Green Acres School Suggestions for Reading for Students Entering 2nd and 3rd Grades

Picture Books

Aliki. A Play’s the Thing Miss Brilliant's class puts on a performance of "Mary had a little lamb."

Barasch, Lynne. Radio Rescue In 1923, after learning Morse code and setting up his own amateur radio station, a 12-year-old boy sends a message that leads to the rescue of a family stranded by a hurricane in Florida. Based on experiences of the author's father.

Beaty, Andrea. Rosie Revere, Engineer A young aspiring engineer must first conquer her fear of failure.

Beaty, Daniel. Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me A boy wakes up one morning to find his father gone. At first, he feels lost. But his father has left him a letter filled with advice to guide him through the times when he cannot be there.

Berne, Jennifer. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein Follows the life of the famous physicist, from his early ideas to his groundbreaking theories.

Bildner, Phil. The Soccer Fence Each time Hector watches white boys playing soccer in Johannesburg, South Africa, he dreams of playing on a real pitch one day. After the fall of apartheid, when he sees the 1996 African Cup of Nations team, he knows that his dream can come true.

Birch, David. The King’s Chessboard When the wise man refuses to accept a reward for his service to the king, the king insists and so the wise man asks for a payment of rice for each square of the king's chessboard, with the amount to be doubled each day. Soon the royal granaries are almost empty. Will the proud king concede that he has been outwitted?

Bruel, Nick. Who Is Melvin Bubble? An introduction to six-year-old Melvin Bubble as presented by his family, friends, and others.

Cameron, Ann. The Most Beautiful Place in the World Growing up with his grandmother in a small Guatemalan town, seven-year-old Juan discovers the value of hard work, the joy of learning, and the location of the most beautiful place in the world.

Coleman, Evelyn. White Socks Only Grandma tells the story of her first trip alone into town during the days when segregation still existed in Mississippi.

Collins, Suzanne. Year of the Jungle Suzy spends her first grade year waiting for her father, who is serving in Vietnam. When the postcards stop coming, she worries that he will never make it home.

Cooper, Floyd. Juneteenth for Mazie Little Mazie wants the freedom to stay up late, but her father explains what freedom really means in the story of Juneteenth, about how her ancestors celebrated their true freedom.

Copeland, Misty. Firebird Prima ballerina Misty Copeland, who danced the starring role in Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite,” encourages the dreams of a young African American girl.

Cunnane, Kelly. Deep in the Sahara An Arab girl of the Sahara who wants to wear a malafa, the veiled dress worn by her mother and older sister, learns that the garment represents beauty, mystery, tradition, belonging, and faith.

Daly, Niki. Welcome to Zanzibar Road After moving into the house on Zanzibar Road that her neighbors helped her build, Mama Jumbo decides to share it with Little Chico.

Davies, Nicola. The Promise On a mean street in a mean, broken city, a young girl tries to snatch an old woman's bag. But the frail old woman, holding on with the strength of heroes, says that the thief can't have it without giving something in return: the promise. It is the beginning of a journey that will change the thieving girl's life and perhaps make the world a better place.

Delaney, M.C. Birdbrain Amos When Amos the hippopotamus advertises for a bird to help him with his bug problem, the tick bird that answers his ad creates a different set of problems for him by building a nest on Amos’ head.

Dempsey, Kristy. A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream A young girl growing up in Harlem in the 1950s, whose mother cleans and stitches costumes for a ballet company, dreams of becoming a prima ballerina one day and is thrilled to see a performance by Janet Collins, the first "colored" prima ballerina.

Fleischman, Paul. Weslandia Wesley's garden produces a crop of huge, strange plants which provide him with clothing, shelter, food, and drink, thus helping him create his own civilization and changing his life.

Floca, Brian. Locomotive It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and families are traveling together, riding America’s brand new transcontinental railroad.

Frazee, Marla. A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever Friends James and Eamon enjoy a wonderful week at the home of Eamon's grandparents during summer vacation.

Frazee, Maria. The Farmer and the Clown In this wordless picture book a farmer rescues a baby clown who has bounced off the circus train and reunites him with his clown family.

Gerstein, Mordicai. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers This is a lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers.

Grimes, Nikki. Danitra Brown, Class Clown In a story told in a series of rhyming poems, Zuri faces her fears about starting a new school year with the help of best friend Danitra.

Hopkinson, Deborah. Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story When his father leaves to fight in World War I, Mikey joins the Central Park Knitting Bee to help knit clothing for soldiers overseas.

Hopkinson, Deborah. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt A young slave stitches a quilt with a map pattern which guides her to freedom in the North.

Hooks, William. Moss Gown In a retelling of a Southern folktale, Candace is banished from her father's plantation. Her father is able to appreciate her love only after time passes and she meets her Prince Charming.

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? The authors look at the ways in which different animals use their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails.

Johnson, Angela. All Different Now: Juneteenth In 1865, members of a family start their day as slaves, working in a Texas cotton field, and end it by celebrating their freedom on what came to be known as Juneteenth.

Keller, Laurie. The Scrambled States of America The states become bored with their positions on the map and decide to change places for a while. Also includes facts about the states.

Kelly, John and Cathy Tincknell. The Mystery of Eatum Hall A gluttonous pig and goose are invited for a weekend of free eating in an English manor filled with ominous items in an original little comedy that combines high tech and old fashioned mystery.

Khan, Rukhsana. King for a Day From his wheelchair a Pakistani boy tries to capture the most kites during Basant, the annual spring kite festival, and become "king" for the day.

Look, Lenore. Brush with the Gods Who wants to learn calligraphy when your brush is meant for so much more? Wu Daozi (689- 758), who lived during the T'ang Dynasty and is considered China's greatest painter, is the subject of this stunning picture book.

Madrigal, Antonio Hernandez. Erandi's Braids In a poor Mexican village, Erandi surprises her mother by offering to sell her long, beautiful hair in order to raise enough money to buy a new fishing net.

Mahy, Margaret. Down the Back of the Chair A poor family is searching down the back of a chair for Dad's lost car keys and, miraculously in the mess of things back there, their financial problems are solved.

McCully, Emily Arnold. Beautiful Warrior Tells the story of two unlikely kung fu masters and how their martial arts skill saves them both.

