Picture Books
Beginning Readers
Fiction
Nonfiction

Alex and the Wednesday Chess Club
by Janet Wong; illustrated by Stacey Schuett.

Alex first learned to play chess when he was four years old. He loved it. He loved it until he played a chess game with moldy old Uncle Hooya...and lost. Then Alex decided to give up chess for good.Until third grade, when Alex decides to give chess another try. (K-3rd grade)

Alice the Fairy
by David Shannon

Imaginative Alice has a nose for trouble, but luckily she's a fairy--a temporary fairy. She has a magic wand, fairy wings, and a blanket, all of which she uses to disappear, to fly, to transform her dad into a horse, and to turn his cookies into her own. (K-3rd grade)

Baby Babka, the Gorgeous Genius
by Jane Breskin Zalben; illustrated by Victoria Chess

Sharp and witty illustrations from popular artist Chess punctuate this picture book about two reluctant siblings who welcome their family's newest member. Includes a recipe for babka. (K-3rd grade)

Berry Magic
by Teri Sloat

Every year during berry-picking time, the old women of the village frown and complain because the only berries to be found are dry, tasteless crowberries. But young Anana has a plan for changing those frowns into smiles, and it involves a bit of magic! (K-4th grade)

Christmas Morning
by Cheryl Ryan; illustrated by Jenny Mattheson

This Christmas story takes the framework of This is the House That Jack Built and constructs a wonderful story of the magic of Christmas Eve. The rhyme builds up to the climax of Christmas morning.(K-2nd grade)

Cluck O'Clock
by Kes Gray; illustrated by Mary McQuillan

It's "4 o'cluck" in the morning, and the hens in the coop are ready to wake up. Every hour and every minute these chickens are busy stirring up mischief while the hands of the clock tick away and children learn to tell time. (K-3rd grade)

Coming on Home Soon
by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Ada Ruth's mama must go away to Chicago to work, leaving Ada Ruth and Grandma behind. During World War II, women are needed to fill the men's jobs. Every day Ada Ruth and Grandma wait, watching for the letter that says Mama will be coming home soon. (K-4th grade)

Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation
by Mark Teague

Ike LaRue, the devilish dog hero of Mark Teague's runaway hit Dear Mrs. LaRue, goes from obedience school dropout to shrewd sleuth in this humorous sequel. (K-3rd grade)

The Firekeeper's Son
by Linda Sue Park; illustrated by Julie Downing

When his father is unable to light the village fire one night, young Sang-hee must take his place. Sang-hee knows how important it is for the fire to be lit so that the villagers will know all is well, and so that the king does not send out the soldiers to see what is wrong, but he wishes that he could see soldiers . . . just once. Mountains, firelight and shadow, and Sang-hee's struggle with a hard choice are rendered in radiant paintings, which tell their own story of a turning point in a child's life. (K-3rd grade)

Guji Guji
by Chih-Yuan Chen

Raised from an egg by Mother Duck, Guji Guji is quite content with his life as a duckling, despite the fact that he doesn't look anything like his brothers. Then one fateful day he meets up with three nasty creatures who not only convince him that he is, like them, a crocodile, but also try to persuade him to deliver his fat, delicious duck relatives for their dinner! (K-3rd grade)

Hot Day on Abbott Avenue
by Karen English; illustrated by Javaka Steptoe

Two Coretta Scott King honorees tell the spirited story of a feud between friends, pairing a rhythmic text with distinctive collage illustrations. For all ages

The Incredible Water Show
by Debra Frasier

The kids from Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster are back and they're putting on a neighborhood play starring the world's most astonishing combination of atoms--H2O. Filled with scientific facts about water, readers can join in the kids' wet-and-wild celebration.(K-3rd grade)

John Philip Duck
by Patricia Polacco

Based on the real-life tradition of the Hotel Peabody Ducks, the New York Times bestselling author pens a tale of how the famous duck march came about and made the hotel a Memphis landmark. (K-4th grade)

