Croco'nile

By: Roy Gerrard

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. Excellent for storytelling and easy for children to follow.

Plot: A brother and sister, Hamut and Nekatu, became friends with a baby crocodile. One night they stowed away on a boat and before they knew it, they were hundreds of miles away from home. The captain left them with trusted friends and they became very skilled and popular at young ages. They were captured by slave traders. When the ship capsizes, the crocodile is there to save them and take them home.

Characters: Hamut, Nekatu, and the crocodile.

Setting: Ancient Egypt

Theme: Friends are always there to help you when you least expect it.

Illustrations: By Roy Gerrard. Paintings.

A Pocketful of Poems

By: Nikki Grimes

Genre: Poetry

Age  Range: 2nd - 4th. The poems are short and easy to follow with simple rhyme schemes making it simple for kids just being introduced to poetry to get into it.

Plot: Short poems describing everyday things that children can encounter everyday.

Characters: Tiana, Mama, Daddy

Setting: Harlem

Illustrations: By Javaka Steptoe. Two page illustrations accompanying each poem. Mixed media.

Gingerbread Days

By: Joyce Carol Thomas

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 3rd - 5th. There are varying rhyme schemes which can help kids new to poetry recognize that poetry is different. The styles vary but are not too difficult to follow.

Plot: This book of African-American poetry has a poem for each month of the year. Each poem reflects traditions or activities that are associated with the month.

Setting: 1960's/70's

illustrations: By Floyd Cooper.  A full page illustration accompanies each poem using colors often associated with that month or celebration. Painting.

Equity Issues: No gender-bias or stereotypes.

A Suitcase of Seaweed

By: Janet S. Wong

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 4th - 8th. The poems have no clear rhyme scheme and have varying styles that can confuse younger kids who are just being introduced to poetry.

Plot: The poems are divided into three groups: Korean, Chinese, and American. Each section describes a certain part of the author. Mother is Korean, father is chinese, and the author is American.

Characters: Author, Father, Mother, Grandfather.

Equity Issues: No stereotypes or gender bias

Deep Blues: Bill Traylor, Self-taught artist

By: Mary E. Lyons

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 3rd-6th. An easy read for fluent readers but not challenging enough for older readers.

Content: The story of Bill Traylor, a former slave with no formal art training. Contains photos of him, his work, and some depicting what life was like back then. The end of the book contains an index and a sources list for those who would like to learn more.

Organization: It begins with Bill's childhood going to the time he passed all throughout showing various painting and drawings that are related to those events.

Ilusstrations: Bill Traylor's works of art, photos of himself, and various photos showing what life was like. Photo credit given in captions.

Norman Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush

By: Beverly Gherman

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th- 6th. The reading isn't difficult but it is lengthy and younger readers may have difficulty paying attention or remaining interested.

Content: Story of Norman Rockwell and how he became an artist. The back of the book contains a bibliography and an index for all his paintings.

Organization: It begins in Norman Rockwell's childhood and explains how became interested in drawing. From there describing the different events that influenced his art, his family life, and how they all tied together.

Illustrations. Norman Rockwell's paintings and photographs of his family and himself.

Seeing the Circle

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Biography non-fiction

Age Range: K - 2nd. Easy read with short simple sentences and little writing on each page.

Content: A short story of Joseph Bruchac and how he became a storyteller and writer.

Organization: It begins with Joseph Bruchac explaining his daily activities, then his Native American heritage, his childhood and how these events influenced him to become a storyteller and writer.

Illustrations by: John Christopher Fine. Photographs of Joseph Bruchac doing daily activities.

Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy

By: Andrea D. Pinkney

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 2nd - 4th. Easy read with clear text. Little writing on each page.

Content: The story of Bill Pickett and how he became famous for "bull-dogging". At the back of the book more information about black cowboys is given. A list of books relating to cowboys and Bill Pickett is also given.

Organization: Starts from Bill's childhood and ends with his elder years. It tells of how he began bull-dogging, his family, and how famous he became because of his fearlessness.

Illustrations by: Brian Pinkney. Drawing Materials.

Outbreak: Plagues that Changed History

By: Bryn Barnard

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th - 8th. The book is lengthy and has a large amount of print on each page. The subject itself is dark often describing how many people died and how they died.

Content: The book discussing six major epidemics that changed history: The bubonic plague, smallpox, tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever, and influenza. Describing the conditions causing such epidemics to occur, the chaos they caused, how people died, and how they may have come to an end. A glossary full of terms from the book is given in the back of the book.

Organization: The book introduces microbes and the epidemics. Each epidemic is it's own chapter giving descriptions of what happened, how people reacted and how people suffered from it.

Illustrations By: Bryn Barnard. Showing what the individual cell of the disease looked like, maps showing how the epidemics spread and paintings and drawing of those that it caused so much pain.

Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age

By: Caroline Arnold

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 1st - 6th. This book is excellent for introducing Pterodactyls. Fantastic and beautiful illustrations along with accurate terminology make it entertaining for younger kids to learn about them and provides a decent read for older kids.

Content: The book explains what a Pterosaur is and various types found all over the world. It describes various physical features of them as a whole and then of individual species. It also stresses that what scientists know is based upon evidence and tested theories, not assumptions.

Organization: It begins with explaining what a Pterosaur is, when they lived, and then describes the different species based on location, physical features and diet.

Illustrations: By Laurie Caple. Mixed Media. The full page illustrations show beautifully what they Pterosaurs may have looked like with color and also shows very well the huge array of differences between them.

The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands

By: Sneed B. Collard III

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 3rd - 6th grade: It is organized to read as a story but the length and wording suggests it to be for fluent or independent readers.

Content: In this book Pauline Drobney and her team attempt to reconstruct North America's tall grasslands in Iowa. The book starts off with an explanation of a tall grassland and the dangers. It moves to introduce Pauline and her plan. It goes onto describe a few plants and animals living on the prairies. Next, the book follows Diane Debinski who is on a mission to save the Regal Fritillary butterflies and help them return back to Iowa's prairies. At the end of the book, there is a list of more books and websites on prairies, also a glossary of all the terms in the book and an index.

Organization: Starting with Pauline and her team beginning to reconstruct the prairie, moving to Diane bring back the Regal and finishing with the Prairie Learning Center.

Illustrations: Photography by Sneed B. Collard III. Photos of Pauline and Diane, the various plants and animals, and the steps everyone took to make it all possible.

Shadows of the Night: The Hidden World of the Little Brown Bat

By: Barbara Bash

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 1st-6th; The text is easy to read but the sentences are more for fluent readers and there is little repetition. It can be used as an excellent story time book as it is organized to read like a story.

Content: This short book is about the Little Brown Bat living in North America. It provides information on feeding, breeding, and living. At the back of the book it has pictures and descriptions of other bats around the world. As a whole the book spas positively of bats and how they should be respected.

Organization: The book itself is organized starting with the bat migrating to breed, baby bats growing and learning to survive, and then hibernating in winter.

Illustrations: Mixed Media, accurate and full page drawings/paintings of bats.

Love to Mama: A tribute to mothers

Edited by: Pat Mora
Ilustrations: Paula S. Barragan M.

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 4th - 5th, Many of the poems have Spanish vocabulary integrated and can confuse younger children if not introduced to it beforehand.

Plot: The book is a collection of Spanish poems dedicated to mothers or mother-like figures. Some of them describe what they are like, what they do, and even how they dress. Some also describe the relationship between the author and them. There is also a good amount of Spanish vocabulary used in the poetry.

Characters: Daughters, nieces, mothers, aunts, grandmothers.

Theme: How important mothers and similar figures are.

Illustrations: Mixed Media

Equity Issues: I found no negative stereotypes or gender bias in the book.

Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems

By: Kristine O'Connell George
Illusttrations: Debbie Tilley

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 5th - 6th because of the theme of the poems.

Plot: The poems start from the first day of middle school and works through the year following a young girl. There are poems for the first day of school, lunch period, band class, gym class, the infamous school dance and many more.

Characters: The narrator, Sumako, Ryan, and Zach.

Setting: A middle school.

Theme: Middle School.

Illustrations: Sketches.

Song of the Water Boatman & other pond poems

By: Joyce Sidman
Illustrations: Beckie Prange

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 3rd-5th.

Plot: The book is composed of poems based on various pond dwelling animals. From tiny larvae to wood ducks, they're all explored in poems and then various facts about the animals  are given in shorts paragraphs on the side of the pages.

Characters: N/A

Setting: A pond

Theme:

Illustrations: Done by Beckie Prange, They look computer generated and reflect the natural beauty of the creatures inhabiting ponds.

Many Moons

By: James Thurber

Illustrated by: Louis Slobodkin

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-4th. The length is appropriate for an older age but the small amount of words on each page and wonderful illustrations can be used to attract younger readers and be used for storytelling.

Plot: The princess falls ill and tells her father the king that the only way she'll be better is if she can have the moon. The king calls upon the Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, and the Royal Mathematician to make it happen. None of them found it possible and the king was nothing short of frustrated. The court jester walks in and asks what is wrong. The king explains and the jester asks if the princess knows any of what they told the king. The king answered no and the jester went to find what the princess knew of the moon. She explains that is made of gold and no bigger than her thumbnail. The jester has a piece of gold forged and attached to a chain so the princess may take it everywhere. But now the king is distressed because the moon will be out again. The Chamberlain, Wizard, and Mathematician come up with silly impractical ideas. The king was devastated again and the jester went to ask the princess once more how this could be. She explains that a new one grew in its place when he gave her the one she has. 