Meyer, Susan. New Shoes In this historical fiction picture book, African American cousins Ella Mae and Charlotte start their own shoe store when they learn that they are not allowed to try on shoes at the shoe store in town.

Miller, Pat. Sophie’s Squash On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash. Instead of letting her family cook it, she names it Bernice, and from then on Sophie takes Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

Morales, Yuyi. Niño Wrestles the World Lucha Libre champion Niño has no trouble fending off monstrous opponents, but when his little sisters awaken from their naps, he is in for a wrestling match that will truly test his skills.

Mortenson, Greg and Susan L. Roth. Listen to the Wind This book tells the story of Dr. Greg Mortenson's promise to build a school in a remote Himalayan village after the villagers saved his life.

Muth, Jon J. Zen Ties When Stillwater the panda encourages Koo, Addy, Michael, and Karl to help a grouchy neighbor, their efforts are rewarded in unexpected ways.

Novak, B.J. The Book with No Pictures The reader has to say every silly word, no matter what.

O’Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude Collaborating on writing a fairytale for school, a girl imagines a beautiful princess whose beloved ponies are being stolen by a giant, and a boy conjures up the muscular biker who will guard the last pony in exchange for gold.

Osborne, Mary Pope. Kate and the Beanstalk In this version of the classic tale, a girl climbs to the top of a giant beanstalk, where she uses her quick wits to outsmart a giant and make her and her mother's fortune.

Pinkney, Jerry. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi A courageous mongoose thwarts the evil plans of Nag and Nagaina, two big black cobras who live in the garden.

Pinkney, Jerry. The Ugly Duckling An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.

Polacco, Patricia. In Our Mothers' House Three young children experience the joys and challenges of being raised by two mothers.

Polacco, Patricia. Mr. Katz and Tush Larnel doesn't know his neighbor, Mrs. Katz, very well, until he asks her to adopt an abandoned kitten. Mrs. Katz agrees on one condition.

Raschka, Chris. Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle A father teaches his daughter all about bicycle riding, from selecting the right bike to trying again after a fall.

Robinson, Sharon. Under the Same Sun It is Grandmother Bibi's ninetieth birthday. When she travels to Tanzania from America to visit her son and grandchildren, they surprise her with a birthday safari.

Roth, Susan. Parrots over Puerto Rico This combined history of the Puerto Rican parrot and the island of Puerto Rico highlights current efforts to save the Puerto Rican parrot by protecting and managing this endangered species

Seuss, Dr. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street In Dr. Seuss’s first book for children, a boy imagines a series of incredible sights on his way home from school so that he will have an interesting report to give his father.

Seuss, Dr. The Sneetches and Other Stories This collection contains four of Dr. Seuss’s most popular stories.

Shea, Bob. Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads The Toad brothers are wreaking havoc in Drywater Gulch when a boy with no experience but immense knowledge of dinosaurs rides into town on his tortoise and declares himself the new sheriff.

Shulevitz, Uri. How I Learned Geography Spending hours studying his father's world map, a young boy escapes the hunger and misery of refugee life. Based on the author's childhood in Kazakhstan, where he lived as a Polish refugee during World War II.

Sierra, Judy. Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Pie A monster earnestly bakes a fly pie for his monster friends. Illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist Koren.

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree that gives to him without thought of return.

Spier, Peter. (ill.) Star Spangled Banner Illustrates three verses of the national anthem.

Soto, Gary. Too Many Tamales Maria tries on her mother's wedding ring while helping to make tamales for a family get-together at Christmas. Panic ensues when, hours later, she realizes that the ring is missing.

Teague, Mark. Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School When Ike Larue is "imprisoned" at the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy, he tries everything to get sent home.

Van Allsburg, Chris. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi When the dog he is caring for runs away from Alan into the forbidden garden of a retired dog-hating magician, a spell seems to be cast over the dog.

Van Allsburg, Chris. Jumanji Two children find an enchanted board game that opens a magical portal to a jungle universe and discover an adult who has been trapped inside the game.

Van Allsburg, Chris. Probuditi! On his birthday, Calvin and his friend Rodney see a magician perform and then imitate him by hypnotizing Calvin's little sister, but the joke is on them when they are unable to reverse the hypnosis.

Waters, Eric. My Name Is Blessing Based on truth, this book tells the story of a young Kenyan boy with a physical disability who lives in poverty with eight cousins and his loving grandmother. His mother had named him Muthini, which means “suffering,” but his name is changed to Baraka, which means “blessing,” because of all the blessings that he brings.

Watt, Melanie. Scaredy Squirrel (series) Scaredy Squirrel thinks about all the things that could happen to him if he leaves the safety of his home, but he has no choice when he accidentally drops his emergency kit.

Watt, Melanie. Chester Chester the cat interrupts the author's story of a mouse with his own version.

Weatherford, Carole. Sugar Hill: Harlem’s Historic Neighborhood Rhyming text celebrates the Harlem neighborhood that successful African Americans first called home during the 1920s.

Wiesner, David. Flotsam This is the story of what happens when a camera becomes a piece of flotsam.

Wiesner, David. Mr. Wuffles Mr. Wuffles ignores all his cat toys except one, which turns out to be a spaceship piloted by small green aliens. When Mr. Wuffles plays roughly with the little ship, the aliens must venture into the cat's territory to make emergency repairs.

Woodson, Jacqueline. Each Kindness This book, with its powerful anti-bullying message, was created by the same team (Woodson and E. B. Lewis) that wrote and illustrated The Other Side and Coming On Home Soon.

Yee, Paul. Roses Sing on New Snow Despite a greedy father and brothers who try to conceal her identity as the real cook in their restaurant, Maylin receives the recognition she deserves.

Young, Ed. Lon Po Po Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother.

Transitional Fiction

Angleberger, Tom. Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus (Origami Yoda series) The seventh graders of McQuarrie Middle School and their Star Wars-inspired origami finger puppets take a field trip to Washington, D.C. that is filled with shifting alliances, betrayals, carsickness, and sugar rushes. (See all the books in this series.)

Barnett, Mac. The Terrible Two When master prankster Miles Murphy moves to sleepy Yawnee Valley, he challenges the local mystery prankster in an epic battle of tricks, but soon the two join forces to pull off the biggest prank ever seen.

