Call numbers for the Duluth Public Library are in ( ); for other titles, ask about our interlibrary loan service.
For
Younger Readers:
Chodos-Irvine, Margaret. Ella
Sarah Gets Dressed.
A young girl stands in front of her wardrobe to select her attire
and makes her OWN fashion statement. Elegant in its simplicity,
this perfect picture book uses a "variety of printmaking
techniques." Cheerful, bold colors outlined in white emphasize
Ella Sarah's freedom and confidence. ( j )
Cobb, Vicki. I Face the Wind. Illustrated
by Julia Gorton.
Readers are asked to think like scientists as they are led through
experiments and observations about wind. (j551.518)
Davies, Nicola. Surprising Sharks.
Illustrated by James Croft.
Bright colors, big print, and breezy writing distinguish this
brief introduction to the great white, dwarf lantern, sand tiger
and other amazing sharks. (j597.31)
Floca, Brian. The Racecar Alphabet.
A compelling alliterative text and large exuberant watercolors
capture the excitement of racecar driving, beginning with a 1901
Ford and continuing through the alphabet to a 2001 Ferrari. (
j )
French, Jackie. Diary of a Wombat.
Illustrated by Bruce Whately.
An endearing hilarious tale about Australia's most endangered
mammal. A wombat keeps a diary of her daily activities, often
no more than 'slept' or 'ate grass.' When human neighbors arrive,
she sets about training them to care for her demands. ( j )
James, Simon. Little One Step.
3 ducklings lost in the woods encourage the smallest to take "one
step" until they find Mama. Soft golden-hued illustrations
clearly enhance the feelings expressed in the text. ( j )
Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do With a
Tail Like This?
An innovative guessing book that delivers a fun and playful science
lesson on 30 animals' body parts: ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet
and tails. The artist uses exquisite cut-paper collage to detail
basic forms combined with clever placement of the spare text to
create an interactive visual display. (j591.1)
Long, Melinda. How I Became a Pirate.
Illustrated by David Shannon.
In this rollicking pirate tale, young Jeremy joins a pirate crew
and happily finds that no baths or vegetables are required, but
sadly learns that there is no one to tuck you in or read a good
night story. Shannon's illustrations and Long's story team up
to make this a great read-aloud for the younger set. ( j )
Morales, Yuyi. Just a Minute: A Trickster
Tale and Counting Book.
Energetic and playful illustrations capture the essence of Mexican
culture with bold and humorous motifs that illuminate Grandma
Beetle's vitality and Señor Calavera's expressiveness.
(j398.2)
Recorvits, Helen. My Name is Yoon.
Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska.
Unusual perspectives and amusing detail capture Yoon's transition
from a shy newcomer to a happy schoolgirl who is willing, at last,
to write the American version of her beloved Korean name. ( j
)
Sayre, April Pulley. One Is a Snail Ten
is a Crab: A Counting Book by Feet. Illustrated by Randy Cecil.
Count the feet of a variety of creatures as they bicycle, limbo,
and play volleyball across the beach. Discover the basic concepts
of counting, adding, and multiplying using colorful textured illustrations
and simple text.
( j )
Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive
the Bus!
A persistent pigeon asks, pleads, cajoles, wheedles, connives,
negotiates, demands and uses emotional blackmail in attempts to
get behind the wheel. Pigeon will not take "no" for
an answer, and puts the reader on the spot, using an escalating
series of tactics. Perfectly paced, each line and blank space
in the deceptively simple illustrations is essential. ( j )
For
Middle Readers:
Avi. Silent Movie.
Warm up the organ, bring out the popcorn and watch as this melodramatic
tale unfolds. Dramatic black and white illustrations and brief,
caption-like text effectively reveal the rags-to-riches tale of
an immigrant family. Just like viewing an old-time movie. ( j
)
Brown, Don. Mack Made Movies.
From his first role as a horse's rear end, to filming the first
pie in the face, Mack Sennett made a lasting impact on the film
industry. Brown tells his story in text and sepia-tone illustrations,
using flowing lines to convey a sense of humor and movement. (j921
Se58b)
Browne, Anthony. The Shape Game.
