Children’s books by current writers which are both well-written and captivating. We use 1975 as the cut off date for calling something ‘contemporary’ or classic; however, contemporary generally means today’s kids can identify with the characters.
Published: 1982 Theme: Overcoming Bullies Best for: 8 to 10 "Dreams," he said, "is very mysterious things. They is floating around in the air like little wispy bubbles. And all the time they is searching for sleeping people." If you are in need of a cheerful happy ending story, as a children's book BFG is perfect...
Published: 2015 Theme: Historical Fiction Coming of Age Best for: 12 - 14 "I have escaped! I have achieved the first stage of my emancipation! In a little while I will go on to Baltimore--and from thence I will begin my new life." This beautifully written historical fiction children's book is quite hard to put down.
Published: 2012 Theme: WWII- Japanese Internment Best for: ages 10 to 12 "Gila River was where I would turn thirteen, and live with my mama and my sister, while waiting for my papa to be brought bak from Fort Lincoln, North Dakota, where the FBI had sent him..." This historical fiction children's book adds yet another new piece of history and humanness to the story of the internment of Japanese citizens after Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Published: 1989 Theme: Heroism Best for: 10 - 13 "...The dream for you all, young and old, must be to create an ideal of human decency, and not a narrow-minded and prejudiced one. That is the great gift our country hungers for..." This children's book is first and foremost about the courage of ordinary people to do the right thing, even in the worst of times...
Published: 2011 Theme: Greek and Roman Myths Best for: 9- 12 "Humans have always loved telling stories, and to use them we tell words. Sometimes, however, the words themselves have stories to tell." This children's book is a delightful collection of brief stories from Greek and Roman mythology to illustrate the origin of common words and phrases in our vocabulary,
Published: 2016 Theme: Learning Something New Best for: 6 to 9 "My name is Juana. It is spelled J-u-a-n-a, and it is pronounced Who-Ah-Nah...Bogota is where I am. And where school is and where Mami and my abuelos and Lucas are..." This perfect multi-cultural children's book introduces us to Juana, who needs to learn English for her trip to the USA, and resists it.
Published: 2012 Theme: Civil Rights Best for: 11 to 14 "I think a friend is someone who helps you change for the better. And whether you see them once a day or once a year, if it's a true friend, it doesn't matter." This is a compelling and important book for today's world, and yet, it was painful to read, because I wished none of it were true...
Published: 2013-2016 Theme: Civil Rights Movement Best for: 8 and up "Lawson taught us how to protect each other, how to survive. But the hardest part to learn--to truly understand, deep in your heart-- was how to find love for your attacker." This excellent trilogy of graphic novel is a first-hand account by John Lewis of the civil rights movement as he lived it...
Published: 2016 Theme: Biography Best for: 5 to 8 "John loved to tell the chicks the Good News. When he fed and watered them, he spoke about the value of hard work and patience..." The illustrations alone could make this an important book, but the subject matter is what we really want to read...
Published: 2016 Theme: Adventure and Chinese Tales Best for: 8 to 12 "When it is time for you to do something, you will do it..Amah's words echoed, untying and smoothing the knotted string of Pinmei's voice. She took a deep breath, and, with a whisper, she started the story." "Storytellers can make time disappear..." and with this wonderful children's book, the readers can lose themselves in a magical past...
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