Bruel, Nick. Bad Kitty School Daze (Bad Kitty series) When Kitty's owners finally have had enough of her bad behavior, it's time to ship her off to obedience school.

Byars, Betsy. My Brother, Ant and Ant Plays Bear Fun stories about two brothers.

Cazet, Denys. Minnie and Moo Go to the Moon (Minnie and Moo series) Minnie and Moo, two cows, decide to drive the farmer’s tractor to the moon.

Cheng, Andrea. The Year of the Book This story follows a young Chinese American girl as she navigates relationships with family, friends, and her fourth grade classroom and finds a true best friend. (Also see The Year of the Baby and The Year of the Fortune Cookie.)

Chew, Ruth. Magic in the Park Jen Mace and her new friend Mike Stewart find magical adventures in Prospect Park. (Also see No Such Thing as a Witch and other titles by this author.)

Coven, Wanda. Heidi Heckelbeck Gets the Sniffles (Heidi Heckelbeck series) Heidi is excited about the Fall Festival, but she catches a cold, and her magic may not be enough to make her well in time.

Cronin, Doreen. The Chicken Squad When the cowardly squirrel named Tail comes barreling into the chicken coop ranting about a round, shiny, green, big scary thing in the yard, Dirt, Sweetie, Poppy, and Sugar investigate the strange object.

DiCamillo, Kate. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures Rescuing a squirrel after an accident involving a vacuum cleaner, comic-reading cynic Flora Belle Buckman is astonished when the squirrel, Ulysses, demonstrates astonishing powers of strength and flight after being revived.

DiCamillo, Kate. Leroy Ninker Saddles Up In the first volume in a spin-off series starring favorite characters from DiCamillo's Mercy Watson books, Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso, and boots, but he doesn't have a horse -- until he meets Maybelline, and then it's love at first sight.

Dumon Tak, Bibi. Mikis and the Donkey Mikis is thrilled when his grandfather buys a new donkey but soon begins to worry that he is overworking the animal.

English, Karen. Dog Days Gavin wants to make a good impression at Carver Elementary, where no one knows that he excels at soccer and skateboarding, but an annoying big sister, a bully, and his great aunt's Pomeranian are not helping. (See also Skateboard Party and Nikki & Deja.)

Fienberg, Anna. Tashi (series) Tashi, Jack's extraordinary imaginary friend, is a gnome-like character who comes from a place far away. In the series opener, Tashi tells of being sold to a warlord and escaping with the help of a swan.

Gaiman, Neil. Fortunately, the Milk While picking up milk for his children's cereal, a father is abducted by aliens and finds himself on a wild adventure through time and space.

Goldberg, Whoopi. Plum Fantastic (Sugar Plum Ballerinas series) Alexandrea Petrakova Johnson does not want to be a beautiful ballerina, and she does not want to leave her friends in Apple Creek. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop her ballet-crazed mother from moving them to Harlem or from enrolling Al in the Nutcracker School of Ballet.

Gutman, Dan. The Million Dollar Shot Eleven-year-old Eddie gets a chance to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot at the National Basketball Association finals. (Also see other titles by this author.)

Hale, Shannon. The Princess in Black When a big blue monster appears, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the bold Princess in Black.

Hanlon, Abby. Dory Fantasmagory Dory, the youngest in her family, is a girl with a very active imagination, and she spends the summer playing with her imaginary friend, pretending to be a dog, battling monsters, and generally driving her family nuts.

Harper, Charise. Just Grace (series) Misnamed by her teacher, seven-year-old Just Grace prides herself on being empathetic, but when she tries to help a neighbor feel better, her good intentions backfire.

Henkes, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but by the end of the year he has developed good relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents and has learned many important lessons.

Hoberman, Mary Ann. You Read to Me and I’ll Read to You (series) Each short, rhymed story invites two readers to read their own parts and then to read the passage in the central column together.

Holub, Joan. Red Riding Hood Gets Lost (Grimmtastic Girls series) Red Riding Hood, who suffers from stage fright, must give a dramatic performance when she is lost in Neverwood Forest and encounters Wolfgang, who may be a member of the E.V.I.L. Society.

Horvath, Polly. Lord and Lady Bunny -- Almost Royalty Madeleine and her hippie parents travel to England to run a candy shop. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny also travel to England, where Mrs. Bunny tries to weasel her way into the ranks of royalty.

Lagercrantz, Rose. My Happy Life Dani is excited about starting school and looks forward to the joys it will bring, such as Ella’s friendship. However, school also brings many unexpected things that Dani isn't sure she is ready to face. (See also My Heart Is Laughing.)

Lin, Grace. Ling and Ting Share a Birthday (Ling and Ting series) Identical twins Ling and Ting celebrate their birthday by sharing gifts and making wishes.

Losure, Mary. Backwards Moon When the magical veil that protects their valley from humans is broached and the Wellspring Water needed to repair it is polluted, it is up to two young witches, Bracken and Nettle, to save the coven.

Mass, Wendy. Rapunzel the One with All the Hair Rapunzel and Prince Benjamin are both trapped, one in a tower by an evil witch, the other by his royal duties, but when their paths cross, aided by friends and a little luck, conditions change for them both.

Mass, Wendy. Space Taxi: Archie Takes Flight (Space Taxi series) On "Take Your Kid to Work Day," eight-year-old Archie discovers that his father drives a space taxi that shuttles aliens from one area of the universe to another.

McKay, Hilary. Lulu and the Cat in the Bag (Lulu series) When a mysterious bag is left on Lulu's doorstep, the last thing her grandmother expects to be in it is a huge neon orange cat. But Lulu knows that this cat doesn't mean any harm and, in fact, needs a lovely new home

McMullan, Kate. Get to Work, Hercules! (Myth-o-Mania series) In this updated version of Greek mythology, Hades, King of the Underworld, tells the true story of Hercules and his twelve labors. (See also other titles in this series.)

Paratore, Colleen. Sunny Holiday (series) Spunky third grader Sunny Holiday tries to make the best out of every situation, and even though her father is in prison, she and her mother count their blessings and manage to find joy in each day.

Pinkwater, Daniel. Mrs. Noodlekugel (series) Nick and Maxine have a new babysitter, the eccentric Mrs. Noodlekugel, who lives in the funny little house behind their drab high-rise apartment building along with her feline butler, Mr. Fuzzface, and three myopic mice.