The celebrated illustrator recalls his unlikely introduction to
fine art when his working class family visits an art museum for
the first time. Just as his mother helped the family find a way
to become involved in the paintings, the artist provides the reader
with amusing illustrations to explore. (j708.21)
Chandra, Deborah. George Washington's
Teeth. Illustrated by Brock Cole.
The sad saga of Washington's terrible tooth problems are told
through lively poetry and amusing pastel illustrations. In the
midst of the fun, the reader painlessly learns other interesting
facts about colonial life. (j921 W2773c)
Christelow, Eileen. Vote!
From rallies to recounts, lively cartoons and a lucid text explain
the intricacies of the electoral process using a fictional mayoral
race as a model. (j394.973)
Creech, Sharon. Granny Torrelli Makes
Soup. Illustrated by Chris Raschka.
When Rosie and her best buddy Bailey have a falling out, it is
the warmth and wisdom of Granny Torrelli's kitchen that provides
the ingredients for understanding and growth until tutta va bene
- all is well! (Juv Fic)
D'Adamo, Francesco. Iqbal.
Translated from the Italian, this is a gripping, fictionalized
story of Iqbal Masih who is forced into child labor weaving carpets
to pay off his family's debts. A seamless translation, which demonstrates
that one person can make a difference. (Juv Fic)
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux:
Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool
of Thread.
The reader is drawn into an enchanting account of a smaller-than-usual
mouse in love with music, stories and a princess named Pea. This
tiny hero faints at loud noises but gathers the courage to fulfill
his dreams. (Juv Fic)
DuPrau, Jeannne. The City of Ember.
The City of Ember is dying: the mammoth underground generators
that provide its only light are slowly breaking down. Lina and
Doon alone hold the key to escape, but will they be able to persuade
their fellow citizens to follow them into the unknown? (Juv Fic
SF)
Fenner, Carol. Snowed in with Grandmother
Silk.
In this early chapter book that sports big print, humor, and a
situation children can appreciate, Ruddy and his grandmother learn
to be best friends when a surprise storm strands them without
electricity or telephone.
Hamilton, Virginia. Bruh Rabbit and the
Tar Baby Girl.
In Hamilton's retelling of a Gullah version of the beloved Tar
Baby story, Bruh Rabbit once again fools the luckless Bruh Wolf.
Ransome's vibrant watercolor illustrations and Hamilton's vivid
language will make this picture book an exceptional read-aloud.
(j398.2)
Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican
Folktales. Selected by Neil Philip.
Familiar themes take on the flavor of Mexico and the southwest
in these smooth retelling selected by an experienced anthologist.
Well-suited to telling or reading aloud. (j398.2)
Krull, Kathleen. Harvesting Hope: The
Story of Cesar Chavez.
Brightly-colored acrylics, handmade stamps, and computer-created
cutouts depict the life of this civil rights leader. Golden, earth-toned
colors and wide, flowing brush strokes lend depth and honesty
to the history and struggle of migrant farm workers in California.
(j921 C398k)
Lasky, Kathryn. The Man Who Made Time
Travel.
Lasky's well-researched accessible picture book biography of John
Harrison, the brilliant 17th century inventor of the marine chronometer,
is supported by Hawkes' intriguing equally well-researched paintings.
(j921 H246l)
Levine, Karen. Hana's Suitcase: A True
Story.
A child's suitcase in a museum display leads a teacher and her
class to research and discover the life of a child caught up in
the Holocaust. Told in alternating chapters, Hana's story is revealed
gradually, which lends immediacy to the story. (j940.5318)
Schyffert, Bea Uusma. The Man Who Went
to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut
Michael Collins.
Schyffert's seamless integration of text, illustration, charts
and photos draws readers into this amazing story of the astronaut
who kept Apollo 11 circling the moon while his colleagues took
a giant step for mankind. (j629.454)
Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion.
