Published: 2000 Theme: Adventure and Fantasy Best for: 9 and up "A water rat scuttled away as the children felt their way along the narrow passage. It led to a canal, like so many of Venice's alleys and passages...Someone had painted "Vietato Ingresso" in clumsy letters on the door- No entry." Once again, I am dazzled by Cornelia Funke and her masterful way of putting characters and plot together that is memorable and exciting...
Published: 2005 Theme: First Chapter Books Best for: 6 to 9 "Mr. Gaskitt was minding the baby. It was his turn. And doing the grocery shopping and opening the trunk and feeling in his pocket for the parking-lot ticket and tying his shoelace... and looking the other way." Imagine the above sentence written with only 4 or 5 words on a line, and you can see why these first chapter children's books are great for new readers
Published: 2015 Theme: Resilience Best for: Girls 9 and up "This semester you will be taking a very difficult course... You will be learning all about How to Find Your Way...You will be graded on the following: pluck, enthusiasm, spirit of adventure, brilliance, and self-reliance." The moment I saw the motto of "The Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents" I knew I'd love this children's book. Quoting Amelia Earhart, "Adventure is worthwhile in itself,"...
Published: 1954 Theme: Space Travel Best for: boys 8 and up "Wanted: A small space ship about eight feet long, built by a boy, or by two boys, between the ages of eight and eleven...An adventure and chance to do a good deed await the boys who build the best space ship." In this delightful early science fiction children's book, we are introduced to space travel, impossible in 1954, and of course, becoming quite possible only a decade later...
Published: 2015 Theme: Family Best for: 7 to 9 "Appleblossom's brothers and sisters move closer to one another as Mother Possum continues: "The first kind of monster is made of metal. They have wheels and bright eyes when they are out after dark. These eyes are blinding." I liked the possum point of view in this recently published children's book, that is sprinkled with enticing pencil sketches throughout...
Published: 2006 Theme: Historical Fiction Hero Best for: 7 and up "Once there was a boy who could not claim his Father. Kil Dong, as he was called, was the second son of a wealthy and powerful advisor to the king, Minister Hong. But Kil Dong's mother was not the noble wife of the minister..." This historical fiction, beautifully illustrated 'graphic' novel, set in 16th century Korea, tells of the Korean Robin Hood...
Published: 2003 Theme: Best Friends Best for: 4th grade and up "I did a play all by my stupid self and I was a blind woman, but it is hard to be a blind woman all by yourself, with no one to talk to but your own stupid self. It doesn't make a very good play." Creech's books often address topics that no one wants to write about for children, and she does it with compassion, and in this case, a great deal of humor...
Published: 1991 Theme: Deep friendship Best for: 8 and up "The egg shook in his hands. The dancing colors froze in place. He heard a scratching sound. Suddenly a single, sharp claw pierced the shell. The tiny talon sparkled like a jewel in the moonlight..." This particular children's book on the theme of raising a dragon has a lovely simplicity and innocence about it...
Published: 2005 Theme: Coming of Age Best for: 12 and up 'Tiffany had never been able to find out much about the librarians. They were a bit like the wandering priests and teachers who went even into the smallest, loneliest villages...It was said they could tell what book you needed just by looking at you..." The mastery of this children's book is the way everything is woven artfully into one exquisite whole, even while each part, each character, stands out clearly...
Published: 2014 Theme: Parody Best for: 7 and up "To the Carpet people, the Carpet was bigger than a forest,... full of cities, towns, small villages, castles, and all sorts of tiny animals in the really thick parts that weren't swept often...In the village of the Fallen Matchstick, the Carpet-dwellers were preparing to leave." Here's a glorious children's book to discover...short stories written by renowned author Terry Pratchett when he was a teenager!
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