Posted on by Laura

Bridge to Terabithia

Children's Book: Bridge to Terabithia

Published: 1977 Theme: Friendship, Courage Best for: ages 11 and up "He was angry, too, because it would soon be Christmas and he had nothing to give Leslie. It was not that she would expect something expensive; it was that he needed to give her something as much as he needed to eat when he was hungry." When I put this children's book down, my shirt was dampened with teardrops, and I couldn't do anything but sit quietly for a while. I felt like I had just lost my best friend, as Jess had. The impact was astounding...

Posted on by Laura

The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her to Fly

The story of a seagull- children's book

Published: 2003 Theme: Celebrating Differences Best for: ages 7 and up "It's very easy to accept and love those who are like us, but to love someone different is very hard, and you have helped us do that. You are a seagull, and you must follow your destiny as a seagull. You must fly." What a beautiful piece of children's literature this book is. Hopefully no one else in the gym noticed the tears in my eyes...

Posted on by Laura

Serendipity and Me

Serendipity and Me Children's Book

Published: 2013 Theme: Recovering from Loss Best for: girls 11 and up "She's white as a snowball but she's warm, not frozen. She's squishy and soft and sweet as a marshmallow. But she's delicate as an orchid graceful as a ballerina miraculous as an angel. I can't believe my luck." I found this book mesmerizing. I loved the very real descriptions of the effect of the kitten on the young girl, and how she continued to work on opening her dad's heart, who is grieving...

Posted on by Laura

The Seven Tales of Trinket

Seven Tales of Trinket Children's Book

Published: 2012 Theme: Folk Tales, Forgiveness Best for: 9 and up "Thomas and I like the happy villages the best, the ones where music can be found in the very sounds of bees buzzing or the mooing of cattle. The ones where laughter trickles from under the cottage doors like water over smooth rocks." If you and your children love folk tales, and particularly Celtic folklore, this children's book is a terrific find, a real gem...

Posted on by Laura

Hate That Cat: A Novel

Children's Book: Hate That Cat

Published: 2008 Theme: Expressing Emotions Best for: ages 10 and up "The chair in my room is like a pleasingly plump momma, big and squishy, with stuffing poking out." This book is not like any other. For one thing, it is a novel, written all in verse, that deals with a boy's sadness over the loss of his dog...

Posted on by Laura

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

Children's Book Mr Lemoncello's Library

Published: 2013 Theme: Reading, and Teamwork Best for: good readers 10 and up "Early access to the Electronic Learning Center will be tonight's second prize," said Dr. Zinchenko. "To win it, you must use the library's resources to find dessert, which we have hidden somewhere in the building. ..So use your wits and use your library. Go find dessert!" Welcome to the library of the future, and a brand new children's book that glorifies reading, research, and most of all, honest team work. This very odd children's book is ...

Posted on by Laura

Ruby Holler

Ruby Holler - Children's Book

Published: 2002 Theme: Healing after Trauma Best for: ages 9 and up "We've got some amazing secret recipes," Sairy said. "Beat-the-blues broccoli and anti-cranky crumpets and--" "Hey, with us here now," Dallas said, "maybe you ought to make yourselves some getting-used-to-kids-again stew." Picking up a Sharon Creech children's book, I always wonder what difficult topic she's taking on now. This one didn't disappoint me--orphaned children who no longer believe...

Posted on by Laura

The False Prince

Children's Book - The False Prince

Published: 2012 Theme: Courage and Perseverance Best for: 11 and older "Food is considered a luxury in Carthyan orphanages. They operate on whatever money an orphan inherited upon the deaths of his parents, which inevitably is little more than the shirt on his back after debts were settled." I cannot explain what it is about the writing style in these children's books, but from beginning to end, it is impossible to put the book down.

Posted on by Laura

The Runaway King

Runaway King - Children's Book

Published: 2013 Theme: Heroism Best for: ages 9 and up "In what way was attacking a peaceful neighboring country heroic? He degraded Erick's men for being thieves even as he planned to steal all of Carthya from me. My fingers itched to pick up my knife and start the fight." I love heroic characters. I don't have much tolerance for fighting. Somehow they always seem to go together. Yet in The Runaway King, the fighting seems to be somewhat tolerable, especially because the good guy always wins...

Posted on by Laura

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies

Children's Book: The Girl who threw Butterflies

Published: 2009 Theme: Grieving and Healing Best for: ages 9 and up "The knuckleball wasn't just a pitch. It was an attitude toward life; it was a way of being in the world. It was a philosophy. "You don't aim a butterfly," her father used to say. "You release it." This is a book anyone could love. Boys who love baseball could surely appreciate it. Girls who want to try something out of the ordinary could love it. I certainly loved it...