Written in conversing free verse, Woodson tells the emotional
story of a young boy as he settles into his foster home. Lonnie
misses his parents, who died in a fire, and his sister, who has
been adopted. Lonnie is a character who is hard to let go. (Juv
Fic)
For
Older Readers:
Cameron, Ann. Colibri.
Twelve-year-old Rosa's compelling story unfolds as she regains
her identity and confidence. Her riveting story is steeped in
the culture, traditions and folk beliefs of modern Guatemala.
(Juv Fic)
Cooper, Ilene. Jack: The Early Years
of John F. Kennedy.
The compelling story of John F. Kennedy's childhood and adolescence
provides previously unknown details. A fascinating assortment
of photographs and letters enliven the text. (j921 K383c)
Fleming, Candace. Ben Franklin's Almanac:
Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life.
Presented in the style of Franklin's own original almanac, Fleming's
fascinating biography is chock full of information that makes
history jump right out of the page. (j921 F854fl)
Freedman, Russell. In Defense of Liberty:
The Story of America's Bill of Rights.
In his eminently clear and careful text Freedman explains why
and how the first ten amendments to the U. S. Constitution came
to be written and what they mean. Timely and valuable commentary
on our freedoms. (j342.73)
Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart.
When Meggie's father reads aloud, characters jump right out of
the book into the real world. Funke creates an action-packed adventure
fantasy peopled with memorable characters and chilling villains.
(Juv Fic SF)
Henkes, Kevin. Olive's Ocean.
12-year-old Martha receives a page from the journal of a classmate,
Olive, who has died in an accident. Olive's entry about a desire
to be Martha's friend, to see the ocean, and to become a writer
propels Martha into a journey from childhood to the brink of adolescence.
(YA Fic)
Holt, Kimberly Willis. Keeper of the
Night.
Set against the lush beauty of Guam, exquisitely crafted present-tense
text snapshots follow thirteen-year-old Isabel as she struggles
to preserve her family and to realize her own independence in
the wake of her mother's suicide. (YA Fic)
Jones, Diana Wynne. The Merlin Conspiracy.
Told alternately by Roddy and Nick, this complex, riveting fantasy
moves swiftly along as the characters combine their newfound magical
powers and learn the actions in one world may have long reaching
effects in other worlds. (Juv Fic SF)
Kraft, Betsy Harvey. Theodore Roosevelt:
Champion of the American Spirit.
Kraft draws from many sources for this complete biography of the
reformer president "who erected his own monument." The
writing is as lively as the irrepressible subject himself. (j921
R677kr)
Macaulay, David. Mosque.
Meticulous pen-and-ink drawings and judicious application of color
combine with an infectiously enthusiastic text to document the
construction of a mosque and its role in the community. The spiritual
and the architectural are inextricably entwined and clearly explained.
(j297.351)
McCaughrean, Geraldine. Stop the Train!
In 1893, the future of newly settled Florence, Oklahoma and its
scrappy townspeople depends on getting the Red River Railroad
to make a local stop. Colorful, eccentric characters, hair-raising
escapades, and robust humor bring an unforgettable period of U.S.
history to life. (Juv Fic)
Murphy, Jim. An American Plague: The
True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.
Murphy draws material from primary sources, such as private diaries,
newspapers, and books, to give insight into the political, social,
and cultural challenges of the yellow fever epidemic. The compelling
narrative pulls readers into the crisis, illuminates the community's
responses, and shows the best and worst of humanity. (j614.541)
Nelson, Theresa. Ruby Electric.
Ruby deals with her real life problems by visualizing screen plays
in her head. Full of humor and drama, Ruby's voice crackles with
electricity. (Juv Fic)
Orlev, Uri. Run, Boy, Run.
At the age of eight, Srulik is left alone in the Warsaw Ghetto,
and must fend for himself, even forgetting his name, in order
to survive the Holocaust. (Juv Fic)
Osa, Nancy. Cuba 15.
Violet Paz prepares unwillingly for her quinceañera, the
traditional Latina 15th birthday celebration. Her journey into
self-discovery leads her to truly value and understand her Cuban
heritage for the first time. (YA Fic)
Pattou, Edith. East.