Characters: The king, Princess Lenore, Lord High Chamberlain, Royal Wizard, Royal Mathematician, and Court Jester.

Setting: In a kingdom far far away.

Theme: Think outside of the box. 

Illustrations: By Louis Slobodkin. Watercolors with a mix of sketches.

The Reluctant Dragon

By: Kenneth Grahame

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 5th - 7th. Though the book isn't long, the language of the book and lack of illustrations suggests difficulty for younger readers.

Plot: A shepherd finds a dragon sleeping in a cave near where his sheep graze. He runs and tells his wife and son. His son being the book reader convinces his mother and father to allow him to speak to the dragon before they do anything rash. The next day he goes to speak to the dragon and the dragon does not want to leave. Turns out he is rather lazy and apathetic and does not want to leave. He would much rather recite poetry and discuss things of that nature. Soon, the townsfolk hear word of the dragon and call for a knight. St. George shows up and the villagers tell him how violent and evil the dragon is and he believes them. The boy meets with him trying to convince him otherwise but St. George's prejudice is strong and would like to meet the dragon himself. When meeting they become friends and would like to peacefully resolve but cannot agree upon how. The dragon refuses to fight because he sees no point but the boy and the night crave a fight. After acting out a fight for all the villagers to see, the dragon is brought back alive and everyone loves him. Solving all their problems.

Characters: The dragon, the boy, the shepherd/father, mother, St. George, the villagers.

Setting: Long ago it was seems to be Britain

Theme: Looks can be deceiving

Illustrations: Ernest H. Shepard. Sketches that simply assist in what the characters look like.

Winnie-the-Pooh

By: A.A. Miline
Illustrations: Ernest H. Shepard

Genre: Fantasy because Christopher Robin's dolls come to life and have adventures.

Age Range: 5th-8th grade. Even though this is a fantasy book revolving around a stuffed bear and his friends, the writing style and chosen language of the book promotes challenges for young readers. Their is also a variety of personalities which young readers may also have difficulty understanding.

Plot: The book is a collection of adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Owl. Many resulting in Pooh and his friends getting in some sort of situatuion which Christopher Robin helps them.

Characters: Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, the narrator, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Rabbit.

Setting: Christopher Robin's house and The Hundred Acre Wood.

Theme: Friends are very important.

Illustrations: Sketches done by Ernest H. Shepard add to the reasoning of why this book is for older readers. The sketches are simple outlines simply aiding the imagination of the reader as to what was going on or how things looked.

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine

By: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 5th - 8th grade; The page length and lack of illustrations move this book to the older kids section.

Content: The book discusses life before, during, and after the potato famine of Ireland.

Organization: The book is a narrative. The information is clearly presented with appropriate text. A timline, bibliography, and index are all provided.

Illustrations: Sketches drawn by various artists. Credit is given in the book.

Awards: Robert F. Sibert Medal 2002

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea

Text: Sy Montgomery
Photographs: Nic Bishop

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th and up. Good introduction book for new independent readers, despite page length it is an easy and fun read.

Content: The book shows the journey of a group of scientists going to New Guinea in search of the Tree Kangaroo. Along the way, they interact with locals, discuss their ways of life, elaborate on the environment and other local animals.

Organization: The book is a narrative with interactive reading and text appropriate for the varying audiences.

Illustrations: All pictures in the book are photographs of the actual expediton.

Equity Issues: Shows how another culture lives.

Awards: Orbis Pictus Award 2007

Wringer

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 5th - 8th grade; The amount of peer pressure and concept of death make this a great book for new  independent young readers.

Plot: Palmer just turned nine years old and was finally accepted by Beans, Mutt, and Henry as their friend. They were all excited though to turn ten. In the town they lived in, when a boy turned ten he was allowed the opportunity to be a wringer in the local pigeon shooting contest. Any pigeons that were injured, their necks were wrung by the boys. The only one not excited was Palmer. He didn't understand why the pigeons had to die and didn't want to kill anything. Things only became more complicated when a pigeon landed just outside his window not just one night but every night. Palmer ends up keeping him but this only causes more problems with his friends as Beans, the leader, hates pigeons. He wants nothing more than to be a wringer and he'll stop at nothing to get that bird. Palmer realizes this and gets rid of Nipper, the pigeon. However, on the day of the shoot, Nipper has somehow ended up with all the other pigeons and Palmer begins his frantic search for him. Nipper flies out of a box, the shooter misses, and he lands on Palmer's head. Beans tries to kill him but fortunately Palmer is able to save him and they head home with everyone knowing Palmer has a pet pigeon.