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
by Mo Willems

Using a combination of muted black-and-white photos and expressive illustrations, the author of the Caldecott Honor book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! tells a true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy's in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong. (K-3rd grade)

The Matzo Ball Boy
by Lisa Shulman; illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger

The familiar tale of the gingerbread man is updated with a twist in this perfect story for Passover and all year round. (K-3rd grade)

Pinduli
by Janell Cannon

Janell Cannon's newest picture book about an unloved animal features an endearing young hyena named Pinduli. (K-3rd grade)

Ruby and the Sniffs
by Michael Emberley

Ruby, the irrepressible mouse from Emberley's hit picture book of the same name, returns in this new adventure. When she hears a strange commotion coming from a supposedly vacant apartment upstairs, Ruby investigates and meets her new neighbors. (K-3rd grade)

Saying Goodbye to Lulu
by Corinne Demas; illustrated by Ard Hoyt

This beautiful and touching story about a young girl who must say goodbye to her beloved, aged dog will touch anyone who has ever experienced a loss. (K-3rd grade)

Skin Again
by Bell Hooks; illustrated by Chris Raschka

This visionary work by the creators of Happy to Be Nappy offers new ways to talk about race and identity, and reveals that race matters, but only so much--it is what can be found beyond the skin that's the most important treasure. (K-3rd grade)

Toby and the Snowflakes
by Julie Halpern; illustrated by Matthew Cordell

After Toby's best friend moves away, an unexpected flurry of friends help him to learn about friendship, change, and the nature of snowflakes. (K-3rd grade)

Wallace's Lists
by Barbara Bottner; illustrated by Gerald Kruglik and Olof Landstrom

Wallace, a mouse, can do almost anything as long as he has a list. When Wallace meets his lively neighbor Albert, his world is swiftly opened to new delights, such as painting and music. Wallace soon discovers a new joy: friendship. (K-3rd grade)

The Well at the End of the World
by Robert San Souci; illustrated by Rebecca Walsh

In the spirit of The Talking Eggs, award-winning author San Souci has once again created a heroine whose generosity and courage save the day as she searches for the healing powers of a magical well. (K-4th grade)

Wild About Books
by Judy Sierra; illustrated by Marc Tolon Brown

One day, the town librarian, Molly McGrew, by mistake drove her bookmobile into the zoo. In this rollicking rhymed story, Molly introduces birds and beasts to this new something called reading. She finds the perfect book for every animal--tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. Judy Sierra's funny animal tale coupled with Marc Brown's lush, fanciful paintings is more fun than a barrel of monkeys! (K-4th grade)

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Beginning Readers

Henry and Mudge and a Very Merry Christmas
by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Sucie Stevenson

At Christmastime Henry and his dog Mudge enjoy baked treats, visits from relatives, and lots of presents. But Henry is about to learn that his best present of all is one he already has--his lovable pooch. (K-3rd grade)

Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book
by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Arthur Howard

This delightful new addition to the Mr. Putter and Tabby series pays tribute to good stories, delicious snacks, and wonderful next-door neighbors in a hilarious send-up of the writing process. (K-3rd grade)

Oliver the Mighty Pig
by Jean Van Leeuwen; illustrated by Ann Schweninger

Any beginning readers who have ever wished they were superheroes will delight in the humorous antics of one very determined pig who imagines himself as having super powers. (K-3rd grade)

Rotten Ralph Feels Rotten
by Jack Gantos; illustrated by Nicole Rubel

In this latest installment in the popular Rotten Readers, Gantos and Rubel team up to capture their feline hero as he's feeling his worst and making readers laugh at the same time. (K-3rd grade)

