While gender doesn’t determine if a book is great or not, it does help if children can identify with some of the characters in the stories. This is especially true for reluctant readers. The books in this particular category are noted for the predominance of boys as main characters.
Published: 2015 Theme: Homelessness Best for: 9 and up "Robin asked what is a keepsake. My mom said it's an object you treasure. Then she said things don't really matter, as long as we have each other."The most interesting part of this children's book is that it allows us to see that perhaps homeless people are just the same as you and me, but having a very difficult financial time.
Published: 2000 Theme: Adventure and Fantasy Best for: 9 and up "A water rat scuttled away as the children felt their way along the narrow passage. It led to a canal, like so many of Venice's alleys and passages...Someone had painted "Vietato Ingresso" in clumsy letters on the door- No entry." Once again, I am dazzled by Cornelia Funke and her masterful way of putting characters and plot together that is memorable and exciting...
Published: 1954 Theme: Space Travel Best for: boys 8 and up "Wanted: A small space ship about eight feet long, built by a boy, or by two boys, between the ages of eight and eleven...An adventure and chance to do a good deed await the boys who build the best space ship." In this delightful early science fiction children's book, we are introduced to space travel, impossible in 1954, and of course, becoming quite possible only a decade later...
Published: 2006 Theme: Historical Fiction Hero Best for: 7 and up "Once there was a boy who could not claim his Father. Kil Dong, as he was called, was the second son of a wealthy and powerful advisor to the king, Minister Hong. But Kil Dong's mother was not the noble wife of the minister..." This historical fiction, beautifully illustrated 'graphic' novel, set in 16th century Korea, tells of the Korean Robin Hood...
Published: 1991 Theme: Deep friendship Best for: 8 and up "The egg shook in his hands. The dancing colors froze in place. He heard a scratching sound. Suddenly a single, sharp claw pierced the shell. The tiny talon sparkled like a jewel in the moonlight..." This particular children's book on the theme of raising a dragon has a lovely simplicity and innocence about it...
Published: 2012 Theme: Against Stereotyping Best for: 9 and up "The whole idea that he might try to walk away from puzzles-even for a day- suddenly seemed ridiculous. A weekend of puzzle games at some famous person's mansion? How could Winston not jump at this?" The most recent book in the Winston Breen series, this one has some wonderful elements in it that surpass the previous books, including culture (music), and pathos (end of life.)
Published: 2002 Theme: Baseball Best for: Baseball fans, ages 10 and up "I looked at my mother. A few minutes ago, she was refusing to give me permission to travel through time because it was so dangerous. Now she was asking me to go..". This book is a cross between fantasy-- time travel; and historical fiction-- we go back to Shoeless Joe's time...
Published: 1956 Theme: Survival, War Best for: ages 9 and up "The family pig, the three ducklings, and the little stone mill to grind the rice for the baby sister– these they have saved from the mud house of the family of Tien...Besides these they had saved absolutely nothing, except Beauty-of-the-Republic, Tien Pao's baby sister." It's never easy to read a story about war, even if it's packaged in a children's book. Yet there's no denying that it is important to help children understand just how difficult war can be.
Published: 2010 Theme: Responsibility for the Future Best for: 9 to 12 "Y'know, I like baseball too," he said quietly. "I'm a Mets fan. They stink I know...But listen, man, there are other things in life that are more important than baseball." In this 9th book of the series, the author introduces the readers to topics bigger than baseball - like responsibility for the future of the planet...
Published: 2007 Theme: Puzzles and Mystery Best for: 9 and up "One of his favorite puzzles was: What is something you can break just by saying your name?" "Oh, wait, I know that one," Winston said. This is the first children's book in a series of puzzle and mystery books that aim directly for kids who love both puzzles and mysteries..
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