Kindergarten
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley
age 3-6
Derrick Barnes wrote the critically acclaimed picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Honor, and the 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Award. He also wrote the bestselling chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys. He owns the copy-writing company Say Word Creative Communications and created the popular blog Raising the Mighty, where he "chronicles the experience of bringing up four beautiful Black boys in America." He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and their four sons. Vanessa Brantley-Newton has illustrated numerous picture books, including The Girl Who Heard Colors (by Marie Harris), Mary Had a Little Glam (by Tammi Sauer), One Love (by Cedella Marley), A Night Out with Mama (by Quvenzhané Wallis), and The Youngest Marcher (by Cynthia Levinson), as well as the chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys (by Derrick Barnes) and Jada Jones (by Kelly Starling Lyons). She wrote and illustrated Let Freedom Sing and Grandma's Purse. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibthaj Muhammad
age 4-7
With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong. Paired with Hatem Aly's beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali bring readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.
Ada Twist and The Perilous Pants by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
age 5-8
An instant New York Times bestseller!
You loved the bestselling picture books starring Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck. Now you can follow The Questioneers' further adventures in all-new chapter books! Don't miss the first instant New York Times bestselling volume, Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters.
In Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants, Ada must rely on her curious mind, her brave spirit, and her best pals Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck to solve a mystery in her own backyard.
Ada Twist is full of questions. A scientist to her very core, Ada asks why again and again. One question always leads to another until she's off on a journey of discovery! When Rosie Revere's Uncle Ned gets a little carried away wearing his famous helium pants, it's up to Ada and friends to chase him down. As Uncle Ned floats farther and farther away, Ada starts asking lots of questions: How high can a balloon float? Is it possible for Uncle Ned to float into outer space? And what's the best plan for getting him down?
Collect them all! Add these other STEM favorites from #1 New York Times bestselling team Andrea Beaty and David Roberts to your family library today!
1st Grade
The Day You Begin
by Jacqueline Woodson
9780399246531
National Book Award winner Woodson--the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature--and two-time Pura BelprZ Illustrator Award winner L--pez have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even while feeling scared and alone. Full color
Hardcover. 32 pages.
The Dreamer by Pam Ryan Munoz
AGE 9-12
Pura Belpré Award Winner
A tender, transcendent, and meticulously crafted novel from Newbery Honoree, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and three-time Caldecott Honoree, Peter Sís!
From the time he is a young boy, Neftalí hears the call of a mysterious voice. Even when the neighborhood children taunt him, and when his harsh, authoritarian father ridicules him, and when he doubts himself, Neftalí knows he cannot ignore the call. He listens and follows as it leads him under the canopy of the lush rain forest, into the fearsome sea, and through the persistent Chilean rain on an inspiring voyage of self-discovery that will transform his life and, ultimately, the world.
Combining elements of magical realism with biography, poetry, literary fiction, and transporting illustrations, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Peter Sís take readers on a rare journey of the heart and imagination as they explore the inspiring early life of the poet who became Pablo Neruda.
Big Red Lollipop by Ruhkasana Khan
hardcover
age 4-8
Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother insists that she take her little sister along. Not only does Sana demand to win every game, but after the party she steals Rubina's prized party favor, a red lollipop. What's a fed-up big sister to do? Full color.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A PROBLEM KOBI YAMADA
"What do you do with a problem? Especially one that follows you around and doesn't seem to be going away? Do you worry about it? Ignore it? Do you run and hide from it? This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn't so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than it appeared. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who has ever had a problem that they wished would go away. It's a story to inspire you to look closely at that problem and to find out why it's here. Because you might discover something amazing about your problem and yourself. What are problems for? They challenge us, shape us, push us, and help us to discover just how strong and brave and capable we really are. Even though we don't always want them, problems have a way of bringing unexpected gifts. So, what will you do with your problem?"--Provided by publisher.
2nd Grade
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
hardcover
Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal
A 2020 Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator AwardThe Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.
