Published: 2012 Theme: The Fairy Worlds Best for: 9 and up "The Way was real, and the puck-boy had come through it, and maybe the lovely woman from her dream had come through, and her own father had gone through it, gone away forever." Memorable characters, good writing, and an exciting plot make both of these children's books worth spending time with...
Published: 2010 Theme: Adapting to Change Best for: 8 and up "I'm Turtle," I say. "Turtle?" the boy, Beans, says, "What kind of name is that?" "At least I'm not named after something that gives you gas," I say. In this historical fiction, a humorous and plucky girl narrates her life during the 1935 depression demonstrating just how important a good attitude is for survival.
Published: 2010 Theme: Fairytale Best for: 9 and up "My name is Zita, and I am the thirteenth of thirteen princesses. My twelve sisters have become the subject of legend, even in faraway kingdoms, but I am sure that you have never heard of me." Thus begins a wonderfully written children's book, with an entrancing retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, one of the Grimm fairytales...
Published: 1993 Theme: African-American History Best for: ages 8-11 Sarah looked at Addy. "You is coming to school, ain't you?" "Momma say I can go," Addy answered. "That's good," said Sarah. "We learn to read and write...You gonna like school. You'll see." Written in dialect, an African-American girl's journey from slavery to freedom unfolds in this series of historical fiction children's books.
Published: 1992 Theme: Equality in Relationships Best for: 5 and up "You will become ruler when I die," the old king said, "for that is the ancient law that cannot be changed. But you will not wear my crown until the day you marry a woman who is your equal in beauty and intelligence and wealth." This story has all the classical elements of a great fairy tale: an impoverished girl, tending her goats, who outsmarts a conceited prince, and in the end, rules happily ever after.
Published: 2006 Theme: Belonging Best for: 8 and up "Never attack another duck unless. That's the first rule." She waddled in a circle around us. "Actually, the first rule is: Don't get eaten. The second rule is: Never attack another duck unless." In this lovable version of an old tale, we discover what life is like for the Ugly Duckling when he has to fend for himself.
Published: 1976 Theme: Myths and Magic Best for: 9 and up "Something was coming, Peter knew it, and he was pretty sure he was going to be involved in it. Against his skin the Key felt hot. There was no vibration as yet but... Peter was afraid and yet he couldn't take it off.. he was drawn to it." This is a challenging book to read, but it is worth putting the effort in, as it takes us into the myths and magic of the Welsh people, traveling back in time, and merging with the present...
Published: 2011 Theme: Friendship Best for: 11 and up "Essence was not physical matter, Po knew. No one could touch it. No one could destroy it either... People could push and pull at you, and poke you, and probe as deep as they could go... But at the heart and root and soul of you, something would remain untouched." This creative children's book weaves a drama that almost feels Shakespearean, as many characters with their own mission all collide in the same place and same time...
Published: 1996 Theme: Self-discovery Best for: 12 and up "She was not much in the habit of thinking, only of howling her bitter, lonely anger at her exile from all she knew and understood- her homeland, the Folk, and their paths crisscrossing the moor." Neither the human world nor the fairy world is perfect; in this profound book, you get to see both their flaws, and their glory...
Published: 2009 Theme: Time and Time-travel Best for: 10 and up “It’s the jumping, from one diamond to the next, that we call time, but like I said, time doesn’t really exist. All the diamonds on the ring are happening at the same time….All the diamonds exist at once." Here's a children's book that attempts to bring the question of Time to a child's mind, simply to evoke profound inquiry, and, have some fun...
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