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: 2016 Theme: Defending the Truth Best for: 12 and up "The year I turned twelve, I learned that what I said and what I did mattered. So much, sometimes, that I wasn't sure I wanted such a burden. But I took it anyway..." A worthy piece of literature for young readers, somewhat a milder version of Kill a Mockingbird, but with less brutality and perhaps more heart.
Published: 2017 Theme: Speaking up Best for: 8 and up "All through math I sucked on my braids and imagined all the awful things that would happen if I was caught with all those books in my locker. Every parent...would like up to sue me." This is a not-to-be-missed book about helping children understand how to speak up against injustices, small and large.
Published: 2017 Theme: Content with Life Best for: 7 to 9 "I remembered a large, fancy poster with a picture of my mother and James, looking happy and famous. How could she leave that behind to live on a farm in the middle of the prairie?" The magic of Patricia MacLachlan comes through again, this time with a young girl wondering how one can give up fame and still be happy!
Published: 2017 Theme: Girls and Science Best for: 9 to 12 " 'That's all it took for you to cave in? You're some kind of lousy negotiator. That's what we get for sending a dumb girl to do a man's job. ...' It was so unfair I could have smacked him." This sequel continues to explore the theme of loving science and holding to one's own truth...
Published: 1999 Theme: The Natural World Best for: 9 and up "Frightful awoke as the morning sun brought color to the ops of the trees. Still ravenously hunger, and growing weak from lack of food, she left the pine and circled above an alfalfa field." This children's book is written so deftly that we feel like we are hearing about the habits of a dear friend, rather than some dry science about falcons...
Published: 2017 Theme: Kindness Best for: 8 and up "The five kids started exchanging ideas for winning over the man on the third floor. Operation Beiderman had officially begun." Each of the five siblings in this story have to dig deep to find out how to be kind to someone they don't know...
Published: 2017 Theme: India's Independence fight Best for: 12 and up "Ma handed Anjali one of the two prasad trays as they headed into the hall. Anjali gave a ladoo to her father and bowed to him in pranaam. He raised his hand over her head to bless her..." We journey to a village in India during the struggle for independence, and live with freedom fighters, including a young girl and her mother...
Published: 2002-2017 Theme: Math Best for: 4th to 8th grade Each illustrated children's book in this large collection focuses on one math principal, develops it, ends with a witty comment, and helps illustrate and explain something mathematically important...
Published: 2017 Theme: Values, Humor, Science Best for: 9 and up "Now that I have proved that Earth does exist," said Sputnik, "I have to prove that it should exist. Every planet has to have a reason...Useless planets are being shrunk all over the sky..." This book has a wonderful mix of good science, deep thought (Why are we here?) and sensitivity to the difficulty of aging...
Published: 2016 Theme: Science and Heart Best for: 9 and up "You'd think that going to your mum's funeral on Tuesday would get you the rest of the week off, but not according to my dad. "We need to get back to normal," he says when I try to protest." This children's book is a terrific merging of heart and mind, sincere feelings and contemporary science...
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