Proimos, James and Andy Rheingold. When Guinea Pigs Fly! Three guinea pigs lost in the big city have a hilarious adventure as they try to find their way back to the pet store.

Quinn, Jordan. The Lost Stone (series) Eight-year-old Lucas, Prince of Wrenly, is eager to explore, and Clara, daughter of the queen's seamstress, knows the kingdom well, so they team up to find a lost jewel and visit all of the land's main attractions as they search.

Ross, Pat. Meet M & M (series) Mandy and Mimi are close friends who like to be known as M & M.

Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge (series); The High-Rise Private Eyes (series); Mr. Putter and Tabby (series); Poppleton (series) Four series by a master of the beginning reader genre.

Schneider, Josh. Tales for Very Picky Eaters A father tells outlandish stories while trying to get his young son, a very picky eater, to eat foods he thinks he will not like.

Selfors, Suzanne. The Lonely Lake Monster (The Imaginary Veterinary series) Ten year olds Pearl and Ben find excitement in the small town of Buttonville as they encounter otherworldly animals, including a lake monster, during their first official day as apprentices to Dr. Woo, a veterinarian for imaginary creatures.

Sharmat, Marjorie. Nate the Great (series) Fortified by a pancake breakfast, Nate sets out to find a missing picture in the first book in this series.

Smith, Alex. Claude in the City When Claude, a small, plump dog, and his friend, Sir Bobblysock, visit the city, Claude heroically if accidentally stops a thief and then rushes his sick friend to a hospital and is mistaken for a doctor.

Sternberg, Julie. Like Bug Juice on a Burger As the days pass, nine-year-old Eleanor realizes that maybe being at summer camp isn't so bad after all and is full of special surprises.

Stilton, Geronimo. Geronimo Stilton (series) Geronimo Stilton is the editor and publisher of The Rodent's Gazette, New Mouse City's most widely read daily newspaper. Stilton longs for adventure, and adventure writing, and he embarks on a different excursion in each book in the series.

Stout, Shawn. Penelope Crumb Finds Her Luck (Penelope Crumb series) Blaming “the Bad Luck” for not being anyone's Favorite, fourth grader Penelope Crumb hopes to change this situation by becoming the lead artist for the mural her class is painting for the residents of Potwaller's Blessed Home for the Aging.

Voake, Steve. Daisy Dawson Is on Her Way (Daisy Dawson series) One day when Daisy is late for school, an encounter with a butterfly leaves her suddenly able to communicate with animals, and when Boom, a stray dog, is caught by the pound, she enlists the help of other animals to rescue him.

Willems, Mo. Let’s Go for a Drive (Elephant and Piggie series) Elephant Gerald and Piggie want to go for a drive, but as Gerald thinks of one thing after another that they will have to take along, they come to realize that they lack the most important thing of all.

Yolen, Jane. Commander Toad in Space (Commander Toad series) Join Commander Toad and crew for their mission on the space ship Star Warts.

Graphic Novels

Burks, James. Bird and Squirrel on the Run Bird and Squirrel outwit Cat and become best friends in this zany adventure.

Coudray, Philippe. Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! Accompanied by his faithful rabbit friend, Benjamin Bear continues to share his observations and questions about the world around him.

Davis, Eleanor. Stinky Stinky the monster is afraid of people. When a new kid enters his swamp, the monster tries many ways to scare him away.

Davis, Jim. Garfield Enjoy the antics and adventures of a cat named Garfield.

Haspiel, Dean. Mo and Jo Fighting Together Forever When the superhero Mojo gives Mo and Jo his costume, they fight and tear it in half. Now each twin is only half as strong. Can they find a way to combine their powers to fight the villain Saw-Jaw?

Hayes, Geoffrey. Benny and Penny in Just Pretend Benny wants to play pirates without his little sister Penny and tries to get rid of her. When Penny really disappears, Benny begins to worry.

Holm, Jennifer. Babymouse: Monster Mash (Babymouse series) A graphic novel follows the Halloween adventures of Babymouse, an imaginative young mouse.

Jacques, Brian. Redwall: The Graphic Novel The adventures in Redwall Abbey include all the heroes, villains, and battles.

Morse, Scott. Magic Pickle With his feisty sidekick, Jo Jo Wigman, the Magic Pickle faces his worst nightmare: the Brotherhood of Evil Produce!

Nytra, David. Secret of the Stone Frog (Leah and Alan Adventures) Siblings Leah and Alan wake one morning in the middle of an enchanted forest and encounter a strange and spectacular world filled with foppish lions, giant rabbits, and a talking stone frog for a guide.

Peirce, Lincoln. Big Nate Boredom Buster (Big Nate series) This book is filled with exciting activities for Nate fans of all ages.

Proimos, James. The Many Adventures of Johnny Mutton (Johnny Mutton series) Although he is a sheep, Johnny Mutton goes to school, competes in the spelling bee, dresses up for Halloween, and discovers his favorite sport while always remaining true to himself.

Smith, Jeff. Bone (series) This series describes the adventures of three cousins who, banned from Boneville, have wild experiences and form new friendships when they are trapped in a wonderful land filled with secrets and danger.

Watterson, Bill. Calvin and Hobbes Beloved comics about a boy and his stuffed tiger, who is his best friend.

More Fiction

Abbot, Tony. The Secrets of Droon (series) Eric, Julie, and Neal face magic and adventure in the mysterious land of Droon.

Amato, Mary. Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All; Drooling and Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return!; Stinky and Successful: The Riot Brothers Never Stop; Take the Mummy and Run: The Riot Brothers Are on a Roll (Riot Brothers series) Orville and Wilbur Riot have one hilarious experience after another in the Riot Brothers adventures.

Cameron, Ann. The Julian and Huey and Gloria series A series of lively, humorous, and heartfelt short stories about Julian Bates, his little brother Huey, and best friend Gloria.

Christopher, Matt. Centerfield Ballhawk José Mendez worries about his poor hitting and about disappointing his father, a former baseball player. (One of many books by this author.)

Clifford, Eth. Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye (Flatfoot Fox series) Detective Fox uncovers the thief who stole Fat Cat’s glass eye.