Review Citations:
- Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2019 pg. 110 (EAN 9781328780966, Hardcover) - *Starred Review
- Booklist 02/15/2019 pg. 42 (EAN 9781328780966, Hardcover) - *Starred Review
- Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2019 pg. 93 (EAN 9781328780966, Hardcover) - *Starred Review
- School Library Journal 04/01/2019 pg. 100 (EAN 9781328780966, Hardcover) - *Starred Review
- Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2019 (EAN 9781328780966, Hardcover)
- Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2019 pg. 93 (EAN 9780358057611, Other)
Contributor Bio:
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times Bestselling author of more than 35 books, including Rebound, the follow-up to his, Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover. Some of his other works include Booked, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, The Playbook: 52 Rules to Help You Aim, Shoot, and Score in this Game of Life, Swing, and the picture books, Out of Wonder and The Undefeated, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, and won the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.
A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, The NCTE/Charlotte Huck Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. He believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world through The Write Thing, his K-12 Writing Workshop. Kwame is the founder of Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
www.kwamealexander.com
Twitter: @kwamealexander
Instagram: @kwamealexander
Contributor Bi
Kadir Nelson is a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. Among his other awards are an NAACP Image Award, and the 2009 and 2014 Coretta Scott King Author Award. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The New Yorker. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.www.kadirnelson.com
Twitter: @kadirnelson
Instagram: @kadirnelson
My Life as an Icecream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi
PAPERBACK
Biographical Note:
Ibi Zoboi is a New York Times-bestselling author of books for children and young adults. Her debut novel, American Street, was a finalist for the National Book Award. She holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Born in Haiti and raised in New York City, she now lives with her family in New Jersey.
Review Quotes:
A New York Times Bestseller"[Ebony-Grace's] boundless faith in her dreams also brings to mind another high-flying science enthusiast who once advised, 'Never be limited by other people's imaginations.' That speaker was Mae C. Jemison, an engineer, medical doctor, astronaut, and the first African American woman to go into space."-- New York Times Book Review"Filled with rich imaginative scenes and comics-style illustrations, this book will truly transport its readers to another world."- -Booklist"Highlights the importance of imagination and learning to celebrate what it means to be different in a world that demands conformity."- -Horn Book"Zoboi excels at resurrecting 1980s Harlem in her middle grade debut, expertly sprinkling in nostalgia-fueled references to break dancing, rap battles, and the rise of female MCs."-- Publishers Weekly
Publisher Marketing:
National Book Award-finalist Ibi Zoboi makes her middle-grade debut with a moving story of a girl finding her place in a world that's changing at warp speed. Twelve-year-old Ebony-Grace Norfleet has lived with her beloved grandfather Jeremiah in Huntsville, Alabama ever since she was little. As one of the first black engineers to integrate NASA, Jeremiah has nurtured Ebony-Grace's love for all things outer space and science fiction--especially Star Wars and Star Trek. But in the summer of 1984, when trouble arises with Jeremiah, it's decided she'll spend a few weeks with her father in Harlem. Harlem is an exciting and terrifying place for a sheltered girl from Hunstville, and Ebony-Grace's first instinct is to retreat into her imagination. But soon 126th Street begins to reveal that it has more in common with her beloved sci-fi adventures than she ever thought possible, and by summer's end, Ebony-Grace discovers that Harlem has a place for a girl whose eyes are always on the stars.
Genisis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
Publisher Marketing:
A Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the Corretta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award
A Morris Award Finalist
An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself. There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant--even her own family. And #61: Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out on the sidewalk for the world to see. When your dad is a gambling addict and loses the rent money every month, eviction is a regular occurrence. What's not so regular is that this time they all don't have a place to crash, so Genesis and her mom have to stay with her grandma. It's not that Genesis doesn't like her grandma, but she and Mom always fight--Grandma haranguing Mom to leave Dad, that she should have gone back to school, that if she'd married a lighter skinned man none of this would be happening, and on and on and on. But things aren't all bad. Genesis actually likes her new school; she's made a couple friends, her choir teacher says she has real talent, and she even encourages Genesis to join the talent show. But how can Genesis believe anything her teacher says when her dad tells her the exact opposite? How can she stand up in front of all those people with her dark, dark skin knowing even her own family thinks lesser of her because of it? Why, why, why won't the lemon or yogurt or fancy creams lighten her skin like they're supposed to? And when Genesis reaches #100 on the list of things she hates about herself, will she continue on, or can she find the strength to begin again?
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
9781572842243
Derrick Barnes's smooth, fresh words and Gordon C. James's lush, vibrant illustrations capture the confidence, pride, and magic black and brown boys feel the moment they get a new haircut and admire their own beautiful reflections in the mirror.
