work. A 2005 Sibert Honor Book.
(j595.44 Montgomery)
Morrison, Toni. Remember:
The Journey to School Integration.
"Remembering can be painful, even frightening," Morrison
states in the introduction to this powerful book of words and
photographs. Factual information about school integration is presented
with the intent that young children learn what happened to understand
how far we have come - and to avoid repeating the past. The 2005
Coretta Scott King Author Award Book. (j344.0798 Morrison)
Moss, Marissa. Mighty
Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen. Illus. by C.F. Payne.
It was 1931, and everyone knew that girls did not play major league
baseball. But on April 2, a 17-year-old girl pitched to Babe Ruth
and Lou Gehrig, and struck them out. (j796.357 Moss)
Pearce, Philippa. The
Little Gentleman. Illus. by Tom Pohrt.
Master storyteller Pearce offers a tale about a most unusual friendship
between a young girl, Bet, and a bewitched mole that speaks and
is cursed with everlasting life. (Juv Fic SF Pearce)
Rogers, Gregory. The
Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard.
In this wordless story, a boy enters an abandoned theater to retrieve
his soccer ball and finds himself swooped into a time-travel adventure
in Elizabethan England. ( j Rogers)
Rumford, James. Sequoyah:
The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing
In spare, poetic writing and richly colored, expressive illustrations,
Rumford captures the character of Sequoyah, the man who created
a writing system for the Cherokee language. A parallel translation
(by Anna Sixkiller Huckaby) in Cherokee demonstrates the lasting
influence of this creative genius. A 2005 Sibert Honor Book. (j970.2
Se64r Foreign Language/Cherokee)
Schanzer, Rosalyn. George
vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides.
Casual text and droll illustrations alternately present King George
III of England and George Washington -- their differing political
perspectives and the times in which they lived. The animated,
unique book, sure to engage readers, is chockfull of documented
detail. (j973.3 Schanzer)
Scieszka, Jon. Science
Verse. Illus. by Lane Smith.
A wide-eyed student, zapped by his teacher with the curse of science
verse, travels through the science curriculum with clever, comical,
and occasionally gross science poems. (K-3002 Compact Disc/Book
Scieszka)
Shange, Ntozake. Ellington
Was Not a Street. Illus. by Kadir Nelson.
Twentieth-century African American artists, activists, and other
change-agents, who might not be familiar to kids today, visit
a young girl's home in this rich poetic and visual tribute. The
2005 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Book. (j811.54 Shange)
Sís, Peter. The
Train of States.
Sís imparts a unique view of the 50 states and the District
of Columbia by using highly detailed pictures of decorated antique
circus wagons traveling on flatbed railcars that are touring the
country. (j917.3 Sís)
Woodson, Jacqueline. Coming
on Home Soon. Illus. by E.B. Lewis.
Evocative watercolor paintings illuminate a World War II story
of cross-generational love and convey the longing of a child anticipating
her mother's return. A 2005 Caldecott Honor Book. ( j Woodson)
Older Readers
Almond, David. THE FIRE-EATERS
Simultaneously searing and soaring, this passionate exploration
of faith places the private apocalypses of rural English schoolboy
Bobby Burns against the backdrop of the Cuban missile crisis.
A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults.
Bausum, Ann. With
Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote.
Focusing on Alice Paul, Bausum's account of the 72-year battle
to gain women's voting rights uses archival photographs and other
visual material, tinted in purple and gold, to accompany information
about political strategies, the treatment of jailed activists,
and the determination that resulted in woman suffrage in the U.S.
A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults . (j324.623 Bausum)
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al
Capone Does My Shirts.
Alcatraz is the evocative backdrop for this highly original novel,
set in 1935, in which 12-year-old Moose tells about his trevails
on "the Rock," where his father works. Hilarious antics
are interwoven with themes of isolation and imprisonment, compassion
and connection. A 2005 Newbery Honor Book and A 2005 Best Book
for Young Adults. (Juv Fic Choldenko)
Chotjewitz, David. Daniel,
Half Human: and the Good Nazi.