Cleary, Beverly. The Mouse and the Motorcycle (series) Tiny Ralph S. Mouse meets a boy and discovers the joys of motorcycling.

Cole, Joanna. Gator Girls (series) When Allie the alligator learns that she will be going to camp without her best friend Amy, the two girls try to cram a whole summer's worth of activities into just a few days.

Cowley, Joy. Chicken Feathers While Josh’s mother is in the hospital awaiting the birth of his baby sister, his pet chicken, Semolina (who talks only to him) is almost killed by a red fox.

Cowley, Joy. Snake and Lizard Snake and Lizard learn to appreciate their differences while becoming friends.

Danziger, Paula. Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon (Amber Brown series) Amber’s close friend Justin is about to move. Now what will she do?

DiCamillo, Kate. Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (Mercy Watson series) Mr. Watson's usual Saturday drive in his Cadillac with his favorite pig, Mercy, turns into an adventure when an unexpected passenger shows up in the back seat and Mercy finds herself behind the wheel.

DiTerlizzi, Tony. The Spiderwick Chronicles (series) When the Grace children go to stay at their Great Aunt Lucinda's run-down Victorian house, they discover a field guide to fairies and other creatures and begin to have some unusual experiences.

Duffey, Betsy. Puppy Love (series) Evie and Megan must find homes for four puppies.

Gannett, Ruth. My Father’s Dragon (trilogy) In this children’s favorite, a young boy runs away with an old alley cat to rescue a poor baby dragon that is being used by a group of lazy wild animals to ferry them across the river.

Haas, Jessie. Beware and Stogie When Stogie, Gramp's untamed horse, escapes during a storm, Lily and her horse Beware are the ones who bring Stogie home again.

Haas, Jessie. Jigsaw Pony When the twins’ wish comes true, they must learn to work together for the first time to care for their new pony.

Hanson, Mary. How to Save Your Tail*: *if you are a rat nabbed by cats who really like stories about magic spoons, wolves with snout-warts, big, hairy chimney trolls…and cookies, too When he is captured by two of the queen's cats, Bob the rat prolongs his life by sharing fresh baked cookies and stories of his ancestors, whose escapades are remarkably similar to those of well-known fairytale heroes.

Kelly, Katy. Lucy Rose: Busy Like You Can’t Believe (Lucy Rose series) Now in fourth grade, palindrome enthusiast Lucy Rose learns about the perils of eavesdropping while also confiding in her diary her worries that her recently divorced mother is beginning to date.

Kline, Suzy. Herbie Jones (series) Herbie's experiences in the third grade include wandering away during a field trip, finding bones in the boy's bathroom, and being promoted to a higher reading group.

Lowry, Lois. Gooney Bird Greene (series) A new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teacher and fellow students by telling absolutely true stories, including how she got her name.

McDonald, Megan. Hinky Pink Summoned to the Great Castle of Firenze to create a dress for Princess Isabella Caramella Gorgonzola, seamstress Anabel is delighted but then despairs as time passes when her efforts are subverted by an unseen sprite.

Moss, Marissa. Amelia’s Notebook (series) Amelia shares her truest nine-year-old feelings in this journal.

Osborne, Mary Pope. The Magic Tree House (series) The magic tree house takes siblings Jack and Annie on amazing adventures as they travel through time and space.

Park, Barbara. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones series) The series begins with this less-than-perfect Kindergartner describing her feelings about starting Kindergarten and about not wanting to ride the bus home.

Pennypacker, Sara. Clementine (series) While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine tries out several unique hairstyles and also helps her father to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building.

Pilkey, Dav. Captain Underpants (series) Belly-laugh potty humor

Roy, Ron. A to Z Mysteries (series) 26 mysteries, one for each letter of the alphabet

Sachar, Louis. Marvin Redpost: Why Pick on Me? (Marvin Redpost series) An incident during recess threatens to turn nine-year-old Marvin into the outcast of his third grade class.

Sobol, Donald. Encyclopedia Brown (series) Match wits with a 10-year-old boy who is always solving intriguing mysteries.

Poetry

Agee, Jon. Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue Presents an illustrated collection of humorous poems featuring rhymes and tongue twisters.

Coombs, Kate. Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems Come down to the shore with this rich and vivid celebration of the ocean.

Florian, Douglas. In the Swim This collection contains humorous poems about underwater creatures such as the starfish, piranha, and clams. All of Florian’s many books are fun to read.

George, Kristine. Little Dog and Duncan A series of poems about a friendship between two dogs.

George, Kristine. Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems Conveys the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family camping trip.

Giovanni, Nikki (editor). Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat A collection of poems with rhythm from 42 poets and artists.

Janeczko, Paul (ed). Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems Short poems about highlights of the four seasons.

Muth, Jon. Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons The poet and Koo, his little panda bear, challenge readers to stretch their minds and imaginations with 26 haiku about the four seasons.

Prelutsky, Jack. If Not for the Cat Seventeen haiku teasingly convey the traits of an assortment of animals.

Prelutsky, Jack. A Pizza the Size of the Sun A collection of humorous poetry on a variety of topics. All of Prelutsky’s many books of poetry are fun to read.

Sidman, Joyce. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold Discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives under the snow.

Silverstein, Shel. A Light in the Attic A collection of humorous poems and drawings. All of Silverstein’s many books are fun to read.

Singer, Marilyn. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems Witty double takes on well loved fairytales.

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairytale characters they feature.

Stevenson, James. Candy Corn (Corn poetry books) A collection of whimsical, insightful poems.

Thomas, Joyce Carol. The Blacker the Berry A collection of poems that celebrate individuality and African American identity

VanHecke, Susan. Under the Freedom Tree In taut free verse the author tells the little known story of the first contraband camp of the Civil War, considered by some historians as the "beginning of the end of slavery in America."

Worth, Valerie. Pug and Other Animal Poems Presents a collection of whimsical animal poems, accompanied by collage illustrations, that describe eccentric animal behaviors.

Longer Chapter Books

Atwater, Richard. Mr. Popper’s Penguins The story of Mr. Popper, a house painter, and his penguins has delighted children since 1938.

Bearn, Emily. Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall (Tumtum & Nutmeg series) Wealthy married mice Tumtum and Nutmeg find adventure when they secretly try to help two human siblings who live in a tumbledown cottage with their absent-minded inventor father.