Hardcover. 32 pages.
Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-up by Melissa Thomson
Keena and her second-grade class go on a field trip to the United States Capitol where they meet a congressman and Keena makes a big impression, which she documents in her new journal.
Biographical Note:
Melissa Thomson is an elementary school teacher in New York City where she lives with her husband, Pete, and their three plants. Melissa began her teaching career at Emery Elementary School in Washington, DC. Her students at Emery inspired her to write about Keena Ford.
Marc Notes:
Copyright date 2009.;Keena and her second-grade class go on a field trip to the United States Capitol where they meet a congressman and Keena makes a big impression, which she documents in her new journal.
Review Quotes:
Another sassy, impulsive chapter-book heroine "a la" Clementine or Moxy Maxwell. "Kirkus Reviews"
Review Quotes:
?Another sassy, impulsive chapter-book heroine "a la" Clementine or Moxy Maxwell.? ?"Kirkus Reviews"
Review Quotes:
"Another sassy, impulsive chapter-book heroine "a la" Clementine or Moxy Maxwell." - "Kirkus Reviews"
Publisher Marketing:
Keena Ford is so excited to go on a field trip to the United States Capitol with her second-grade class! At school, she is running for a spot on the student council, and on the field trip she's going to meet a real live U.S. representative. The only trouble is, mean Tiffany Harris keeps teasing Keena and taking the best place in line. Keena doesn't mean to get into trouble, but trouble seems to find her anyway!
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
AGE 6-9
Told from a child's point of view, this moving historical picture book focuses on a monumental moment in the civil rights movement: the Children's Crusade of 1963. Thousands of African American children and teens marched through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama to end segregation and to inspire change and hope for the future. Written by debut author Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honor-winning artist Frank Morrison.
Brief Description:
Under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, children and teenagers march against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.
Review Quotes:
Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration2019
Kirkus' Best Picture Books of 2018
Chicago Public Library's Best of 2018
The Children's Book Review Best of nonfiction 2018★ "A powerful retrospective glimpse at a key event." --Kirkus, starred review★ "Much of the text will provoke questions and important conversations between children and adult readers. The experiences of segregation are sensitively depicted...A highly readable historical account which deserves a place on picture book and nonfiction shelves alike.- School Library Journal, starred review"This remarkable story remains relevant today as young readers think about their roles in the ongoing struggle for justice. Teachers who use this book might scaffold it with additional resources that teach about the intensive planning and organization that went into this and other activist campaigns." -- Booklist"The art throughout is a vibrant representation of the determination and courage of the civil rights movement. A nuanced account that could inspire the youngest readers to make a big difference." -- Horn Book"Clark-Robinson's stirring debut unfolds through the resolute voice of a (fictional) African-American girl participating in the 1963 Children's Crusade...The narrator's conclusion, "Our march made the difference," serves as a powerful reminder for today's readers about their own ability to fight for justice and equality." -- Publisher's Weekly"The text is taut and clear, making its greatest impact through its simple, even understated, specifics."-- BCCB"The book's message is clear and bracing: King understood that it's children who will lead the way, and the man's faith in the future is reassuring even now." -- The New York Times Book Review
Biographical Note:
Monica Clark-Robinson is a writer, part-time professor, and professional actor who has been writing for over fifteen years. This is her picture book debut.
Frank Morrison is the illustrator of more than twenty books, including a John Steptoe Award winner, Jazzy Miz Mozetta, and a Coretta Scott King Honor book, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone.
Publisher Marketing:
Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration2019I couldn't play on the same playground as the white kids.
I couldn't go to their schools.
I couldn't drink from their water fountains.
There were so many things I couldn't do.
In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison's emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson's moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.
What Can a Citizen Do by Dave Eggers
HARDCOPY
Empowering and timeless, this latest collaboration from the acclaimed duo behind the bestselling "Her Right Foot" depicts what it means to be a citizen. Across the course of several seemingly unrelated but ultimately connected actions by different children, readers watch how kids turn a lonely island into a community. Full color.
