Published: 1998 Theme: Fantasy Best for 8 and up "Not every old man with ragged trousers is a bad old man: ... a few, a very few, are wizards prowling round on a holiday looking for something to do. This one was a wizard, the one that now walked into the story." Early on, Tolkien crafted several short novellas out of stories that he made up for his own children, and Roverandom is one of them.
Published: 2015 Theme: Monsters Best for: 7 to 8 "Yes, he had to admit, Ruffleclaw had been quite a pest. Always hungry. Always tired. And he spat absolutely everywhere. And still... Tommy missed him." Let's start by admitting that this children's book is aimed at being gross, and aimed at young boys who like to be gross...
Published: 2011 Theme: Meaning of Life Best for: 11 to 13 "After five years, he has sent me a message with one instruction, to open this box on my thirteenth birthday. Somehow, no matter how impossible it might seem, I am going to do exactly that." If you want an uplifting, somewhat philosophical children's book, for a child who is wondering about the meaning of life, this is it...
Published: 2007 Theme: Imagination Best for: 9-11 "With a pleased yowl, the griffin chased after the ball again, catching it a few feet from Kate and Michael. Then it came forward and laid the ball at Kate's feet like a cat presenting a dead mouse.." There's a real gentleness about this children's book that actually doesn't need additional drama or hype...
Published: 2008 Theme: First Chapter Book Best for: 6 to 8 "They sat down for lunch at a cafe. "Bonjour," said the waiter. "That means 'Hello'", Dodsworth told the duck. "Oh well then, 'banjo' to you, too," said the duck." As a first chapter children's book, this little book is more than meets the eye, with lovely illustrations, and authentic information about Paris.
Published: 2012 Theme: Accepting Differences Best for: 11 and up "I'm kind of used to how I look by now. I know how to pretend I don't see the faces people make. We've all gotten pretty good at that sort of thing: me, Mom and Dad, Via. Actually, I take that back: Via's not so good at it." Let's get right to the heart of the matter: this is a stunning, daring, heart-opening children's book.
Published: 2014 Theme: Being yourself Best for: Third graders "It was all new and fascinating to Annika. She had never know that baking had so much math in it--so much tasty math!" Here's a lovely addition to those hard to find interesting first chapter books, which, uncommonly, focuses on the early grade student's relationship to math.
Published: 2010 Theme: Math Biography Best for: 6 to 9 "You can call me Blockhead. Everyone else does. One day when I was just a boy, Maestro wrote out a math problem and gave us ten minutes to solve it. I solved it in two seconds." If you have any young children who love numbers, this is definitely a children's book they should read - a superb biography about Fibonacci.
Published: 2012 Theme: Coming of Age Best for: 11 and up "Will Sparrow was a liar and a thief, and hungry, so when he saw the chance to steal a cold rabbit pie from the inn's kitchen and blame it on the dog, he took it - both the chance and the pie..." First and foremost, this is a beautifully written piece of children's historical fiction literature. The fact that the story and characters are interesting as well is icing on the cake..
Published: 2005 Theme: Power of Kindness Best for: 11 and up "Africa was hurrying by as if someone were turning the pages of a book too quickly. I was miserable at what I was leaving behind. Even the railway itself has a sad story...I felt my own future would be no better." This historical fiction for children is full of unexpected turns, and dramatic turnabouts, from living in Africa to exile to England.
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