Generally best enjoyed by children between five and eight years old; but every child is unique, so only you know best.
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: 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: 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!
Published: 1983 Theme: Independence Best for: 10 and up "They saw hundreds of horses charging through the forest until the ground rang under their hooves...They're not frightened- they're just running winter out of their bodies." This magical children's book is like stepping into an ancient fairytale, from who knows where, and who knows when. It has an eternal quality about it...
Published: 2012 Theme: Ice Skating and Nature Best for: 7 and up "The first ice came on the sheep pails in the barn- a skim of ice so thin that it broke when we touched it." Twelve Kinds of Ice is a small, inspiring ode to the beauty and simplicity of ice, ice-skating, children, nature, and simple living.
Published: 2003 Theme: First Chapter Book Best for: 6 to 9 "And the strange thing was - which Horace noticed- the strange thing was, the baby carriage...was barking." This "first chapter book" is a treat - it has some humor, as well as unusual elements such as maps and timetables for the reader to follow. It has a simple plot, with an attempt for the story to be a mystery to be solved, but the clues are present on every page.
Published: 2010 Theme: Live your dream Best for: 8 and up "He peeked out... and saw that the wind had also possessed his mittens. They looked like ghostly hands waving good-bye in the Chilean sky. Where were they headed? Whose hands would they cover next? ..'Where is the storehouse of lost and found?'" As I put this exquisite children's book down, I wiped my eyes, and marveled at the quick journey I had just taken into the heart and mind of Pablo Neruda...
Published: 2012 Theme: Boxcar Children prequel Best for: 7 to 9 "They heard the sound of Papa's old gray car in the driveway. Jessie and Henry climbed down the ladder and watched Papa walk up to the barn, carrying a cloth sack of nails and some boards for the stalls." If you have children who are devoted to the Boxcar children series, and want to have a 'prequel', MacLachlan's children's book is just right.
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