Published: 2013 Theme: Imagination Best for: 5 to 9 "The hole in space opened again. A voice shouted, "Catch!" and the milk came rocketing through. Fortunately, the milk struck me in the stomach..." The best description for this new children's book is wacky and fun. It reads like a kid making up a story...
Published: 2013 Theme: Creativity Best for: 5 to 8 "In school, we have lots of rules. At home, there are lots of rules too. I'm learning that with with art, there really are no rules. That's what makes it so great. Artists like Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollock and Pablo Picasso created new ways to make paintings... " I encourage any adult who loves bringing art to children to consider this book. It illuminates the value of bringing a child into the world of creativity.
Published: 2007 Theme: Friendship, Commitment Best for: 11 and up "You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood...Best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family." There is quite a bit of wisdom to digest in this highly unusual children's book, not to mention many puzzles to solve. It is a book that is borderline fantasy...
Published: 2009 Theme: Gratitude Best for: ages 5 and up "Minli gaped at the dragon in front of her. It was brilliant red, the color of a lucky lantern, with emerald-green whiskers, horns, and a dull stone-colored ball like the moon on his head. He was half-covered by...the silvery lake of water his tears had formed all around him." What joy, to find such a superb collection of Chinese folk tales, woven together into one adventure story with a beautiful message about gratitude.
Published: 1918 Theme: Nature Spirits Best for: 5 - 8 "Ivra was different. Because she was only half-fairy, any human could see her whether his eyes were shadowed or not, if he would only look hard enough...When a human did see her, he was likely not to believe in her. He would just think he was day-dreaming." Here's a children's book that understands and loves the unseen folk: the fairies, the tree sprites, the good witches, and more. Ethel Cook Eliot was a master storyteller...
Published: 2013 Theme: Artistry Best for: 5 to 8 "Each day something new and surprising dripped out of Daozi's brush. His straight lines splintered into trees. His hooks caught fish. His dots burst into eyes, then pigs and monkeys. From a stroke, a horse's tail flew by." This children's book is exquisite from beginning to end, from front cover to back cover. The story is an imaginative version of the life of the great Chinese artist Wu Daozi...
Published: 2007 Theme: Contentment Best for: 6 and up "The Queen could always tell when the King had visited the hermit, for he would be, for a short time, calmer than usual, not straining at his restrictive clothing, not complaining or yawning. She would find him sitting mute on his throne,...gazing placidly around the room." This children's book is just pure and simple fun. I found the book in a used book store, and was immediately struck by its beauty...
Published: 1955 Theme: Historical Fiction Best for: ages 10 and up "The troops from Andover appeared in there dashing red uniforms, every button shining, leather gleaming...The church bells chimed. Then a great shout went up. For there was President Washington – a tall, commanding man, riding horseback to enter the town." Here's a children's book that is so informative, it's a little hard not to compare it to a dull textbook that might teach the same subject. The subject matter is navigation, discoveries, and life at the time of the American Revolution.
Published: 2013 Theme: Reconciliation Best for: 9 and up "And she felt it. Her father's heart, beating there inside of him. It felt very certain, very strong, and very large. Just like Dr. Meescham had said: Capacious....The three of them traveled the rest of the way home in a strange and peaceful silence." Once again, the award-winning Kate DiCamillo has captured well-deserved recognition (2014 Newbery Award) with a new children's book that goes straight to the heart of both adult and children readers...
Published: 2010 Theme: Courage, Racial Discrimination Best for: 11 and older "Would Mama like the colors I picked? Would she be mad about me taking them pieces from her apron? I turned the quilt in the air, looking at it this way and that. Soon I would be running out of thread.Wasn't but a few inches hanging down like the tail of a kite." Gee's Bend is indeed a real place. The women of Gee's bend have a tradition of creating quilts that dates back to early American history. In recent years, their quilts were discovered...
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