New Picture Book Recommendations - PS1, PS2 and all ages

Previously!, by Allan Ahlberg

The adventures of various nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters, including Goldilocks, Jack and Jill, the frog prince, Cinderella, and the gingerbread man, are retold in backward sequence with each tale interrelated to the other.

The Three Snow Bears, by Jan Brett

A retelling of the story of Goldilocks, set in an Inuit village and featuring a family of polar bears.

Can You Growl Like a Bear?, by John Butler

In rhyming text, the reader is asked to mimic a variety of animal noises in preparation for a good night's sleep.

Good Enough to Eat, by Brock Cole

An Ogre comes to town demanding a bride, so the mayor decides to sacrifice a homeless girl with no name whom everyone thinks is a pest; however, she finds a way to outwit them all.

On Meadowview Street, by Henry Cole

Upon moving to a new house, young Caroline and her parents encourage wildflowers to grow and birds and animals to stay in their yard, which soon has the whole suburban street living up to its name.

Diary of a Fly, by Doreen Cronin

A young fly discovers, day by day, that there is a lot to learn about being an insect, including the dangers of flyswatters and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Jazz on a Saturday Night, by Leo and Diane Dillon

A crowd gathers on a Saturday night to groove to an evening of jazz played by a "Dream Team" of musicians including Miles Davis on trumpet, Max Roach on drums, Charlie Parker on alto saxophone, John Coltrain on his sax, Thelonius Monk on piano, Stanley Parker on bass, and Ella Fitzgerald at the microphone. Includes a companion CD.

Mother Goose: Numbers on the Loose, by Leo and Diane Dillon

Presents an illustrated collection of twenty-four counting rhymes, from "Baa, baa black sheep" to "Wash the dishes, wipe the dishes."

The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster : a Tale of Picky Eating , by Alice Flaherty

A young American girl's picky eating habits transform a small worm into the famous Loch Ness monster.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella,by Paul Fleischman

A retelling of the "Cinderella" story based on a variety of folk traditions, including elements from Mexico, Iran, Korea, Russia, Appalachia, and other countries and regions.

How To Catch a Fish, by John Frank

Rhyming text and illustrations describe the ways fish are caught in various locations around the world.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses, by Rachel Isadora

A king promises a great reward to any man who can find out how his princesses are wearing out their shoes every night without leaving their bedroom.

New Picture Book Recommendations - PS1, PS2 and all ages (con't.)

The Apple Doll, by Elisa Kleven

Lizzy is scared to start school, so she makes a doll out of an apple from her favorite tree to take with her on the first day and keep her company. Includes instructions for making an apple doll.

The Red Thread: an Adoption Fairy Tale, by Grace Lin

A story inspired by Chinese legend, in which a king and queen in a lovely, peaceful land feel a tug at their hearts, pulling them closer to a child they are destined to love.

Fiona Loves the Night, by Patricia MacLachlan

Fiona explores the nighttime wonders of the outdoors, from the sounds of the owl and mockingbird to flowers that bloom only in the dark.

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind, by Bruce McMillan

The women of one village in Iceland decide to plant trees to stop the powerful winds that make it difficult even to go for a walk, but first they must find a way to prevent sheep from eating all of their saplings, while encouraging chickens to fertilize them.

Phooey!, by Marc Rosenthal

A boy who claims there is nothing to do spends his day being anything but bored.

Sugar Cane : a Caribbean Rapunzel , by Patricia Storace

A version of the folktale "Rapunzel" in which a beautiful girl with long hair is imprisoned in a Caribbean tower by an island sorceress.

Knuffle Bunny too : a Case of Mistaken Identity , by Mo Willems

Trixie's first day of pre-kindergarten gets off to a bad start when she and Sonja discover they have the very same "one-of-a-kind" Knuffle Bunnies.

New I Can Read Book Recommendations - K and 1

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy , by Ted Arnold

After accidentally swallowing her grandson's pet fly, Grandma tries to retrieve it by consuming progressively larger animals.

Squirrel's World by Lisa Moser

Squirrel's well-meaning attempts to help Mouse, Turtle, and his other forest friends do not always turn out as planned.