3rd-4th Grade
Who Was Bob Marley?
by Katie Ellison
9780448489193
Bob Marley was a reggae superstar who is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of all time. Born in rural Jamaica, this musician and songwriter began his career with his band, The Wailing Wailers, in 1963. The Wailers went on to spread the gospel of reggae music around the globe. Bob’s distinctive style and dedication to his Rastafari beliefs became a rallying cry for the poor and disenfranchised the world over and led to a hugely successful solo career. After his death in 1981, Bob Marley became a symbol of Jamaican culture and identity. His greatest-hits album, Legend, remains the best-selling reggae album of all time. Who Was Bob Marley? tells the story of how a man with humble roots became an international icon.
Paperback. 112 pages.
Who Was Muhammad Ali by James Buckley Jr.
by James Buckley Jr.
Paperback. 112 Pages.
Target age 8 - 12
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. won the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22, the same year he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He would go on to become known as The Greatest and one of the world's most famous cultural icons. Illustrations.
Who Was Frederick Douglass by A pril Jones Prince
Who Was Frederick Douglass by April Jones Prince
Presents the life of the man who escaped slavery in Maryland to become a speaker and writer for abolition and the rights of African Americans and women, focusing on his childhood and youth during enslavement.
112 Pages.
Who Was George Washington Carver by Jim Gigliotti
George Washington Carver was:
- A young boy from Missouri who was born during the enslavement period in America.
- A famous scientist who studied plants
- An inventor who developed hundreds of household products and recipes using peanuts
Born in 1860s Missouri, nobody expected George Washington Carver to succeed. Enslaved people were not allowed to be educated. After the Civil War, Carver enrolled in classes and proved to be a star student. He became the first black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and later its first black professor. He went on to the Tuskegee Institute where he specialized in botany (the study of plants) and developed techniques to grow crops better. His work with vegetables, especially peanuts, made him famous and changed agriculture forever. He went on to develop nearly 100 household products and over 100 recipes using peanuts.
Paperback. 112 pages. Target age 8 to 12.
Who Was Rosa Parks?
by Yona Zeldis McDonough
9780448454429
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Illustrations.
Paperback. 106 Pages.
Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? by Sherri Smith
Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? (Who Was?)
Contributor(s): Sherri L Smith (Author), Who Hq (Author), Jake Murray (Illustrator)
Target Age Group: 08 to 11
Physical Info: 0.3" H x 7.4" L x 5.3" W (0.25 lbs) 112 pages Paperback
During World War II, Black Americans were fighting for their country and for freedom in Europe, yet they had to endure a totally segregated military in the United States. This is the story of the heroic group of African-American pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Who Are Venus and Serena Williams?
by James Buckley Jr.
9780515158038
Paperback. 112 Pages. Target age 8 - 12.
Young girls who learned to play tennis at an early age
Champions who have both won Grand Slams and Olympic gold medals
Sisters who have transformed the world professional women’s tennis with their power, strength, and style
The dynamic story of the Williams sisters, both top-ranked professional tennis players.
Venus and Serena Williams are two of the most successful professional American tennis players of all time. Coached at an early age by their parents, the sisters have both gone on to become Grand Slam title winners. They have both achieved the World Number One ranking in both singles and doubles! Although completely professional and fiercely competitive, the sisters remain close. Who Are Venus and Serena Williams? follows the pair from their early days of training up through the ranks and to the Summer Olympic Games, where they have each won four gold medals—more than any other tennis players.
This title in the New York Times best-selling series has eighty illustrations that help bring the exciting story of tennis champs Venus and Serena Williams to life.
Who is Pelé by Who Hq and James Buckley
9780399542619, pb
The story of a poor boy from Brazil who became the greatest soccer player of all time and one of the most important athletes of the twentieth century!His parents may have named him Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but to the rest of the world, he is known as Pelé. The now-retired professional soccer forward stunned Brazil when he began playing for the Santos soccer club at age fifteen. He then went on to captivate the world when he joined his country's national soccer team and helped them win three World Cup championships. Although he's hailed as a national hero for his accomplishments in soccer, Pelé has been an influential person both on and off the pitch. His work with organizations like UNICEF has helped improve conditions for children around the world. Young readers can learn more about the man who connected soccer with the phrase "The Beautiful Game."
Who Was Marie Curie ? by Megan Stine
Brief Description:
"Born in Warsaw, Poland on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903. (Marie later won another Nobel for chemistry in 1911.) She died in Savoy, France, on July 4, 1934, a victim of many years of exposure to toxic radiation."--
Biographical Note:
Megan Stine has written several biographies for young readers, including Who Is Michelle Obama? and Who Was Sally Ride? She lives in Clinton, Connecticut.
