Paterson, K. (2007). Bridge to terabithia. New York: HarperEntertainment.

This Newbery Medal winning book, is about Jess Aarons, who befriends a new neighbor named Leslie Burke. As their friendship grows, they create an imaginary world called “Terabithia” where they go together, and transform as individuals. This book ends sadly, and is often challenged because of the topic of death in a children’s book, but it is not my opinion that books should be avoided because of death.

Recommended ***

Paterson, K. (1978) The great gilly hopkins. New York : Harper & Row.

Gilly Hopkins, a foster child, is being moved to a new home. Despite the fact that everyone in her new home and school are trying their best to make her happy and feel welcome, Gilly knows better. She knows that she has to cause problems, and confuse everyone, and build up walls around her. This is a realistic portrayal of the difficulties that foster children have, but be prepared for no happy ending. Also, Gilly says some very racist things in the story, and I would recommend this book, but only if it is to be followed with discussion. Race is a discussion that should be had with children, and this book will bring up questions and comments.

Recommended with Caution ****

Konigsburg, E. L. (1967). From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Fairfield, PA: Atheneum.

Claudia decides that she has had enough! Her parents overwork her, do not appreciate her, and definitely do not give her a big enough allowance. She is running away. She decided the place: the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her companion?: Her brother Jamie. They run away to the Museum, hide in the bathroom during closing, and sleep in the exhibits! During their stay, they become fascinated with an exhibit that may or may not have been sculpted by Michelangelo. I decided to read this book, because I read it as a child. When I originally read this book, I thought it was a delightful book and I got lost in my own imagination after reading the story. However, with adult eyes, all I could think about, was how much this could never really happen. I had such high expectations, that it ruined my second reading of the book. This story won a Newberry Award in 1967.

Recommended ***

Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

Young Trisha is excited when she goes to school. She is excited to learn how to read and to taste the sweetness of books. However, as she goes through school, she realizes that she isn’t able to keep up with the other kids. When she reads, the letters get jumbled, and it is hard for to see the words. She fakes her way through her classes, and is relentlessly teased by her classmates…that is until she gets a new teacher, Mr. Falker. Mr. Falker is able to build a relationship with Trisha, see her difficulty, and work with her until she is able to overcome her difficulties. This is a delightfully heartfelt story that every teacher should read.

Highly Recommended *****

Savage, J. (2010). Brian urlacher. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications.

Brian Urlacher is the Bears running back, and he has a classic American story. Brian didn’t have much as a kid, so he worked hard in school, and became a successful football player in high school. The University of New Mexico recruited Brian, and then in 2000 the Chicago Bears drafted him. Students interested in football will enjoy the story of Brian, who also is known for being modest and not boasting about his abilities.

Recommended ****

Fletcher, S. (2007). Dadblamed union army cow. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Dadblamed Union Army Cow is based on the true story of a cow that follows her owner throughout the war. The cow, while a nusance at times, ends up being incredibly useful to the union army. When I read this book to my students they loved reading with me “moo” and “that dadblamed cow!”. This book is a great way to start talking to students about the Civil War.

Highly Recommended *****

Patterson, J. (2005). Maximum ride: The angel experiment. New York: Little, Brown.

Max is a typical teenage girl, if you don’t count the fact that she has wings, and lives with other children with wings, and that they don’t have parents. When the mutant Erasers (other children with genetic changes, but they have been genetically “enhanced” with wolves) come and take their beloved Angel away, they fight to get her out of the dreaded school, an experimental lab. Patterson has done a great job writing a story that reluctant readers will be willing to pick up.

Highly Recommended ****

Hahn, M. D. (2006). Witch catcher. New York: Clarion Books.

