Children’s books which are generally suitable for children age nine to twelve
Published: 2000 Theme: Heroines Best for: ages 8 and up "Burd Janet threw the green mantle around him to shade him from fairy sight. Then she .. took out the earth from her garden. She spread it around the two of them in a great circle of protection against the Fair Folk." This book is a collection of folk tales where the hero is female. However, this book is for boys as well, since they too need to know that women can be heroes.
Published: 2001 Theme: Women's Strength Best for: Girls, age 11 and up "Her band might somehow help folk to help themselves, Rowan thought, rather than just giving them gold stolen from rich men's packs, gold soon spent. But she could not say that, for she loved everything about Robin Hood." The book has a wonderfully clever premise -- that Robin Hood actually fathered a daughter by an aelfen woman... If you love tales of Robin Hood, this is a perfect complement, bringing in the feminine...
Published: 1967 Theme: Overcoming Fear Best for: 8 and older "Mafatu lay there under his lean-to, relaxed in every nerve. He had fire, food, shelter. He had faced Moana, the Sea God...There was a new-found confidence in his heart. He had found a new belief in himself." This tale is told as if on one long breath, an exhalation that ends in exultation. There is not a moment where you can rest until the tale is told, which of course, is what makes a great tale, and a great children's book.
Published: 1995 Theme: Finding One's Path Best for: 9 and up "When our Bear tribe forefathers came to Arkadia, they found a shocking state of affairs: a country governed by councils of women, all devoted to that figment of female imagination, the Lady of Wild Things." It's breathtaking when you find someone has put it all together in one book: action, humor, morals, good writing, and a pace that doesn't let you put the book down till you are done.
Published: 1998 Theme: Kindness, Moderation Best for: all ages "I've left an important question unanswered. Once Tom walked out of the book, how and why did he come back? The answer to that question is: boredom. It's not much of a life for a character in a book to be out of the book." This is one unique, terrific, silly, and somewhat profound children's book. In Feiffer's hands, everything becomes just a little bit fantastical, out of the ordinary, and we get swept along believing every word of it...
Published: 2007 Theme: Caring for the Planet Best for: 9 and up "His mind was full of clouds in space, huge explosions, and the millions of years it took to make a star. These thoughts took him far, far across the Universe--" What a wonderful discovery this children's book is, in so many ways. As a work of fiction, it makes great reading, with plenty of humor and drama all the way through. However, add to that the scientific accuracy of the genius of Stephen Hawking and...
Published: 2013 Best for: 9 and older Theme: Choices in Life; Selflessness Five Stars "What's your name?" she asked the fox. "T.H. Reynolds." "What does the T.H. stand for?" "Truthful and Handsome. My mama always said that a child grows into his name, and I guess she was right because just look at me." I love everything about this fabulous, hot-off-the-press children's book. The typeface is the easiest to read that I've seen in a long time, the illustrations are lovely...
Published: 2011 Theme: The Madness of War, and Survival Best for: over 11 "If they hate us, Karly, it is because we have also bombed their cities. What we are seeing now is a world gone mad, children, a world full of brutes, all intent on killing one another. And we should not forget that we are all responsible for making it happen." This children's book is an utterly fascinating and unique piece of historical fiction. In essence, this is a story of WWII from the point of view of a family of German refugees...
Published: 2002 Theme: History Best for: girls 9 and older "There was a soft chorus of ayes, and the three other Marys dropped to their knees and vowed as well to follow me through tumult and repose and never to marry until I have so done. Did any person have a luckier charm than these four steadfast friends?" This is one of many in a series called The Royal Diaries. What an absolutely fabulous way to learn history. Reading a diary is always fun, and even more so when it chronicles history...
Published: 1997 Theme: Self-control, Development of inner powers Best for: Ages 10 and up "Meditation teaches self-control," Lark told the children firmly. "It teaches discipline. You learn to govern and organize your mind. Since a few of you were sent here because it was thought you were ungovernable..., meditation could turn out to be the most important thing you do here." This book is pure fantasy, from the location to the premise, and done with great skill and care. It's a fantasy book that is perfect for younger readers, as there is nothing scary or too out of the ordinary in it.
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