Published: 2014 Theme: Fantasy Best for: 9 to 11 "Celie was the one the Castle loved best. She was the one who had raised and trained a griffin. She was the one who had found the broken piece of the Eye and restored it to is rightful place..." This book is written simply enough for a good reader in the third or fourth grade to easily manage the book, yet it is a complex fantasy.
Published: 2014 Theme: Overcoming obstacles Best for: 12 and up "Many coins. To take them would be stealing. But if it's a troll's treasure? Is it a sin to steal what's already stolen? Stolen Thrice: once from humans by trolls, then from the trolls by the goatman. And finally– Stolen from the goatman by me." Weaving together a number of Norwegian and universal fairy tales, this is a tale you could imagine written by the Grimms...
Published: 2010 Theme: Responsibility for the Future Best for: 9 to 12 "Y'know, I like baseball too," he said quietly. "I'm a Mets fan. They stink I know...But listen, man, there are other things in life that are more important than baseball." In this 9th book of the series, the author introduces the readers to topics bigger than baseball - like responsibility for the future of the planet...
Published: 2007 Theme: Puzzles and Mystery Best for: 9 and up "One of his favorite puzzles was: What is something you can break just by saying your name?" "Oh, wait, I know that one," Winston said. This is the first children's book in a series of puzzle and mystery books that aim directly for kids who love both puzzles and mysteries..
Published: 2013 Theme: Acceptance, Transformation Best for: 11 and up "I've got some toddler memories, but my first sequence recall is kindergarten... My parents said the place was going to be all kinds of fun. It wasn't. It was here that I first committed the crime of questioning the system." A fabulous children's book, told through the first person character of a genius who also may have autism. Her very presence brings out kindness in others.
Published: 1975 Theme: Value of Life Best for: 12 and up "I"m not exactly sure what I'd do, you know, but something interesting- something that's all mine. Something that would make some kind of difference in the world." This book leads the reader to a fairly sophisticated understanding of moral choices, set in a magical story.
Published: 1997 Theme: Imagination Best for: 5 to 8 "Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse was the youngest of thirteen children. He was also the smallest. His mother had given the other twelve mouse pups quite ordinary names, like Bill or Jane." A talented singing mouse is the hero of this small children's book, written by the author of Babe. It's a nice read-aloud book for young children..
Published: 2014 Theme: Bravery Best for: 6 to 10 "Before they took off, Emma quickly wrote a note to her parents: "Don't worry. I'm off with a pretty big genie to find his nose ring. And I have Tristan with me..." The "pretty big" was of course an exaggeration..." In this small children's book, Emma helps a genie regain his power. Great for young readers who are ready for easy chapter books, or as a read-aloud.
Published: 2014 Theme: Best Friend Dramas Best for: 10 to 11 girls "Then she said, "I don't want you to be mad at me! You're as important to me as paper is to pencil!" "You hurt my feelings," I said. My voice was quivery, too. We both sat there, very miserable...." With the same simplicity, humor, and sensitivity that Sternberg's other books have, this children's book takes on the 'bff' problem of young girls head-on...
Published: 1959 Theme: Magic of Goodness Best for: ages 9 and up "Just 'cause magic never happened to you, it doesn't meant it isn't lurking around still, waiting to turn up when you least expect it!" With an unusual turn from Eager's other magic books, like Half Magic, this children's book puts magic squarely in the realm of human activity...
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