Annie and Snowball and the prettiest house, by Cynthia Rylant

In the not-so-pretty house where she lives with her dad and bunny Snowball, Annie plans to make some changes in the decor with the help of her next-door neighbor and cousin Henry and his big dog Mudge.

Mr. Putter & Tabby See the Stars, by Cynthia Rylant

Mr. Putter and Tabby find they are not the only ones awake when they go for a walk at midnight to cure Mr. Putter's pineapple-jelly-roll-induced insomnia.

Cowboy and Octopus, by Jon Scieszka

A cowboy and an octopus learn a thing or two about friendship as they struggle through a knock-knock joke, ugly hats, and a special dinner of beans.

2nd - 3rd Grade Recommendations

Emi and the Rhino Scientist , by Mary Kay Carson

Photographs and text provide information on the rare Sumatran rhino, the world's smallest and most endangered animal on the planet.

Eoin Colfer's Legend of-- the Worst Boy in the World , by Eoin Colfer

Will Woodman has a hard time getting anyone in his family to listen to him, so he turns to his grandfather, who, it turns out, has more terrible sob stories than Will.

Alive: The Living, Breathing Human Body Book, by Anita Ganeri

Pop-ups, flaps, pull-tabs, and fiber optics presents a graphic portrayal of the human body

Living Color , by Steve Jenkins

Looks at a wide range of colorful animals, describing how their feathers, scales, shells, and skin help them survive, warn predators, signal friends, attract a mate, or hide from their enemies

Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart, by Marybeth Lorbiecki

When legendary logger Paul Bunyan falls in love with Lucette Diana Kensack, he will do whatever it takes to win her heart, including trying to restore the Minnesota environment to its previous condition as part of Lucette's "love test."

Mayflower Treasure Hunt , by Ron Roy

When Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visit Plymouth, Massachusetts for Thanksgiving, they uncover a mystery that dates back to the landing of the Pilgrims.

Vampire Brat, by Annie Sage

Things get even spookier at Spookie House when Uncle Drac's nephew Max comes to stay for a week and Araminta goes on a combined werewolf and vampire hunting expedition.

Penguins, by Seymour Simon

A photo-illustrated exploration of penguins that covers their physical traits, behavior, reproduction, diet, and predators and the unique characteristics of various species.

Nothing but Trouble : the Story of Althea Gibson, by Sue Stauffacher

Explores the life and achievements of Althea Gibson, the first African-American woman to win the Wimbledon Cup.

Why War is Never a Good idea, by Alice Walker

Colorful illustrations and simple rhyming text describes the destructiveness and hopelessness of war and how it destroys people and beauty.

Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams

Two young Afghani girls living in a refugee camp in Pakistan share a precious pair of sandals brought by relief workers.

4th - 6th Grade Recommendations

The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio, by Lloyd Alexander

Naive and bumbling Carlo, his shady camel-puller Baksheesh, and Shira, a girl determined to return home, follow a treasure map through the deserts and cities of the infamous Golden Road, as mysterious strangers try in vain to point them toward real treasures.

Home of the Brave, by Katherine Applegate

Kek, an African refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in his fifth-grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner.

Raleigh's Page, by Alan Armstrong

In the late 16th century, fifteen-year-old Andrew leaves school in England and must prove himself as a page to Sir Walter Raleigh before embarking for Virginia, where he helps to establish relations with the Indians.

Peter & the secret of Rundoon / (Starcatchers Trilogy, Book Three), by Dave Barry

Fearing that the sinister Lord Ombra was not destroyed, Peter and Molly travel to the land of Rundoon, which is ruled by the evil King Zarboff.

Molly Moon, Micky Minus, & the Mind Machine , by Georgia Byng

Molly Moon enlists the help of her long-lost brother, Micky Minus, and uses her gift of hypnotism to battle a superbrain and fight weather disasters

Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, by Ying Chang Compestine

Starting in 1972 when she is nine years old, Ling, the daughter of two doctors, struggles to make sense of the communists' Cultural Revolution, which empties stores of food, homes of appliances deemed "bourgeois," and people of laughter.