Marc Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (page 106).;Born in Warsaw, Poland on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903. (Marie later won another Nobel for chemistry in 1911.) She died in Savoy, France, on July 4, 1934, a victim of many years of exposure to toxic radiation.--;Provided by publisher.;Ages 8-12.
Publisher Marketing:
Born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903. (Later Marie won another Nobel award for chemistry in 1911.) She died in Savoy, France, on July 4, 1934, a victim of many years of exposure to toxic radiation.
Who Is Malala Yousafzai by Dinah Brown
Introduces Malala Yousafzai, a girl who loved to learn but was told that girls would no longer be allowed to go to school. She wrote a blog that called attention to what was happening in her beautiful corner of Pakistan and realized that words can bring about change. She has continued to speak out for the right of all children to have an education, and in 2014 won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Pearl Harbor - American Girl - Real Stories from my Time - Vol 4 by Jennifer Swanson
Brief Description:
Explore real stories and facts about the attacks on Pearl Harbor with American Girl Be Forever character Nanea!
Brief Description:
Recounts life in Hawaii before, during, and after the attack on Pear Harbor in World War II.
Biographical Note:
Jennifer Swanson is the author of over 14 nonfiction books for children. She specializes in writing about science and technology. Her children's book, Body Bugs: Invisible Creatures Lurking Inside You, was a 2012 Book of Note with the Pennsylvania Librarian Association. Jennifer has an MS Ed in K-8 science and is a middle school science instructor.
Publisher Marketing:
Discover the stories of the real people and events that shaped American history in the Real Stories From My Time series. Perfect for book reports with full-page illustrations throughout, these nonfiction chapter books also include historical photos, maps, a timeline, a glossary, and a bibliography at the back. Plus, in each book, an American Girl historical character shares a bit of her own fictional story.
Pearl Harbor features real stories of that fateful Sunday morning in 1941 when Japanese planes executed a surprise attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. American Girl Nanea Mitchell shares her own experiences adjusting to the drastic changes to everyday life in Hawaii following the attack.
The Friendship Code 1, Girls Who Code by Stacia Deutsch
A New York Times bestseller! Perfect for fans of The Babysitters Club and anyone interested in computer science, this series is published in partnership with the organization Girls Who Code. Loops, variables, input/output - Lucy can't wait to get started with the new coding club at school. Finally, an after school activity that she's really interested in. But Lucy's excitement turns to disappointment when she's put into a work group with girls she barely knows. All she wanted to do was make an app that she believes will help someone very special to her. Suddenly, Lucy begins to get cryptic coding messages and needs some help translating them. She soon discovers that coding - and friendship - takes time, dedication, and some laughs!
5th Grade
A Wrinkle in Time ( Wrinkle in Time Quintet #1 )
by Madeleine L'Engle
The winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, L'Engle's beloved novel heads to the big screen in March 2018 with an adaptation from Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Ava DuVernay (who provides a new Introduction) and starring Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, and Reese Witherspoon. 5 1/2 x 7 5/8.
Paperback. 256 Pages.
Target age 10 - 14
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.
Biographical Note:
Jacqueline Woodson (www.jacquelinewoodson.com) is the recipient of the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and the 2018 Children's Literature Legacy Award. She was the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and in 2015, she was named the Young People's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. She received the 2014 National Book Award for her New York Times bestselling memoir Brown Girl Dreaming, which was also a recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award, a Newbery Honor, the NAACP Image Award, and a Sibert Honor. She wrote the adult books Red at the Bone, a New York Times bestseller, and Another Brooklyn, a 2016 National Book Award finalist. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Jacqueline grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from college with a B.A. in English. She is the author of dozens of award-winning books for young adults, middle graders, and children; among her many accolades, she is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a four-time National Book Award finalist, and a two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner. Her books include New York Times bestsellers The Day You Begin and Harbor Me; The Other Side, Each Kindness, Caldecott Honor book Coming On Home Soon; Newbery Honor winners Feathers, Show Way, and After Tupac and D Foster; and Miracle's Boys, which received the LA Times Book Prize and the Coretta Scott King Award. Jacqueline is also a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement for her contributions to young adult literature and a two-time winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.
