Published: 2013-2016 Theme: Civil Rights Movement Best for: 8 and up "Lawson taught us how to protect each other, how to survive. But the hardest part to learn--to truly understand, deep in your heart-- was how to find love for your attacker." This excellent trilogy of graphic novel is a first-hand account by John Lewis of the civil rights movement as he lived it...
Published: 2016 Theme: Biography Best for: 5 to 8 "John loved to tell the chicks the Good News. When he fed and watered them, he spoke about the value of hard work and patience..." The illustrations alone could make this an important book, but the subject matter is what we really want to read...
Published: 2016 Theme: Adventure and Chinese Tales Best for: 8 to 12 "When it is time for you to do something, you will do it..Amah's words echoed, untying and smoothing the knotted string of Pinmei's voice. She took a deep breath, and, with a whisper, she started the story." "Storytellers can make time disappear..." and with this wonderful children's book, the readers can lose themselves in a magical past...
Published: 2008 Theme: Wildlife in Africa Best for: 6 to 9 "They came to a halt beside the hut... It had been made out of tree branches and the trunks of saplings, all tied together with twine and then poked firmly into the ground." The small first chapter book is set in the bush in Africa, and gives wonderful images of African children, wildlife, and insights into baboon behavior.
Published: 2016 Theme: Cat Adventure Best for: 7 to 11 "Goose pats Stick Cat on the head. Then he scratches him behind the left ear. Stick Cat allows Goose to do all this. It's how Stick Cat rewards Goose for working all day and buying him food." If there are second and third grade children who need encouragement to read, this series of books is a great addition to your home or school library.
Published: 2013 Theme: Animal Rights Best for: 9 to 12 "It was not an easy journey. The yetis had to be sealed up inside the lorry until nighttime, when they found a deserted place to stop and they could come out and stretch their legs and get some air." This children's book, perhaps one of Ibbotson's last, takes on animal hunting directly, making it an abominable thing to do!
Published: 1976 Theme: Native American tragedy Best for: 12 and up "Misson Santa Barbara, where the Padres were taking us, was near the Island of the Blue Dolphins...Perhaps if I went there, I could find one who would help me reach the island and bring Karana back." A wonderful work of historical fiction, this children's book is a sequel to Island of Blue Dolphins, and also offers a chilling look at the treatment of Native Americans by missions.
A children's book as a holiday gift can change a young person's life. Watch and listen to this moving testimony about books and libraries by Maya Angelou, called "A Library is a Rainbow in the Clouds" She talks about the dark times of life, and how in the darkest of times, a book can light the…
Published: 2016 Theme: Nurturing Relationships Best for: 9 to 12 "There are six kinds of teachers in the world. I know because we classified them once during indoor recess...The last kind we simply call the Good Ones...the ones who you don't want to disappoint." A beautiful, heart-warming story of three middle-school boys and their relationship to one very extraordinary teacher, who is about to leave them.
Published: 2016 Theme: Biography, Equality Best for: 6 and up "Boys were expected to grow up, go out in the world, and do big things. Girls? Girls were expected to find husbands." This very appealing illustrated children's book is perfect because it can spark important family conversations about justice...
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