The Castle Corona , by Sharon Creech

Two orphaned peasant children discover a mysterious pouch, the contents of which lead them to the majestic Castle Corona, where their lives may be transformed forever.

The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous by Suzanne Carlisle Crowley

In the small town of Jumbo, Texas, thirteen-year-old Merilee, who has Asperger's Syndrome, tries to live a "very ordered existence," but disruptions begin when a boy and his father arrive in town and the youngster makes himself a part of the family.

Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis

Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American South in 1859, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom.

The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming , by David Laurie

A collection of facts and information about global warming and its consequences, with suggestions on maintaining a healthy environment in the home, at school, and in the community.

Dragonsdale, by Salamanda Drake

Cara loves taking care of the dragons in her father's stable even though she has been forbidden to ride since the accident that caused her mother's death, but rather than just watch as all her friends begin preparing their dragons for the Island Championships, she decides to train the wild dragon Skydancer in secret.

Regarding the Bees : a Lesson, in Letters, on Honey, Dating, and Other Sticky Subjects, by Kate Klise

The seventh graders at Geyser Creek Middle School are preparing for a spelling bee and a horrible standardized test called the BEE, and try to smuggle their mascot--a bee that spells--into the local spelling competition.

4th - 6th Grade Recommendations (con't.)

Tap Dancing on the Roof : sijo (poems), by Linda Sue Park

Presents twenty-six sijo, traditional Korean syllabic poems, on "inside" and "outside" themes.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! : Voices From a Medieval Village , by Laura Amy Schlitz

A collection of short one-person plays featuring characters, between ten and fifteen years old, who live in or near a thirteenth-century English manor.

When is a Planet Not a Planet? : the Story of Pluto, by Elaine Scott

Explains Pluto's reassignment on August 24, 2006, from planet to dwarf planet.

Sneeze!, by Alexandra Siy

Explains some of the reasons why people sneeze, featuring color micrographs of the air-pollen, dust mites, mold spores, dust, goose down, and other allergens that provoke sneezing.

Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things, by Wendelin Van Draanen

While on her first hiking and camping trip, thirteen-year-old Sammy tries to solve a mystery involving endangered condors while avoiding scorpions, ticks, and embarrassment.

Parade of Shadows , by Gloria Whelan

In 1907, sixteen-year-old Julia Hamilton, happy to accompany her diplomat father on a tour of the Ottoman-controlled cities of Istanbul, Damascus, Palmyra, and Aleppo, soon finds the journey increasingly hazardous as she begins to uncover her father's true mission and the secret motivations of the other travelers in their group.

7th and 8th Grade Recommendations

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian , by Sherman Alexie

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Native American is the school mascot.

Wyvernhail, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

In order to protect the people and the world she loves from the future she sees in increasingly horrific visions, Hai is forced to throw away her own happiness and ascend the serpiente throne.

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period,by Gennifer Choldenko

Kirsten and Walk, seventh-graders at an elite private school, describe how race, wealth, weight, and other issues shape their relationships as they and other misfits stand up to a mean but influential classmate.

Brother I'm Dying, by Edwidge Danticat

Edwidge Danticat describes the relationship between her father, Mira, and his older brother, Joseph, discussing how their relationship changed from their childhood in Haiti through their immigration to America to their eventual separation.

Whale Port : a History of Tuckanucket , by Mark Foster

Detailed illustrations and narratives describe the history of the fictional town of Tuckanucket and the importance that whales played in the development of towns along the eastern seaboard.

Red Glass , by Laura Resau

Sixteen-year-old Sophie has been frail and delicate since her premature birth, but discovers her true strength during a journey through Mexico, where the six-year-old orphan her family hopes to adopt was born, and to Guatemala, where her would-be boyfriend hopes to find his mother and plans to remain.

Love, Stargirl , by Jerry Spinelli

Still moping months after being dumped by her Arizona boyfriend Leo, fifteen-year-old Stargirl, a home-schooled free spirit, writes "the world's longest letter" to Leo, describing her new life in Pennsylvania.