Review Quotes:
* "The writer's passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child. Woodson's ability to listen and glean meaning from what she hears lead to an astute understanding of her surroundings, friends, and family." -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
* "Mesmerizing journey through [Woodson's] early years. . . . Her perspective on the volatile era in which she grew up is thoughtfully expressed in powerfully effective verse. . . . With exquisite metaphorical verse Woodson weaves a patchwork of her life experience . . . that covers readers with a warmth and sensitivity no child should miss. This should be on every library shelf." -- School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
* "Woodson cherishes her memories and shares them with a graceful lyricism; her lovingly wrought vignettes of country and city streets will linger long after the page is turned. For every dreaming girl (and boy) with a pencil in hand (or keyboard) and a story to share." -- Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
* "[Woodson's] memoir in verse is a marvel, as it turns deeply felt remembrances of Woodson's preadolescent life into art. . . . Her mother cautions her not to write about her family but, happily, many years later, she has and the result is both elegant and eloquent, a haunting book about memory that is itself altogether memorable. -- Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
* "A memoir-in-verse so immediate that readers will feel they are experiencing the author's childhood right along with her. . . . Most notably of all, perhaps, we trace her development as a nascent writer, from her early, overarching love of stories through her struggles to learn to read through the thrill of her first blank composition book to her realization that 'words are [her] brilliance.' The poetry here sings: specific, lyrical, and full of imagery. An extraordinary--indeed brilliant--portrait of a writer as a young girl." -- The Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW
* "The effect of this confiding and rhythmic memoir is cumulative, as casual references blossom into motifs and characters evolve from quick references to main players. . . . Revealing slices of life, redolent in sight, sound, and emotion. . . . Woodson subtly layers her focus, with history and geography the background, family the middle distance, and her younger self the foreground. . . . Eager readers and budding writers will particularly see themselves in the young protagonist and recognize her reveling in the luxury of the library and unfettered delight in words. . . . A story of the ongoing weaving of a family tapestry, the following of an individual thread through a gorgeous larger fabric, with the tacit implication that we're all traversing such rich landscapes. It will make young readers consider where their own threads are taking them." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED REVIEW
* "Woodson uses clear, evocative language. . . . A beautifully crafted work." -- Library Media Connection, STARRED REVIEW
Publisher Marketing:
Jacqueline Woodson's National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner, now available in paperback with 7 all-new poems.
Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
A President Obama "O" Book Club pick
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child's soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson's eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.
White Fang by Jack London
Jack London--his real name was John Griffith London--had a wild and colorful youth on the waterfront of Oakland, his native city. Born in 1876, he left school at the age of fourteen and worked in a cannery. By the time he was sixteen he had been both an oyster pirate and a member of the Fish Patrol in San Francisco Bay. He later wrote about these experiences in The Cruise of the Dazzler (1902) and Tales of the Fish Patrol (1905). In 1893 he joined a sealing cruise that took him as far as Japan. Returning to the United States, he traveled throughout the country. He was determined to become a writer and read voraciously. After a brief period of study at the University of California at Berkeley he joined the gold rush to the Klondike in 1897. He returned to San Francisco the following year. His short stories of the Yukon were published in Overland Monthly (1898) and the Atlantic Monthly (1899), and in 1900 his first collection, The Son of the Wolf, appeared, bringing him national fame. In 1902 he went to London, where he studied the slum conditions of the East End. He wrote about this experience in The People of the Abyss (1903). His life was exciting and eventful. There were sailing voyages to the South Seas and around Cape Horn. He reported on the Russo-Japanese War for the Hearst papers and gave lecture tours. A prolific writer, he published an enormous number of stories and novels. Besides two revealing memoirs, The Road (1907) and John Barleycorn (1913), he authored several collections of short stories, including Love of Life (1907), Lost Face (1910), and On the Makaloa Mat (1919). He also wrote many novels, including The Call of the Wild (1903), The Sea-Wolf (1904), White Fang (1906), Before Adam (1907), The Iron Heel (1908), Martin Eden (1909), and The Star Rover (1915). Jack London died in 1916, at his famous Beauty Ranch in California. Earle Labor is the acknowledged major authority on the novelist Jack London and the curator of the Jack London Museum and Research Center in Shreveport. He is also Emeritus Professor of American Literature at Centenary College of Louisiana.Kenneth K. Brandt is Professor of Liberal Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He is the editor of The Call: The Magazine of the Jack London Society and is the executive coordinator of the Jack London Society (jacklondonsociety.org). He is the author of Jack London: Writers and Their Work (Liverpool University Press) and the co-editor, with Jeanne Campbell Reesman, of Approaches to Teaching the Works of Jack London (Modern Language Association).