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Fiction

Dragon Rider
by Cornelia Funke

Firedrake, a young dragon, receives a frightening warning one night: Humans are planning to destroy the valley in which he lives! All the dragons must flee. Their only refuge is a place above the clouds called the Rim of Heaven --- which may not even exist. Firedrake boldly volunteers to go ahead first. As he embarks on his journey, he meets Ben, a runaway boy. Together, the boy & dragon make their way toward the Rim of Heaven, all the while running a step ahead of Nettlebrand, a monster who will stop at nothing to hunt down Firedrake. Their quest will truly become an adventure like no other. (3rd-7th grade)

The Golem's Eye
by Jonathan Stroud

Young apprentice magician Nathaniel is working his way up the ranks of the government when a crisis hits--a monolithic, indestructible clay golem is making random attacks in London. Nathaniel and the all-powerful djinni, Bartimeaus, must travel to Prague to discover the source of the golem's power. (5th-9th grade)

The Great Tree of Avalon
by T.A. Barron

Long ago, the great wizard Merlin planted the seed that would become the peaceful world of Avalon. Now, though, Avalon is suffering from mysterious droughts. And when the very stars begin to lose their light, it seems that the Lady of the Lake's dire predictions are about to come true. The fate of Avalon now rests with three young people: Tamwyn, a wandering wilderness guide; Elli, an apprentice priestess; and Scree, a young eagle man. One of them is the true heir of Merlin, the only person who can save Avalon, and one of them is the dreaded child of the Dark Prophecy, fated to destroy it. (5th-9th grade)

Heartbeat
by Sharon Creech

Newbery Medalist Sharon Creech (Walk Two Moons) masterfully weaves this story, told in free verse, about a young girl finding her identity and learning how it fits within the many rhythms of life. (4th-7th grade)

Here Today
by Ann M. Martin

In 1963, 11-year-old Eleanor Roosevelt Dingman's mother is crowned the Bosetti Beauty at Mr. Bosetti's supermarket, President John F. Kennedy is assassinated, and the Dingman family begins to fall apart. (4th-8th grade)

A House of Tailors
by Patricia Reilly Giff

The two-time Newbery Honor winner draws upon her own family history for this new novel. Thirteen-year-old Dina Kirk leaves Germany to join her uncle's family in 1870s Brooklyn. Having worked in her family's dressmaking business, Dina turns her back on sewing. But looking for a job leads her right back to sewing--and to her future. (4th-7th grade)

Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor is In!
by Megan McDonald

Judy gets a taste of her own medicine in this hilarious new episode which finds Judy demonstrating her desire to be a doctor when she grows up during Class 3T's show-and-tell day. (2nd-5th grade)

The Legend of Buddy Bush
by Shelia P. Moses

When Pattie Mae's adored Uncle Buddy lands in a North Carolina jail in 1947 for a crime he didn't commit, Pattie Mae and her family journey from loss and rage to forgiveness and pride. 2004 National Book Award winner! (6th-8th grade)

Meet the Gecko (The Shredderman series)
by Wendelin Van Draanen

Even superheroes have problems. That's what Nolan discovers when he meets Chase Morton, the boy who plays his favorite TV superhero. Chase is being hounded by a sleazy tabloid reporter, so Nolan vows to expose the truth on Shredderman.com. (2nd-5th grade)

The Million Dollar Strike
by Dan Gutman

The author of The Million Dollar Goal turns his attention to another sport--bowling--in this story about two boys who rally to save their town's decrepit bowling alley. (3rd-7th grade)

Murder, My Tweet: A Chet Gecko Mystery
by Bruce Hale

In his tenth mystery, Chet Gecko is in the middle of a case when his partner, Natalie Attired, is fingered as a no-goodnik blackmailer and booted out of Emerson Hicky. Just when Chet thinks he might clear her name, Natalie disappears. (3rd-7th grade)

The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story
by Mary Downing Hahn

The acclaimed and award-winning author of Hear the Wind Blow has written a chilling ghost story in the tradition of her most successful spine-tingling novels. The intriguing characters, frightening secrets, and plot twists will delight her many fans. (4th-7th grade)