Bond, Michael. A Bear Called Paddington (series) A very small bear found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown at Paddington Station becomes a member of the family.

Cleary, Beverly. Ramona the Pest (Ramona series) This book follows the adventures of Ramona as she enters Kindergarten.

Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach After the untimely death of his parents, little James finds life with aunts Sponge and Spiker miserable until a magic potion produces an enormous peach that becomes his new and exciting home.

DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread This novel chronicles the adventures of Despereaux Tilling -- a small mouse of unusual talents, and the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

Eager, Edward. Half Magic Four children discover that they can work magic with an unusual coin.

Etra, Jonathan. Aliens for Breakfast (series) Richard will soon find out that he has only five days to save the world.

Estes, Eleanor. The Moffats (series) Relates the adventures and misadventures of the four Moffat children living with their widowed mother in a yellow house on New Dollar Street in the small town of Cranbury, Connecticut in an earlier time.

Feiffer, Jules. A Room with a Zoo Nine-year-old Julie decorates her room with a vast array of creatures including a cat, a hamster, a fish, a turtle, a kitten, and a cranky hermit crab, all of which take over the house and her life, but she still wants more.

Greene, Stephanie. Owen Foote, Super Spy (Owen Foote series) Owen and his friends decide that spying on the school principal at his own house will be a fun challenge.

Hale, Bruce. The Big Nap: A Chet Gecko Mystery Someone is turning the students at Emerson Hicky Elementary into zombies, and it's up to fourth grade private eye Chet Gecko to find out who it is.

Hale, Bruce. The Malted Falcon: A Chet Gecko Mystery Chet Gecko and his partner Natalie try to find a missing valentine and the winning ticket for a fantastic dessert.

Howe, James. Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery (series) Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire. Told from the viewpoint of Harold the dog.

Jenkins, Emily. Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic Six stories relate the adventures of three best friends, who happen to be toys. (Also see related titles.)

Keene, Carolyn. Nancy Drew mysteries (series) This mystery series has been popular for generations.

King-Smith, Dick. Pigs Might Fly A runt piglet, born with deformed front feet, uses newly learned skills to save the pig farm when it becomes flooded. (Also see other titles by this author.)

Lewis, C. S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia series) In the first story in the series, four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and help Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.

Lewis, Maggie. Morgy Makes His Move When third grader Morgy MacDougal-MacDuff moves from California to Massachusetts with his parents, he has to get used to many new things before he feels comfortable.

Lindbergh, Anne. The People in Pineapple Place (series) Ten-year-old August Brown adjusts to his new home in Washington, D.C. with the help of the seven children of Pineapple Place.

Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Longstocking (series) Follow the escapades of a spirited little girl who lives with a horse and a monkey, but without any parents, at the edge of a Swedish village.

Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu: Empress of Everything (Ruby Lu series) After Ruby Lu's deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her parents come from China to live with her, Ruby finds life challenging as she adjusts to her new family, tries to mend her rocky relationship with her friend Emma, and faces various adventures in summer school.

Look, Lenore. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things (Alvin Ho series) A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors wants to make friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.

MacDonald, Betty. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (series) Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside-down house and has magical common sense solutions for children’s problems.

McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody (series) In the first book in the series, third grader Judy Moody is in a first-day-of-school bad mood until she gets an assignment to create a collage all about herself and begins creating her masterpiece, the Me collage.

McDonald, Megan. Stink (series) Judy Moody’s little brother Stink, a.k.a. James, has his own adventures.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah Plain and Tall (series) When their father invites a mail-order bride to live in their house, Caleb and Anna are captivated by her and hope that she will stay.

Manes, Stephen. Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days Milo, tired of problems with his sister, parents, and classmates, finds a book in the library that promises to make him perfect in just three days.

Marsden, Carolyn. Jade Dragon A Chinese American girl torn between her family’s traditional values and the more modern ones in her second grade classroom learns that friendship cannot be bought.

Martin, Ann. The Doll People (series) Toys that come to life, and what happens when the 100-year-old Doll Family meets the modern plastic Funcraft Family.

Milne, AA. Winnie the Pooh Whimsy and humorous adventure in these stories of friendships between a boy and his five endearing animal friends.

Norton, Mary. The Borrowers (series) All is well with a family of tiny people living underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country manor, with furnishings “borrowed” from the “human beans” living above them, until a human boy spots them.

Quattlebaum, Mary. Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point A Colonial American tale full of humor and folk wisdom.

Sachar, Louis. Wayside School Is Falling Down (series) Humorous stories about the students at wacky Wayside School, which was built vertically instead of horizontally.

Scieszka, Jon. Time Warp Trio (series) Follow the adventures of Fred, Sam, and Joe as they are transported back in time in this popular series.

Selfors, Suzanne. The Lonely Lake Monster (The Imaginary Veterinary series) Ten year olds Pearl and Ben encounter otherworldly animals, including a lake monster, during their first official day as apprentices to Dr. Woo, a veterinarian for imaginary creatures.

Selfors, Suzanne Smells Like Treasure (Smells Like Dog series) Farm boy Homer Pudding receives a mysterious note emblazoned with the letters L.O.S.T. and knows that it is time to meet the society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures, take his Uncle's place, and hunt for treasure.

Steig, William. Abel’s Island A castaway on an uninhabited island, Abel, a very civilized mouse, finds his resourcefulness and endurance tested to the limit as he struggles to survive and return to his home.

Taylor, Sydney. All-of-a-Kind Family (series) The adventures of five sisters growing up in a Jewish family in New York during the early 20th century.

Warner, Gertrude Chandler. The Boxcar Children (series) The orphaned Alden children are reunited with their grandfather and solve a different mystery in each book in the series.

White, E. B. Charlotte’s Web Wilbur the pig is desolate when he learns that he is to become the farmer’s Christmas dinner. His spider friend Charlotte decides to help him.

Biographies and Other Information Books

Aaseng, Nathan. Baseball’s Power Hitters Profiles the careers of eight power baseball hitters.

Adler, David. A Picture Book of Helen Keller (series) A brief biography of the woman who overcame her handicaps of being both blind and deaf.

Aliki. William Shakespeare & the Globe Tells the story of well-known playwright William Shakespeare and the famous Globe Theatre, in which many of his works were performed.