Characters: Palmer, Beans, Mutt, Henry, Dorothy, Nipper, Palmer's Mom

Setting: A rural community in present day.

Theme: Never give in to peer pressure.

Award: Newbery Honor 1997

Pink and Say

By: Patricia Polacco

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Range: 5th-8th. Even though this is a picture book, the vivid illustrations and dealings with death and costs of war make for a book fit for older children.

Plot: This is the story of Sheldon Russell Curtis. When he left for the war at the young age of 15, he was wounded for two days in Georgia with a gun shot just above his knee. Pinkus Aylee found him and while avoiding marauders, attempted to reunite with his company but ended up back home where his mother, Moe Moe Bay, was staying. She fed and cared for them until they told her they need to leave. She didn't like it but understood. The day they were to leave marauders came and shot Moe Moe Bay while the boys were hiding in the cellar. They buried her and set out for the Union camp. They were captured by marauders on their way and taken to Andersonville, one of the worst confederate camps. Sheldon Russell Curtis was rescued months later and lived a full happy life. Pinkus Aylee is believed to have been hanged some hours after arriving.

Characters: Sheldon, Pinkus, Moe Moe Bay, marauders

Setting: Georgia during the Civil War

Theme: It isn't the color of your skin that matters but how you choose to carry yourself.

Equity: Language, issues, and controversies of that time period are depicted with accuracy and without bias.

Illustrations: Illustrations by Patricia Polacco. Watercolor. Excellent in telling the story. Neutral colors

The Old Man and His Door

By: Gary Soto

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 2nd - 6th. Easy to read and excellent as an introduction to Spanish.

Plot: The old man's wife asks him to bring el puerco, pig, to the barbecue but instead he brings la puerta, door. Along the way he sees to young children and one is crying. He cheers the crying child up by playing hide and go seek using the peephole on the door. Next he bumps into a bees' nest and hides under the door until they are gone. Seeing the honey drip, he stores it in his hat and places it on the door. Continuing along, a goose rests on the door and leaves behind an egg. He then sees a boy drowning in the lake, uses the door to paddle to him and save him. A fish is stuck in the boys pocket and the old man decides to keep that as well. Then he comes across some folks moving furniture. He helps the young man and uses the door as a ramp to get everything in the truck. The young man gives him two watermelons in return and the old man finally makes it to the party. His wife is confused but happy with what surprises the old man has brought. The barbecue proceeds and everyone is happy with the stories the old man has.

Characters: The old man, the old woman, the dog, the two children, the goose, the young boy, and the young man.

Setting: Present day in a Spanish speaking community or country.

Theme: Think outside of the box.

Illustrations: By: Joe Cepeda. Mixed media:

Shrek

By: William Steig

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 2nd-5th. Repetition in the text as well as some challenging words. The illustrations take up more space than text and is separate.

Plot: After Shrek is forced to find his own way in the world, he comes upon a which who tells him his fortune. She tells him he'll soon meet a princess and marry her. Having heard this, Shrek began looking right away. As he walked he came across a peasant and took his pheasant and Shrek warmed it simply with his glare. It began raining and lighnting stuck Shrek but he simply ate it and moved on. He came to a warning sign but merely ignored it. Suddenly a dragon pinned Shrek to the ground but he knocked him unconscious. He came upon a castle with a knight on guard and defeated him easily. He saw the princess and they both fell in love and lived horribly ever after.

Characters: Shrek, the witch, the donkey, the princess.

Setting: A fairy tale land.

Theme:

Illustrations: By William Steig. Water color, separate from text. Assist perfectly in portraying the characters and scenes.

Where the Wild Things Are

By: Maurice Sednak

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. The text is separate from the illustrations and takes up less space than the illustrations. There is some repetition.

Plot:: Max is sent to bed without dinner for causing mischief and suddenly a forest begins to appear in his room. He finds his own personal sail boat and sails to where the wild things are becomes their king. Playing and sleeping all day but Max begins to miss his home. He decides to leave the wild things and sails home to his room where his still warm dinner is waiting. 

Character: Max, his mother, the wild things.

Setting: Max's room and then an imaginary forrest. 

Theme: Imagination can take you to impossible places.

Illustrations: Done by Maurice Sendak, they are mixed media. They assist perfectly in telling the story and showing the wild things Max encountered. 

Coraline

By: Neil Gaiman.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 5th-8th. Even though this book does not have any situations with physical development, has conflicts with adults and many problem solving situations enticing the readers to figure out what Coraline will do next.