Jen’s father has just inherited an old castle in a rural town in West Virginia from a distant uncle. As they move into the home, Jen immediately becomes suspicious of her father’s new girlfriend, Moura, who is a local antiques dealer. When Jen finds a hanging glass ornament in the tower (which Moura says is a witch catcher), and her cat breaks this ornament, suddenly a fairy named Kieryn appears. Jen works with Kieryn to save her family, who has also been trapped in witch catchers. But these fairy’s intentions are hard for Jen to decipher…

Highly Recommended *****

Riordan, R. (2005). The lightning thief. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Read with caution! The lightning thief is the first of five books in the Percy Jackson series. You will not be able to put them down! Young Percy Jackson finds out that he is a demigod. When a minotaur chases Percy to summer camp, he suddenly realizes that his best friend is a satyr, and his professor was a centaur. Percy, his satyr friend Grover, and another demigod Annabeth, they set out across the country to prevent a war between the gods. This is a great way to get students interested in Greek history and mythology! Even adults will become excited to learn the myths that are found in the Iliad and the Odyssey.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *****

Hines, A. G. (2001) Pieces: A year in poems and quilts. New York : Greenwillow Books

Hines has created a book that is based on quilts that she has created. The quilts are supposed to represent the four seasons, and there are poems that go along with the seasons. It is a short book, but it was very difficult for me (as an adult) to get through it. It is hard for me to believe that any children would be interested in this book, because what child is really interested in quilts? On top of that, the poetry is dry and uninteresting.

Not really recommended *

Climo, S. (1993). The Korean Cinderella. Mexico: HarperCollins Publishers.

The young Pear Blossom is mistreated by her step mother and stepsister. They tell Pear Blossom that she may attend the villages festival after she weeds the rice patties. Of course, there was too much work for Pear Blossom to finish on her own. A black ox appears and clears the weeds for Pear Blossom, and she goes the festival she looses her shoe in the water. The magistrate finds her shoe, and believes that the show will bring him to the one he should marry. The story is very similar to the version known in the United States, with a new flavor.

Recommended ***

Climo, S. (1989). The Egyptian Cinderella. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

The Egyptian Cinderella takes place in ancient Egypt. Rhodopis is a young slave, who is ridiculed for her fair hair and light complexion. The Pharaoh Amasis, is visited by a falcon (who is the god Horus), who drops a slipper on his lap. The Pharaoh takes this as a sign that he is to marry the woman whose foot fits the slipper. The slipper belongs to Rhodopis, and they marry. This is another fun version of the Cinderella story, which will peak children’s interests.

Highly Recommended ****

Martin, R. (1992). The rough-face girl. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

The Rough-Face Girl is the Algonquin Indian version of the classic Cinderella story. The poor rough-face girl has become rough faced because her face has been burned working closely around the fire. All of the women in her village want to marry the Invisible Being. The invisible being however, will only be married to the woman who can prove to his sister that they have seen him. The Rough-Face Girl’s sisters get dressed in elaborate and expensive clothing, and strut around the village, as they pretend that they have seen the invisible being. Rough-face girl however, is able to show that she has seen the invisible being, and the story ends happily. This story would be a great addition to a fairy tale unit, or a supplement on Native American studies.

Highly Recommended ****

Verla, K. (2007). Rough, tough charley. Berkeley, California: Tricycle Press.

This story uses rhyme to tell the story of Charley Parkhurst. As a youth, Charley runs away from the orphanage, and finds work caring for horses. As Charley grows, Charley becomes known for his ability to care for horses, and was a stagecoach drive through the old west. Before his death, he joined the Odd fellows, and lost an eye. At his death, the doctor found a shocking surprise! Charley was a woman! Turns out Charley may have been one of the first women to vote in the state of California.

Rough, Tough Charley is a great book to use during women’s history month, and during lessons that ask students to challenge gender roles.

Highly Recommended *****

Ernst, L. C. (2006). The gingerbread girl. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.

After the tragic death of the gingerbread boy, who was tricked and eaten by a fox, the little old man and the little old lady decide to try again. They are so very lonely, and decide this time, they will bake a gingerbread girl, who shall be covered with sweets, because a sweet little girl would not run away from them! As soon as the gingerbread girl leaves the oven, many people who would like to eat her pursue her. Will the gingerbread girl be able to avoid the same tragic fate as her older brother? Or is she clever enough to out trick a fox? When read aloud to children, they are easily able to chant along to “with a leap and a twirl, you can’t catch me! I’m the gingerbread girl!”

Highly Recommended ****

Bateman, T. (2007). Fiona’s luck. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

All of the luck in Ireland has been take by the leprechauns! The big people are now unable to grow potatoes, the chickens no longer can lay eggs, and the cows are no longer giving milk! A witty girl named Fiona sets out to find the King of the Leprechauns in order to get the luck back. Fiona’s Luck could be used to supplement a unit or lesson on the potato famine or Ireland.

Recommended ***