Otto and the Flying Twins
by Charlotte Haptie

When Otto sees his father calming what looks like a purple dragon, he finds his life suddenly becoming very odd. He discovers that his family and his city are remnants of an ancient magical world now under threat from humans and that he must try to save it. (4th-7th grade)

Regarding the Sink
by Kate Klise

This hilarious sequel to the bestselling Regarding the Fountain is told in letters, newspaper articles, and "BEAN-mails." (4th-7th grade)

Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen
by Wendelin Van Draanen

It's Sammy's birthday, which should be a good thing, except Sammy's cat is missing. While Sammy searches for him, she finds three dead cats in Dumpsters around town. And as if that weren't gross enough, Miss Kitty, a psycho cat lady, blames Sammy when it turns out one of the dead cats belonged to her. (5th-8th grade)

The Schwa was Here
by Neil Shusterman

From the award-winning author of Full Tilt and The Shadow Club novels comes this tongue-in-cheek tale of a boy so unremarkable, he just might disappear completely. (4th-7th grade)

The Sea of Trolls
by Nancy Farmer

The three-time Newbery Honor-winning author and National Book Award recipient pens a new adventure set in A.D. 793 in the land of the Vikings, where two children are soon swept up in a quest on which they encounter a dragon, a giant spider, and trolls (4th-8th grade)

The Star of Kazan
by Eva Ibbotson

Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, this novel tells the story of a young servant girl who learns she is, in fact, an aristocrat whose true home is an ancient castle. But at the crumbling castle, young Annika discovers that all is not as it seems in the lives of her newfound family. (4th-7th grade)

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Nonfiction

About Time: A First Look at Time and Clocks
by Bruce Koscielniak

There was a time when time itself was undefined--no one knew the difference between a minute, an hour, or a day. Then people started creating tools to measure time. First they used the big stuff around them--the sun, the moon, water. Soon after, using the knowledge they got from their natural time-telling tools, people began to build clocks--huge clocks unlike the ones we use today. They also used their knowledge of the sun and moon to create calendars made up of months and years. Now, centuries later, we have clocks all around us. We can easily figure out how long a month is. But it took many years of tinkering and inventing to perfect the art of telling time. You might want to take a few moments now to read all about time. If you have a minute, that is. (K-4th grade)

Cave Paintings to Picasso: The Inside Scoop on 50 Art Masterpieces
by Henry Sayre

From prehistoric paintings to Andy Warhol's works, this book pairs full-color reproductions of 50 of the world's most celebrated masterpieces with brief, kid-accessible stories about how they were made, who made them, and where they fit in the fascinating world of art. (2nd to 6th grade)

Cats and Dogs
by Seymour Simon

With simple narrative style and large, full-color photographs, these striking books by acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon are must-reads for feline fans and dog lovers. (K-3rd grade)

Cryptomania! Teleporting into Greek and Latin with the CryptoKids
by Edith Hope Fine

Readers can travel with the CryptoKids and their blue dino pal Alphy to real and imagined places. Along the way, they discover Greek and Latin word chunks and find clues to unlocking a mystery. (2nd - 6th grade)

Double-Dare to Be Scared
by Robert San Souci

Written in San Souci's trademark style for maximum jitters, and illustrated with Ouimet's eerie black-and-white drawings, this second volume includes ghost stories, science fiction, dark fantasy, and "jump" stories for reading aloud with friends or alone on a stormy night. (4th-7th grade)

Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy
by Andrea Warren

More than a million South Vietnamese children were orphaned by the Vietnam War. This affecting, true account tells the story of Long, who, like more than 40,000 other orphans, is a mixed-race child with little future in Vietnam, and his dramatic escape to America. (4th-7th grade)

George Washington, Spymaster
by Thomas B. Allen

This fascinating new book takes readers into the secret world behind the Revolutionary War, following the escapades of spies and intelligence agents of the time and teaching readers about the methods used in wartime espionage. (4th-7th grade)