Plot: Coraline is bored with her life. Her parents do not listen and her neighbors cannot get her name right. On a rainy day that forces her to stay inside, Coraline begins exploring the house. She finds a door which wasn't supposed to go anywhere but this time, it did. Crawling through the door she walked back into her home but it wasn't her home. This other home was much more exciting. The food smelled delicious and the garden was magnificent. Her other parents wanted her to stay very much but she must sew black buttons over her eyes. Coraline refuses, hurriedly climbs back through door and closes it behind her. She arrives back in her real home but cannot find her parents. She discovers her other mother has taken them and she must get them back. With help from the cat, she manages to defeat the other mother, save her parents, and the souls of others the other mother has captured. Coraline and everyone escapes safely to her home. However, the souls she saved tells her it isn't over. The other mother's great right hand is after the key to the door that hangs around Coraline's neck. She lures the hand to the deep, deep well in the garden. Laying a trap, she places the key on a table cloth over the well. Without hesitation the hand jumps for it, tumbles far down the well and Coraline quickly boards up the well preventing it from ever escaping.

Characters: Coraline, Mother and Father, Miss Spink, Miss Forcible, Mr. Bobo, Cat, Other Mother/beldam, Other Father, Other Miss Spink, Other Miss Forcible, Other Mr. Bobo, the rats.

Setting: It gives no mention of time but I'd guess present day in a suburban/rural area in England.

Theme: "When you're scared but still do it anyway, that's brave." A direct quote from the book.

Equity: No stereotypes or gender bias.

Illustrations: By Dave McKean. Sketches that help show both worlds Coraline is in.

The Apprentice

By: Pilar Molina Llorente

Genre: Historical Fiction. Set during the time of the Renaissance in Florence, Italy. This story offers a glimpse of how people lived and worked in that time.

Age Range: 4th-6th. While giving a peek into what life was like back then, this books has moral dilemmas, conflicts with peers, parents, adults, and internal conflicts that the young main character must go through in order to achieve his dream of becoming a painter.

Plot: Arduino does not want to become a tailor like his father, brothers, or his other ancestors. He wishes to painter. His father isn't happy about it but allows him to have an apprenticeship with a master painter, Cosimo di Forli. After one day of being there, Arduino is treated like garbage. After a few weeks, he is still only cleaning and fears he may never learn anything. One night ventures to the attic where the housemaid has been making recent trips. He finds a young boy named Donato, a former apprentice of the master chained like an animal. After the master had fallen ill, Donato was set free in order to finish the master's commission and continure painting with Arduino at his side.

Characters: Arduino, Father, Maestro Cosimo di Forli, Melania, Donato, Duke of Algora, Marco, Piero, Baldo.

Setting: The Renaissance in Florence, Italy.

Theme:

Equity: Stereotypes are avoided and the culture is accurately and appropriately represesnted.

Illustrations: By Juan Ramon Alonso. Sketches helping depict various characters.

The Arrow Over the Door

The Arrow Over the Door

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Historical Fiction. Set in 1777 in colonial America, it accurately portrays how people lived, spoke, and felt about current events of that time.

Age Range: 4th-6th grade. Children are beginning to develop empathy for others, have a better understanding of time and a highly developed sense of justice. This book offers language development and offers situations where the children are challenging their parents.

Plot: The book goes back and forth between the stories of Samuel, a Quaker who's family and fellow Quakers are ridiculed for choosing not to fight in the Revolutionary War and Stands Straight, a 14 year old Abenaki boy whose family is chosen to by King George to help the British. Neither one of them are comfortable with the actions their families have chosen to take. Samuel does not understand how peace can do any good against muskets and arrows. Stands Straight did not want to die for those whom caused him so much pain. As the stories progress, they collide. Stands Straight's scouting party comes across the settlement of Samuel's people. There is growing tension between the two but seeing the Quakers open door and without weapons, the scouting party puts down their weapons and they quickly become friends.

Setting: 1777 in what is now New York

Theme: Peace can do greater good than a gun or any weapon.

Illustrations: James Walting. Sketch and shading. The illustrations, though few, greatly help picture how the people lived and dressed adding the the historical value of the book.

Equity Issues: All characters are portrayed in a positive manner without any stereotypes. The cultures and lifestyles are portrayed accurately and showed from different viewpoints of various characters.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkings

By: Barbara Kelley

Genre: Biography

Age Range: 2nd - 4th. This can be used as an introduction to discussing dinosaurs and the process of trying to figure out what they look like. Also good for independent readers.

Content: This book is for children to peer into the life of the first man to construct enormous models of dinosaurs and how he did it. It shows his process of making models but also his reasons why he believed they looked like how he modeled them. It also shows what he went through in order to make his dream a reality.

Organization: Information is clearly presented appropriately for the audience in order from beginning to end. References are at the back of the book along with a glossary.

Illustrations: By Brain Selznick. Mixed media with pencil drawings, charcoal or chalk, and possible computer generation. They clarify what the author is writing and a re separate from the text allowing clear focus on each.