In this suspenseful story set in 1930s Germany, a boy accustomed
to privilege is forced into a life of deception after discovering
that he is half-Jewish. His complicated relationship with his
friend Armin is challenged when the rise of Nazism takes the children
in different directions. A 2005 Batchelder Honor Book and A 2005
Best Book for Young Adults. (YA Fic Chotjewitz)
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bucking
the Sarge.
With great wit and intelligence, 14-year-old Luther plots to escape
his ruthless mother's plans for his life and to find his way in
the world outside of Flint, Michigan. A 2005 Best Book for Young
Adults. (YA Fic Curtis)
Doyle, Brian. BOY O'BOY
This powerful, engaging novel set in Ottawa at the end of World
War II introduces 12-year-old Martin O'Boy, whose wit, upbeat
disposition, and superhero inspiration help him triumph over poverty,
a troubled family life, and abuse from a man with an eye for boys.
Drez, Ronald J. Remember
D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories.
The history of this pivotal World War II event is chronicled in
a compelling narrative, presented in an accessible, engaging format
and buttressed by a variety of primary sources. (j940.5421 Drez)
Farmer, Nancy. The
Sea of Trolls.
In a tale inspired by Norse legend, Jack sets off on a quest and
encounters wild adventures and outrageous characters, including
trolls, dragons, giant spiders, and fierce boars. A 2005 Best
Book for Young Adults. (Juv Fic SF Farmer)
Fisher, Catherine. THE ORACLE
BETRAYED
Mirany becomes the keeper of the Archon's final secret and must
find a way to save her kingdom. Set in a mythic Greco-Egyptian
kingdom, her story is filled with betrayal and intrigue. A 2005
Best Book for Young Adults.
Freedman, Russell. The
Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle
for Equal Rights.
Freedman gracefully narrates the story of Anderson's life and
career in this handsomely and spaciously designed book an artist
who preferred to focus on her career but was forced to confront
her nation's racism. The 2005 Sibert Medal Book, A 2005 Newbery
Honor Book, and A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (j784.092 Freedman)
Hoose, Phillip M. The
Race to Save the Lord God Bird.
The tragic conclusion of the reign of the magnificent ivory-billed
woodpecker unfolds with passion - and a tiny dollop of hope at
the end. A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (j598.72 Hoose)
Is This Forever, or What? Poems & Paintings from Texas. Ed.
by Naomi Shihab Nye.
In a beautiful, contemporary collection of paintings and free-verse
poetry, 140 Texas artists and poets convey their love of Texas
as a "state of mind," not just a place.
Johnson, Angela. BIRD.
Bird searches for the stepfather who abandoned her, but finds
a circle of friends that reveal the true meaning of family and
love. Told through the first-person perspectives of Bird and her
two new friends. A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults.
Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira.
Kadohata's tenderly nuanced novel glitters with plain and poignant
words that describe the strong love within a Japanese American
family from the point of view of younger sister Katie. Personal
challenges and family tragedy are set against the oppressive social
climate of the South during the 1950s and 1960s. The 2005 Newbery
Medal Book. (Juv Fic Kadohata)
Konigsburg, E. L. The
Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place.
Margaret Rose is rescued from summer camp by her eccentric uncles
and, in turn, saves their splendid, artistically sculptured towers.
A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (Juv Fic Konigsburg)
Leavitt, Martine. HECK SUPERHERO
Heck's mother counts on him to be her hero, but their lives unravel
when the clinically depressed woman spirals into "hypertime,"
leaving Heck, artist and superhero wanna-be, to fend for himself
on the streets. A funny, painful, original novel. A 2005 Best
Book for Young Adults.
McKay, Hilary. Indigo's
Star.
Through a series of humorous and poignant adventures, the Cassons
learn about the true meaning of family and friendship. It's great
to spend more time with the quirky characters that first appeared
in Saffy's Angel. (Juv Fic McKay)
McWhorter, Diane. A
Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968.