A compelling retelling of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon."
Rose saves her sister's life by agreeing to live with the white
bear. Her curiosity condemns the bear to enslavement by the Ice
Queen. Rose's quest to rescue him is filled with heart stopping
action. (Juv Fic SF)
Peck, Richard. The River Between Us.
Pratchett, Terry. The Wee Free Men.
With the help of the Nac Mac Feegle or Wee Free Men, a shockingly
rude band of 6-inch tall blue men, young Tiffany Aching leaves
her family's farm in the chalk country to rescue her brother from
the fairy kingdom. This original fantasy is both hilarious and
scary. (Juv Fic SF)
Preston, Diana. Remember the Lusitania!
A riveting account of the ocean liner's last Atlantic crossing.
Juxtaposed are chapters chronicling personal accounts of passengers
and the chilling plan of the German U-boat captain and crew lying
in wait for the Big Lusy. (j940.451)
Reeve, Philip. Mortal Engines.
In this original and fast-paced science fiction set in a post-apocalypse
future, cities of the world move around on tractor treads pursuing
and scavenging each other. (Juv Fic SF)
Rembert, Winfred. Don't Hold Me Back:
My Life and Art.
African-American folk artist Winfred Rembert takes readers on
a guided tour of his childhood and coming-of-age at the bloom
of the Civil Rights movement. Brilliantly composed tooled leather
paintings are full of color, movement, and emotion.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Order
of the Phoenix.
Fifteen-year-old Harry experiences the angst of being a teen including
feelings of abandonment, powerlessness, isolation, and grief.
Budding romance, rib-tickling humor and a darker sensibility fill
this action-packed fifth title in the series. (Juv Fic SF)
Sis, Peter. The Tree of Life: A Book
Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin Naturalist, Geologist and
Thinker.
Darwin's unique life and work is presented in a vsually stunning,
complex and appealing manner that begs multiple readings. (j921
D259s)
Stroud, Jonathan. The Amulet of Samarkand.
Bartimaeus, a powerful 5,000 year old djinni with a sarcastic
bent, is summoned by an inexperienced apprentice magician. The
results are danger, death, and a big dose of comic relief. (Juv
Fic SF)
For
All Ages:
Blake, Quentin. Tell Me a Picture.
In this innovative offering, comical cartoon children walk the
reader through an art exhibition, introducing and offering commentary
on twenty-six works while at the same time allowing opportunities
for individual contemplation.
Frazee, Marla. Roller Coaster
The text swerves, dips, and loops across the pages along with
the cars of a roller coaster as a young girl enjoys her much anticipated
first ride and is ready to go again. ( j )
Gerstein, Mordicai. The Man Who Walked
Between the Towers.
This true story recounts the daring feat of a spirited young Frenchman
who walked a tightrope between the World Trade Center twin towers
in 1974. (j791.34)
Leedy, Loreen. There's a Frog in my Throat!
440 Animal Sayings a Little Bird Told Me.
An energetic array of familiar sayings are cleverly defined by
the pranks of lively collage animals described in idiomatic phrases.
(j428.1)
Morpurgo, Michael. Kensuke's Kingdom.
Eleven-year-old Michael is washed overboard off his family's yacht
and awakens on what he believes is a deserted island in the Pacific.
In this riveting survival story, Michael discovers he is not alone.
(Juv Fic)
Myers, Walter Dean. Blues Journey.
Poetry and art combine for a striking look at jazz. (j811.54)
Sabuda, Robert. Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation of Lewis Carrol's Original Tale.
An adaptation of Lewis Carroll's story, illuminated with ingenious
paper engineering.
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. The Hidden Alphabet.
Each letter of the alphabet is introduced by a word as well as
an arresting image. As the reader lifts the heavy black frame
on each page, the small illustration is transformed into a large,
elegant capital letter. A beautifully designed toy book that allows
the reader to peek through a keyhole and find a fresh way of seeing
things. ( j )
4/24/06
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802