The Library Card

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 4th-6th grade. All four separate stories deal with growing up and changing but not in a physical way. Some have the main characters being made fun of, leaving everything they've known behind, giving up something they thought they couldn't live without, and not even having a home.

Plot: All four stories are different and not related. Each of the characters has it's own unique story of how reading books affected them positively. The first story is about Mongoose.  A young boy who began to steal and vandalize various spots in the city with his friend Weasel. He stumbles into the public library, begins reading, and cannot stop. The second story is of Brenda. A young girl who has becoming addicted to television. When the school and parents decide to participate in a television blackout, Brenda cannot seem to function. After a few days, she finds her old library card after years without using it. After days without television and now reading books, Brenda begins to change in a positive way. The third story tells about Sonseray. He lives with his Uncle Jack in an old Cadillac Elderado that they drive from town to town when they need to leave. Sonseray cannot seem to control his temper or actions. When Sonseray stumbles into a library and finds the book his mother wold read to him as a child, he finds peace in knowledge that he never made it up and that she was real. The fourth is about April. Her family moves from News York City to a mushroom farm. She hates everything about it. They worst part is she cannot find a library. That is until, she stumbles upon the book mobile. In it she meets Nanette, a teenage girl hijacking the bus to get to her fiance. By the end of the trip, April gives Nanette to her address and they begin to write each other letters becoming the best of friends.

Characters: Mongoose, Weasel, the Masked Man, Brenda, Brenda's Mom and Dad, Sonseray, Uncle Jack, Edwina, April, Nanette, and the driver of the bookmobile.

Setting: First story is in the city, second in a suburban community, third in a city, fourth in a rural community.

Theme: Books have different affects on different people. They mean more than just knowledge.

Illustrations: None

Spider and the Sky God

Retold by: Deborah K. Newton Chocolate

Genre: Traditional Folk tale: Beast tale. A small spider out smarts animals much larger then himself.

Age Range: K-3rd. It is an easy read and not challenging for older readers. Excellent for story time with younger readers.

Plot: Ananse the Spider goes to the Sky God high above to become a great story teller. The Sky God tells him he must bring him Onini - the Python, Mmboro - the Buzzing Hornets, Osebo - the Leopard, and Mmotia - the Fairy. After outsmarting all four and capturing

Characters: Kwansu Ananse, Sky God, Aso, Onini - the Python, Mmoboro - the Buzzing Hornets, Osebo - the Leopard, and Mmoatia - the Fairy.

Setting: The forests of West Africa

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks.

Illustrations: Dave Alders; Lots of geometric shapes and vivid colors which is part of African Culture.

Equity: Derived from traditional African folklore, this tale is good representation of a culture and is excellent for introduction into a culture.

Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella

By: Robert D. San Souci

Genre: Traditional Folktale

Age Range: Independent K-3rd. This is a great storytelling book and also introduces a different language. This may prove challenging for young readers but serves as great introduction to a new language.

Plot: It is your basic Cinderella story with the French-Creole culture instead of English.

Characters: Nannin', Cendrillon, Madame Prosperine, Vitaline, Paul

Setting: An island in the Caribbean.

Theme:

Equity: Appropriate with culture. Names, language, dress, and food represented in a respectful way.

The Girl Who Spun Gold

By: Virginia Hamilton

Genre: Traditional Folktale

Age Range: Independent K-3rd. This is a fantastic storytelling book similar to the popular "Rumpelstiltskin". The language varies challenging third graders while still offering a good variety for Kindergarten through second.

Plot: One day, Quashiba and her mother were spinning thread and laughing while working. Young Big King came through the trees angry at all the noise. Quickly Quashiba's mother ran to the king trying to calm him down. She lies, saying they are rejoicing for her daughter is weaving gold thread. The king soon marries the daughter, giving her anything her heart desires. After a year and one day, the king decides he wants his golden thread. He locks Quashiba in a room as large as a playing field. Lit'mahn, a tiny magical creature shows up. He offers to help but if she cannot guess his name within three days having three tries on each day, then he will change her to creature smaller than her. After the second night passes, the king tells her a story of how he ran into Lit'mahn and told her his name. That night she guessed his name correctly and was allowed to stay with the king.

Characters: Lit'mahn, Quashiba, Quashiba's mother, Big King

Setting: West India

Theme:

Illustrations: Done by Leo and Diane Dillon. There is a large use of gold reflecting the title of the book. The illustrations are strictly paint

Iron John

By: Eric A. Kimmel

Genre: Traditional: Folktale

Age Range: Independent 1st-4th. It is longer than an average children's literature book and is adapted from a larger story from the Brothers Grimm. Because of it's length and challenging words, for first and second graders it would be useful in story time as the illustrations can assist in keeping their attention. In third and fourth grade, the more independent readers will find it challenging enough without discouraging them.