Pulitzer prize winner McWhorter mines her childhood as a white
girl in Birmingham, Alabama, to write this distinguished, in-depth
exploration of the civil rights movement in the U.S. A 2005 Best
Book for Young Adults. (j323.4 McWhorter)
Myers, Walter Dean. HERE IN HARLEM:
POEMS IN MANY VOICES
Borrowing from both the classical tradition and the rhythms of
jazz and blues, this dazzling collection illuminates the many
faces of Harlem, past and present. A 2005 Best Book for Young
Adults.
Nelson, Marilyn. Fortune's
Bones: The Manumission Requiem.
Using a piercing cycle of poetry, Nelson introduces readers to
Fortune, a slave whose death frees him but also enslaves him for
200 years--first as an anatomical specimen and later as a museum
display. A 2005 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. (YA 811.54
Nelson)
Oppel, Kenneth. Airborn.
Matt, a cabin boy aboard a luxury airship, saves a dying balloonist
whose ship has been damaged. The balloonist's last words are about
beautiful, winged creatures. One year later, the granddaughter
of the balloonist takes passage on the airship, hoping to find
the mysterious creatures. A 2005 Printz Honor Book and A 2005
Best Book for Young Adults. (Juv Fic SF Oppel)
Peck, Richard. The
Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts.
Russell, growing up in 1904, doesn't like school, and he's delighted
when his teacher, Miss Myrt Arbuckle, dies. But when his older
sister Tansy becomes the new teacher, Russell finds himself facing
all kinds of new troubles. A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults.
(YA Fic Peck)
Pratchett, Terry. A
Hat Full of Sky.
Young Tiffany Aching, two years removed from saving the world
with an iron skillet, returns to face two new challenges: formal
education in witchcraft and an identity-eating monster. It's the
Feegles to the rescue in a great sequel to The Wee Free Men.
A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (Juv Fic SF Pratchett)
Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Becoming
Naomi León.
Ryan presents an endearing, unforgettable character in Naomi Soledad
León Outlaw, who faces many challenges with courage and
conviction. A book filled with humor and poignancy. The 2005 Schneider
Family Middle School Award Book. (Juv Fic Ryan)
Schmidt, Gary D. Lizzie
Bright and the Buckminster Boy.
Set in Maine in 1912, this powerful, haunting novel, propelled
by a tragic historical event, probes a forbidden friendship between
a preacher's son and a dark-skinned girl from a nearby island.
Steeped in imagery and laced with surprising humor, the story
explores powerlessness, possibility, and the difference individuals
can make. A 2005 Newbery Honor Book, A 2005 Printz Honor Book,
and A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (YA Fic Schmidt)
Shusterman, Neal. The
Schwa Was Here.
Is it possible for a human being to be invisible? Schwa nearly
is, but Antsy notices him, and the two boys devise a scheme to
make big bucks. By turns hilarious and touching, this novel is
both unique and creative. A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (YA
Fic Shusterman)
Stolz, Joëlle. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES
Stolz paints a vivid picture of an all-female community and a
young woman's coming-of-age in nineteenth-century Libya, in a
story that follows 11-year-old Malika as she questions the restrictions
that she encounters as she approaches marriageable age. The 2005
Batchelder Award Medal.
Weeks, Sarah. So
B. It.
Heidi is determined to discover the background of her mentally
disabled mother, who calls herself So B. It. As she travels to
Hilltop Home for the Disabled, she meets a host of memorable characters,
and when she arrives, she finds the answers to her ancestry as
well as a new family. A 2005 Best Book for Young Adults. (Juv
Fic Weeks)
All Ages
Thomas, Dylan. A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES. Illus. by Chris Raschka.
Appealing images created with ink, gouache, and torn paper bring
timeless literature to a new generation in this newly published
edition of a classic that evokes a long-ago winter, childhood,
indoor and outdoor play, family, and holiday observances in a
seaside town.
Under
the Spell of the Moon: Art for Children from the World's Great
Illustrators. Ed. By Patricia Aldana.
A riddle, a story, or a poem in the artist's native language and
in English accompanies the work of 34 children's book artists
from more than two dozen nations in this stunning anthology. It's
a delightful, unparalleled celebration of children and childhood
the world over. (j741.642 Foreign Language/Multi-Language)
Copyright American Library Association 2005. This document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.