Arnold, Tedd. Fly Guy Presents: Space During their visit to a space museum, Fly Guy and Buzz learn all about planets, space craft, space suits, and even dirty snowballs (i.e., comets).

Asim, Jabari. Fifty Cents and a Dream Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington only could dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, Booker began a 500-mile journey, mostly on foot, to Hampton Institute, where he took the first of many steps towards a college degree. When he arrived, he had just fifty cents in his pocket and a dream about to come true

Bang, Molly. Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Light Examines photosynthesis, the process responsible for providing the material and energy for all living things.

Berger, Melvin. Scholastic True or False: Baby Animals Asks readers a true-or-false question about baby animals that the reader can answer by turning the page.

Berger, Melvin. Scholastic True or False: Reptiles Asks readers a true-or-false question about the physical characteristics, diet, or behavior of reptiles that the reader can answer by turning the page.

Bishop, Nic. Butterflies and Moths Discusses the anatomy, physiology, habits, and behavior of a group of insects both harmful and beneficial to man. (See also Snakes.)

Brown, Don. Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein This biography of Albert Einstein focuses on his oddness as a baby and child and his disinterest in school and discusses the significance of his discoveries in physics.

Brown, Don. Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt Describes Teddy Roosevelt's childhood and accomplishments as the youngest president of the United States.

Brown, Don. Uncommon Traveler: Mary Kingsley in Africa After caring for her parents, Mary Kingsley traveled to West Africa in 1893 and 1894. Fascinating tale of an intrepid, quirky woman.

Brown, Monica. Tito Puente, Mambo King /Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo This is a bilingual biography of musician Tito Puente, the “King of Mambo.”

Bryant, Jennifer. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus The story of shy, young Peter Mark Roget, who grew up loving books and who used his love of words to organize ideas and find just the right words to express his thoughts. His lists eventually turned into one of the most important reference books of all time, Roget’s Thesaurus.

Byrd, Robert. Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin A true Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin was the first American celebrity.

Cassino, Mark. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder Using photographs, the author explores the science of snow crystals. Read together with Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s Snowflake Bentley.

Cate, Annette. Look Up: Birdwatching in Your Own Backyard A conversational, humorous introduction to bird-watching featuring quirky, full-color illustrations that portray dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types.

Chandra, Deborah. George Washington’s Teeth The sad saga of Washington’s terrible dental problems is told in rollicking rhymes.

Chin, Jason. Redwoods Blending nonfiction and fantasy, Chin informs the reader about the redwoods in an entertaining way.

Chin, Jason. Gravity This is an unusual, innovative, accessible, and beautiful book about a complex subject.

Coles, Robert. The Story of Ruby Bridges Six-year-old Ruby Bridges must confront the hostility of white parents when she becomes the first African American girl to integrate Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960.

Cooney, Barbara. Eleanor Presents the childhood of Eleanor Roosevelt, who married a president of the United States and became known as a great humanitarian.

Coy, John. Hoop Genius Discover the true story of how Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at a school in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Deedy, Carmen. 14 Cows for America The Maasai give a gift of cows to America in response to 9/11.

Dennis, Brian. Nubs The story of Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war that befriended Marine Major Brian Dennis. When the Major was relocated 70 miles away, Nubs began a dangerous desert trek to find his friend. dePaola, Tomie. Here We All Are (26 Fairmont Avenue series) Throughout the series, children's author and illustrator Tomie dePaola describes his experiences at home and school when he was a boy.

Emberley, Ed. Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book This is an innovative book that shows would-be artists how to draw using fingerprints and a few letters.

Farris, Christine King. My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Looks at the early life of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the eyes of his older sister.

Ferris, Jeri. Walking the Road to Freedom: A Story about Sojourner Truth Traces the life of the black woman orator who spoke out against slavery throughout New England and the Midwest.

Fern, Tracey. Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud This is the story of how Eleanor Prentiss learned to sail and navigate and her record-breaking accomplishment with her husband in 1851.

Ferris, Jeri Chase. Noah Webster and His Words This story introduces a Connecticut farm boy who became obsessed with uniting the new American nation through standardized language. He devoted 20 years to writing 2,000 pages and saw the first 100 percent American dictionary published in 1828, when he was 70 years old.

Floca, Brian. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 Provides an up-close look at the historic mission to the moon that took place during the summer of 1969.

Hartland, Jessie. How the Meteorite Got to the Museum (Got to the Museum series) This book recounts the steps that brought a meteor from outer space, across the eastern United States, onto the trunk of a teenager’s car in Peekskill, New York, and eventually to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. (See all the titles in this series.)

Hoberman, Mary Ann. The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination Celebrates the world of nature and science through more than 100 poems, with a focus on the earth's origins and the need to protect and preserve the environment.

Hopkins, Joseph. The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever Growing up among the tall trees in Northern California, Katherine Olivia Sessions was inspired to start a movement that transformed the dry desert town of San Diego and created what eventually became Balboa Park.

Jenkins, Steve. Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea Provides a top-to-bottom look at the ocean, from birds and waves to thermal vents and ooze. (See also The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth and Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World.)

Joubert, Beverly and Dereck Joubert. Face to Face with Elephants (Face to Face with Animals series) Introduces the African elephant by following a husband and wife team who observe them. Covers the importance of the herd, why its population is dwindling, and ways people can help protect African elephants.

Kalman, Maira. Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything Describes the fascinating life and interests of the Renaissance man who was America’s third president.

Katz, Alan. Smelly Locker: Silly Dilly School Songs Well-known songs, including "Oh Susannah" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," are presented with new words and titles such as "Heavy Backpack!" and "I Don't Want to Do Homework!”

Kerley, Barbara. Those Rebels, John and Tom This dual portrait of two American founding fathers focuses on the many ways they helped a young United States despite their disparate views and personal differences at key points in the nation's early history.

Kerley, Barbara. What to Do about Alice: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! A biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, from her rebellious childhood to marriage to becoming a political force in her own right.

Kirby, Pamela. What Bluebirds Do Follows a pair of bluebirds through courting and rearing their young.

Krull, Kathleen. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez This is a picture book account of a young boy who grew up to change the world by protesting the working conditions of migrant workers on California farms.