Plot: This adaptation begins with Iron John locked in a cage in a king's collection of wild beasts. One day, the king's son Walter is playing in the collection and his ball bounces into Iron John's cage. Asking for the ball back, Iron John makes a deal that he will give the ball back if Walter releases him. Once releasing him, Walter asks to come with Iron John out of fear of his father. Iron John takes him and has him guard his hidden spring making sure nothing falls in. One day a hair falls in, the next Walter sticks his finger in, and the next, his hair. Iron John and Walter must part ways and Walter finds a king and asks for work. He gets work in the garden with Elsa under the name Walter-in-the-mud. One night the king throws a masquerade ball and Walter attends with the help of Iron John, throwing flowers to Elsa. Next with the help of Iron John, he disguised himself as a knight and won the jousting tournament giving the garland to Elsa. After the tournament, robbers ambush and kill the king and take away the princesses. Iron John helps Walter save them but Walter is badly wounded. Iron John, with his curse lifted, reveals himself a king to the weeping princesses and explains the only way for the golden knight to live is the with the tears of the maiden who loves him. Once the princesses find out it is Walter, they refuse! Elsa rushes to his side and cries relentlessly. Walter takes her as his bride and rides off with Iron John to their lands far away.

Characters: Iron John, Walter, Elsa, the Princesses.

Setting: Woods/countryside

Theme: Looks can be deceiving. Walter turned out to be a strong, brave knight but was disguised as a filthy worker and the princesses wrote him off as such.

Illustrations: Done by Trina Schart Hyman. The illustrations are mixed media using charcoal and water color. Realistic drawings help describe the scenes of the story.

Maniac Magee

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 5th - 7th grade. Expressions of prejudice, becoming more independent with reading and challenging themselves, enjoys stories of survival, increased understanding of time, highly  developed sense of concern for others, rich and complex story, and abstract relationships.

Plot: As a baby, Jeffrey Magee's parents died in a terrible accident. He is sent to live with his Uncle Dan and Aunt Don, who despised each other. After eight years of the silence and hate, Jeffrey ran away and  met Amanda Beale in the West End of Two Mills which was blacks only. Jeffrey didn't understand and didn't care. He continued along in the West End having various run-ins with Mars Bar Thompson and a few high-schoolers. When he goes to the East End which is whites only, he runs into John McNab, a pitcher for a little league that seems unbeatable. When Magee beats him and performs other crazy stunts, he earns the title "Maniac Magee". However, after living in the West End, prejudice takes over and runs Magee out of town where he meets Grayson, a down out pitcher from the minor leagues. He lives with Grayson for many months and they become somewhat of a family. Sadly, Grayson dies shortly after Christmas and Magee feels lost and hopeless. He comes upon two young boys trying run away to Mexico named Russell and Piper. Finding out they are also from Two Mills he takes them back and as luck would have it, they are the little brothers of John McNab. He stays with them off and on and reunites with Mars Bar Thompson and eventually comes to stay with Amanda Beale. Jeffrey Magee finally has a home.

Characters: Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee, Amanda Beale, Mars Bar Thompson, Mrs. Beale, John McNab, Russell and Piper, Hector and Lester, and Grayson.

Setting: Late 1960's or early 1970's Pennsylvania

Theme: Overcoming differences and prejudice

Award: John Newberry Medal 1991

The Gardener

By: Sarah Stewart

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 1st - 4th grade. This book reflects the need for for families felt by young kids, increase in attention span, and students are beginning to feel empathy for other people.

Plot: Lydia Grace must go live with her Uncle Jim in the city because her father cannot find a job and her mother is no longer making dresses. When she arrives, she is ecstatic to find out she is still able to garden even in the city. As time goes on she realizes her Uncle Jim doesn't smile very often and sets out to change that with her secret place. Near the end of the book, every window of her uncle's building has flowers and the bakery below is busier than ever. She reveals her secret place to her Uncle Jim as the rooftop of the building and there are flowers everywhere! The next day Uncle Jim presented her with a cake covered in beautiful flowers and new that she was finally able to head home.

Characters: Lydia Grace, Uncle Jim, Grandma, Ed and Emma Beech, Mama and Papa

Setting: 1935 in a city.

Theme: Even though Lydia Grace was away from her family for quite a while, she stayed positive and made the best out of her situation. Keeping a positive attitude can make a huge difference.

Illustrations: By David Small. Lots of bright colors and use of mixed media make for excellent pictures to help tell the story and grab attention.

Award: Caldecott Medal 1998

John Henry

By: Julius Lester

Genre: Traditional Folklore

Age Range: 1st-4th grade. Children will be able to tell fantasy from reality and can strengthen their imagination through the use of personification in the book, allows children to become familiar with death, and the vivid illustrations assist in keeping attention.

