Children’s books which are generally suitable for children age nine to twelve
Published: 2008 Theme: Adventure Best for: 9 to 12 "The children took off, hurrying away from the castle. Down, down along the twisting cobbled street, weaving through pedestrians, crossing tiled plazas, down and down to where the street grew still more narrow and began to branch off into...alleyways." Think James Bond, non-stop action, fights, captures, escapes, but no one getting killed, and you have a bird's eye view of this adventure.
Published: 2014 Theme: Friendship and Love Best for: ages 11 and up "The present is here and here and here, a sky full of light, a path under your feet, your hair lifted by wind, the smell of flowers, green grass, red rocks, all of it tumbling toward summer, and all of it yours. All you have to do is set fear aside and stretch out your hand." This children's book offers so many messages - about hope, friendship, the Quaker ideals of peace, and the power of the present moment, and does so amidst a very contemporary drama...
Published: 2014 Theme: Standing up for others Best for: 6 to 10 "Our Pentagon is a surprise my dad and I are building to celebrate the new baby coming. Our Pentagon is a table, one that will be just right for our new family because it has five sides, one for everybody." There's a nice mix of humor, emotions, and easy reading that makes this a very attractive book for young children.
Published: 1960 Theme: Coming of Age Best for: ages 8-11 " One sheep does not think. He does this and he does that and there is no sense to it. But the flock thinks. And what the flock thinks each and every one sheep in the flock knows at once and altogether. It is strange but it is so..." I was surprised and enchanted by this children's book from start to finish. It is a quick read, compelling, informative, and even moving at the end...
Published: 1994 Theme: Poetry Best for: all ages "Hope is the thing with feathers/ That perches in the soul,/ And sings the tune without the words,/ And never stops at all" Do our children today love poetry? Can they tune into the subtle way that the poetic verse touches something outside the mundane? This children's book asserts an affirmative...
Published: 2005 Theme: Middle School Anxieties Best for: 6th grade and up "Hero smiled at him. Her father was always clueless about her real life. She felt a strange mixture of pity and gratitude. It was good to be home, in the bright, safe kitchen... her parents bustling obliviously just a few feet away." An unusual stew of elements - adjusting to a new school, bullying, a missing diamond, and Shakespeare's real identity - create an interesting story.
Published: 2013 Theme: Destiny and Inner Power Best for: 9 and up "Maybe destiny isn't something that just happens. Maybe destiny is something you do. Maybe destiny is like a seed and it grows. I wasn't powerless." This excellent children's book offers a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, focusing on the theme of destiny and magic, and how to understand inner power.
Published: 2008 Theme: Friendship Best for: 9 and up "Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, Prudence. If you had to choose one virtue, which would be the most important? Was it better to be wise or brave? Reasonable or fair? Marvin decided that the answer to that question might depend on your situation." Here's a wild combination of elements: art history, mystery, philosophy, and a clever beetle. Add in a plucky young boy of 11, divorced parents, and theft from a New York City art museum, and you have a 'can't miss' children's book.
Published: 2011 Theme: Greed, Companionship Best for: 9 - 12 "We ran as the moon hefted herself up into the tree branches, tangled for a bit, and then floated free in the sky, brightening the road to a shadowy white and making the woods along the roadside seem even darker. I wondered if I could ever find the path that led home." For those who love fairytales, fantasy, imagination, adventure, this children's book is a fabulous find as it weaves an alternative ending to Rumplestiltskin...
Published: 1991 Theme: Teamwork, Fantasy Best for: 9 and up "If the King of the Enchanted Forest gets killed trying to rescue the King of the Dragons from the Society of Wizards, goodness only knows what will happen." What I love about this lighthearted children's book is that the heroes and heroines are straightforward, simple, and likable, despite the fact that they have immense magical powers at their command.
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