Krull, Kathleen. I Hear America Singing! Folk Songs for American Families with CD This volume includes 62 of the best-loved American folk songs, with lyrics and easy-to-play musical arrangements and a 23-song CD.

Kudlinski, Kathleen. Boy, Were We Wrong about Dinosaurs! Examines what is known about dinosaur bones, behavior, and other characteristics and how different the facts often are from what scientists -- from ancient China to the recent past -- believed to be true.

Macaulay, David. Castle With text and detailed drawings, the author describes the planning and construction of a castle and adjoining town in 13th century Wales.

MacLachlan, Patricia. The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse This is a picture book about artist Henri Matisse’s inspiration as a young boy living in a dreary town in northern France but in a home that his mother fills with pattern and color.

Markle, Sandra. The Long, Long Journey: The Godwit's Amazing Migration A godwit hatches, evades predators, and learns to hunt and fly. Then she sets off on her first migration 7,200 nonstop miles from Alaska to New Zealand!

Meltzer, Brad. I Am Abraham Lincoln; I Am Albert Einstein; I Am Amelia Earhart; I Am Jackie Robinson; I Am Rosa Parks and others (Ordinary People Change World series) Popular biographies for young readers.

Morales, Yuyi. Viva Frida With spare text, the author examines artist Frida Kahlo's creative process.

Moss, Marissa. Barbed Wire Baseball: How One Man Brought Hope to the Japanese Internment Camps of WWII Traces the childhood dream of Japanese-American baseball pioneer Kenichi Zenimura of playing professionally and his family's struggles in a World War II internment camp where he introduces baseball to raise hope.

Nelson, Kadir. Nelson Mandela With free verse and powerful paintings, the author celebrates the life of the former South African president best known for his political activism and fight to end apartheid.

Nivola, Claire. Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai The author tells the inspiring story of a brave woman from Kenya who wanted to save her country by teaching the people to take care of it and who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Pellant, Chris. Crystals and Gemstones Introduces the reader to crystals and gemstones, with emphasis on how they are formed and how to become a collector.

Pelletier, Mia. A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds This picture book features migratory birds as well as those that live in the Arctic year-round and is filled with fun and useful facts.

Petrides, George A. Peterson First Guide to Trees of North America (Peterson Field Guide series) A beginner's guide to trees.

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song When Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, his strong voice and powerful message were accompanied and enhanced by world-renowned gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

Pinkney, Jerry. The Tortoise & the Hare In this companion to The Lion & the Mouse, Pinkney relates the familiar fable of the race between a slow tortoise and a quick but foolish hare with stunning illustrations and minimal text.

Potter, Jean. Science in Seconds with Toys: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less Presents more than 100 simple experiments that use all sorts of toys to explore various scientific principles.

Pulleyn, Micah. Kids in the Kitchen: 100 Delicious, Fun & Healthy Recipes to Cook & Bake A children's vegetarian cookbook.

Raschka, Chris. The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy Is Enlightening This 100th birthday tribute to the late jazz artist, who said that he came from Saturn, explores his observations about humanity's discriminatory and violent behaviors as well as his efforts to forge world peace through music with the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Rappaport, Doreen. Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt Introduces the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was born a privileged but shy girl, who taught the less fortunate and became one of the most outspoken first ladies in history, and who was known as a champion of civil rights.

Rey, H. A. Find the Constellations An informative beginner’s guide to locating the constellations in the northern hemisphere

Rodgers, Greg. Chukfi Rabbit's Big, Bad Bellyache: A Trickster Tale This greedy trickster will soon learn that being this lazy is hard work! A classic trickster tale in the Choctaw tradition.

Rosenstock, Barb. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art Describes how Kandinsky’s creative life was shaped by a neurological condition called synesthesia, which caused him to experience colors as sounds and sounds as colors.

Roth, Susan. Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books Documents the January 2011 event when thousands of Egypt's students, library workers, and demonstrators joined hands around the great Library of Alexandria to protect the building and the freedom it represents.

Russell-Brown, Katheryn. Little Melba and her Big Trombone A biography of African American musician Melba Doretta Liston, a virtuoso musician who played the trombone and composed and arranged music for many of the great jazz musicians of the twentieth century.

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson The poignant journey of the famous African American singer from child wonder to opera diva.

Smith, Lane. John, Paul, George, & Ben A humorous look at these four founding fathers of America and also Thomas Jefferson.

Spain, Valerie. Meet Maya Angelou A biography of Maya Angelou that describes her rough childhood in rural Arkansas and her rise to international fame as writer, poet, actress, dancer, producer, composer, and political activist.

Stanley, Diane. Leonardo da Vinci A biography of the Italian Renaissance artist and inventor who, at about age 30, began writing the famous notebooks that contain the outpourings of his amazing mind. (See the author's other biographies, too.)

Sturm, James. Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles into Comics An insightful and enjoyable way for kids to learn about cartooning, presented in a vibrant graphic format.

Thornhill, Jan. Is This Panama? A Migration Story When Sammy, a young Wilson's warbler, wakes up one frosty August morning near the Arctic Circle, he instinctively knows that it's time to make his first migratory journey south to Panama.

Weatherford, Carole. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom Follows Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey to freedom as she leaves her family behind, escapes from slavery, and leads many others to freedom.

Weitzman, David. Pharaoh’s Boat With poetic text and striking paintings, relates how the great boat meant to transport Cheops, the mighty Egyptian pharaoh, was built and rebuilt.

Winter, Jeannette. Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan /Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two Stories of Bravery A picture book biography of two young Pakistani heroes, Malala Yousafzai and Iqbal Masih, who stood up for the rights to freedom and education.

Winter, Jeanette. Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa A biography of Wangari Maathai, the environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner who was determined to help keep Kenya's forests from being cut down.

Winter, Jonah. Dizzy A look at the life and times of the African American musician and "ambassador of jazz" who introduced the world to "bebop.”

Winter, Jonah. Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates Describes the early life of Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico, his rise from poverty to baseball stardom, and his humanitarian efforts.

Woelfle, Gretchen. Mumbet's Declaration of Independence Tells the story of an African American slave in 18th century Massachusetts who successfully used the new Massachusetts Constitution to make a legal case that she should be free.

Woodson, Jacqueline. Show Way The making of "Show Ways," quilts that once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking slaves, is a tradition passed from mother to daughter.