Plot: John Henry is tall-tale in American history. He was born and immediately began to grow and grow, and in the days that followed proved to be larger than life. He first beat Ferret-faced Freddy in a race around town, then with his two twenty pound sledge-hammers swung his way through a boulder that not even dynamite could blow though. Next, came a difficult challenge for John Henry. While working on the railroad the boss brought in a steam drill to get through the mountain that stood in front of them. John Henry challenged the steam engine to a race and won. Sadly, John Henry worked his big heart too hard and had died. The morning after, John Henry was placed on a flatbed railroad car and taken to Washington D.C. with crowds of people cheering and crying as he passed.

Characters: John Henry, the Sun

Setting: Virginia in the late 1800's

Theme: Near the end of the book there is quote. It reads: "Dying ain't important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living." This reflects the story well because John Henry helped when he could and worked hard with a positive attitude.

Illustrations: Done by Jerry Pinkney. Vivid enough to keep the attention of younger kids attention and good use of color.

Award: Caldecott Medal 1995

The Littlest Wolf

By: Larry Dane Brimner

Genre: Traditional

Age Range: K-3rd grade. Talking animals, center of own world, striving to accomplish skills, peer-group acceptance, and repetition are all reasons why this book fits for this age group.

Plot: As Big Gray watched over his pups playing in the fields, he found Little One hiding up against a great oak tree. Asking why he wasn't playing, Little Wolf told Big Gray that he wasn't as good as his brothers and sister. Each time Big Gray said "That is as it should be". With each time, Little Wolf became more confident and accepting of himself. At the end of the day, Big Gray tells Little Wolf to remember the acorns on the great oak tree and see what they become.

Characters: Little Wolf, Big Gray, Tyler, Frankie, and Ana

Setting: Bright sunny day in a field.

Theme: Acceptance of self and realizing one's own potential.

Illustrations: Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Big, bright illustrations taking up more space on the pages than words keep children's attention while also helping tell the story.

Puss in Boots

By: Charles Perrault

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd grade. This book is appropriate for this age group because of the talking animals, the pictures go hand-in-hand with the reading keeping the attention of young readers, and allows for expansion of language.

Plot: A miller dies and leaves nothing for his three sons except his mill, donkey, and cat. They divide them up with the oldest getting the mill, second oldest getting the donkey, and the youngest getting the cat. The youngest is unhappy but the cat promises him it will be worth his while. The cat begins to catch game and give it to the game saying it is from his master, the Marquis of Carabas. The king is very pleased and Puss continues to manipulate and out smart everyone including a giant Ogre. Puss tricked him into turning into a mouse and ate him leaving his lands and castle to his master. This impressed the king so much that the Marquis married the princess that same day.

Characters: Puss, the Marquis of Carabas (the youngest son), and the Ogre.

Setting: French countryside hundreds of years ago

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks

Illustrations: Fred Marcellino; Following the story exactly, the illustrations help to keep the attention of the children allowing them to also see the story and help keep up.

Awards: Caldecott  Medal (1990)

Lon Po Po

By: Ed Young

Genre: Traditional

Age Range: 3rd grade - 5th grade. Reading level is increasing as well as independent reading. Children are able to see problems more clearly and have a sense of right and wrong as well as a sense of justice. This is a folk tale and is intriguing to this age group.

Plot: A Chinese version of the famous story "Little Red Riding Hood", a mother leaves her three children Shang, Tao, and Paotze alone for the night to go visit their grandmother. While gone, a wolf tricks the children and gets into the house. The oldest, Shang, finds out it is the wolf, tricks the wolf using gingko nuts and saves herself and her sisters.

Characters: Shang, Tao, Paotze, and the wolf.

Setting: Deep in the woods of ancient China

Theme: Chinese version of "Little Red Riding Hood"; folk tale

Illustrations: Watercolor illustrations help visualize beautifully what is happening through out the story.

Awards: Caldecott Medal (1990)

When Sophie Gets Angry

By: Molly Bang

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: K-3rd grade. It is an easy read for young children with vibrant illustrations. Different punctuation and accents help to teach emphasis on different words while reading. This is also a nice book for any child who may have trouble dealing with their anger/frustration.

Plot: When her sister takes away her toy and her mom allows it, Sophie becomes very, very angry. She wants to smash and explode. Instead she runs and climbs a tree in the woods and it calms her down. After, she comes home and all is well.

Characters: Sophie, her sister, and her mom.

Setting: Small house in the woods.

Theme: Everyone has different ways of dealing with anger and frustration.

Illustrations: The illustrations are vibrant and eye catching. Keeping their attention will be no problem.