The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey
by Demi

With humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere. (1st-5th grade)

If Not for the Cat
by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Ted Rand

The New York Times bestselling picture book author serves up a series of haiku that reveals the mysteries of the animal kingdom in this beautifully illustrated collection that will puzzle, delight, and surprise. (K-4th grade)

Look at My Book: How Kids Can Write and Illustrate Terrific Books
by Loreen Leedy

With the help of some spunky and humorous characters, Loreen Leedy tells kids everything they need to do to become authors, illustrators, editors, and designers of their own fantastic books. (K-3rd grade)

Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics
by Catherine Thimmesh

With an engaging narrative, fascinating quotes, and elegant illustrations, this captivating book not only shows how far women have come but also reveals the many unsung roles women have played in political history. (5th-7th grade)

Merlin and the Making of the King
by Margaret Hodges; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

In this collection of three Arthurian tales, Merlin the magician watches over young Arthur as he rises to become king of England. But enemies threaten Arthur. Will the good king triumph over the dark forces in his path and bring peace and justice to the world? (3rd-7th grade)

My Daddy is a Pretzel: Yoga for Parents and Kids
by Baron Baptiste

Offering children and parents a playful introduction to yoga, celebrity yogi Baron Baptiste connects yoga postures to everyday activities in a unique way. With a witty story line, easy-to-follow instructions, and guidelines on practice, this book is ideal for beginners. (K-4th grade)

Mythology of the World
by Neil Philip

From the ancient Greeks to the Aztecs, this introduction to mythology examines both ancient and contemporary cultures and explores their unique myths and legends, carrying every myth across centuries to today's readers. (5th-9th grade)

Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age
by Caroline Arnold

One hundred million years ago, the skies were filled with enormous flying reptiles. With wings spans up to nearly forty feet, pterosaurs were the dominant life form on earth. The relationship of these giants of the air to dinosaurs and to other reptiles, their varied appearance and lifestyles, their evolution and extinction, the fossil discoveries that scientists are continually making throughout the world--all are depicted in this beautifully illustrated, accessible book for young scientists and their parents and teachers. Caroline Arnold's enthusiasm for her subjects sparkles here. (1st-6th grade)

A Revolutionary Field Trip: Poems of Colonial America
by Susan Katz

Katz offer an introduction to history through 14 rich poems about what it was like to live in colonial America. (1st-5th grade)

Rome in Spectacular Cross-Section
by Stephen Biesty

Set in 128 AD, Rome follows one day in the life of a father and his nine-year-old son, Titus Cotta Maximus, as they spend a public holiday together. (4th-7th grade)

Secrets of the Sphinx
by James Cross Giblin

The Great Sphinx has stood guard over the pyramids of Egypt's Giza Plateau for 4,500 years. Who built the Sphinx and why? In search of answers, Giblin takes readers back to a time before written history and traces the trail of clues left behind by the ancient Egyptians. (4th-7th grade)

Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems
by John Grandits

An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical--and not so typical--middle-grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes, and his annoying older sister. In addition, he speculates about professional wrestling for animals, wonders why no one makes scratch-and-sniff fart stickers, designs the ultimate roller coaster (complete with poisonous spiders), and deconstructs the origins of a new word, snarpy. A playful layout and ingenious graphics extend the wry humor that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. (5th-8th grade)

Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing
by Paul B. Janeczko

Do you know the difference between a code and a cipher? Can you tell a St. Cyr slide from a Cardano grille? Did you know that a substitution cipher caused Mary Queen of Scots to lose her head? Don't look now, but packed into this practical field guide is everything a young person needs to know about the art of concealment--making and breaking codes, mastering cipher systems, and experimenting with secret writing. (4th-8th grade)

What Does Peace Feel Like?
by Vladimir Radunsky

What does the word "peace" really mean? Ask children from around the world, and this is what they say.... For all ages.

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