Publisher Marketing:
A bold mix of realism, allegory, adventure, and progressive politics, this collection features Jack London's most profound and moving literary worksThe Call of the Wild, London's elemental masterpiece about a dog learning to survive in the wilderness, sees pampered pet Buck snatched from his home and set to work as a sled-dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. White Fang, set in the frozen tundra and boreal forests of Canada's Yukon territory, is the story of a wolf-dog hybrid struggling to survive in a human society every bit as brutal as the natural world. This volume of London's famed Northland novels also includes an early feminist story "The Night-Born," and a pro-labor story "South of the Slot." These works echo and enrich the themes of The Call of the Wild and White Fang with their unique emphases on the primordial, the instinctual, and the quest for social justice. London's narratives in this volume focus on issues of continuing relevance to contemporary readers, including the value of the wilderness, animal rights, socioeconomic oppression, and gender inequity. This edition also includes an introduction by preeminent London scholar, Earle Labor, as well as a comprehensive biographical note on London's life and works by scholar and executive coordinator of the Jack London Society, Kenneth K. Brandt.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.
Biographical Note:
Jack London (1876-1916) was born John Chaney in Pennsylvania, USA and despite a lack of education in his childhood, and a variety of odd jobs, he always maintained his love of books. In 1896 he was caught up in the gold rush to the Klondike river in north-west Canada which became the inspiration for his story, The Call of the Wild, published in 1903, and followed by White Fang in 1906. Jack London became one of the most widely read writers in the world.
Marc Notes:
This work tells the tale of a dog's fight for survival in the harsh and frozen Yukon. Born into luxury but sold as a sledge dog, he rises above all his enemies to become one of the most feared and admired dogs in the north.
Publisher Marketing:
Life is good for Buck in Santa Clara Valley, where he spends his days eating and sleeping in the golden sunshine. But one day a treacherous act of betrayal leads to his kidnap, and he is forced into a life of toil and danger. Dragged away to be a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing cold Yukon, Buck must fight for his survival. Can he rise above his enemies and become the master of his realm once again? With an inspirational introduction by award-winning author Melvyn Burgess, The Call of the Wild is one of the twenty wonderful classic stories being reissued in Puffin Classics in March 2015.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Brief Description:
The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm.
Brief Description:
It doesn't matter to Jess that Leslie dresses funny, or that her family has a lot of money but no TV. Lesile has imagination. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Will Jess be able to put into action the strength and courage Leslie has given him?
Brief Description:
Original publication and copyright date: 1987.
Marc Notes:
Original publication and copyright date: 1987.;The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm.;Ages 10 up--P. [4] of cover.;John Newbery Medal, 1978.
Jacket Description/Back:
A secret world of their own
Jess Aaron's greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new kid, a new girl, boldly crosses over to the boy's side of the playground and outruns everyone.
That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. It doesn't matter to Jess that leslie dresses funny, or that her family has a lot of money -- but no TV. Leslie has imagination. Together, she and Jess create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him.
Review Quotes:
"Set in contemporary rural America, the story is one of remarkable richness and depth, beautifully written."--The Horn Book
Review Quotes:
"Eloquent and assured."--Kirkus Reviews
Review Quotes:
15 Banned Books Every Tween and Teen Should Read--Brightly
Brief Description:
Originally published by Crowell in 1977.
Brief Description:
This edition includes: a foreword by Kate DiCamillo, an author's note, and Katherine Paterson's Newbery Medal acceptance speech.
Brief Description:
"This Newbery Medal-winning novel by bestselling-author Katherine Paterson has been a modern classic about friendship and loss for forty years. Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. it will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief."--Page 4 of cover.
Publisher Marketing:
The 40th anniversary edition of the classic Newbery Medal-winning title by beloved author Katherine Paterson, with brand-new bonus materials including an author's note by Katherine herself and a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Kate DiCamillo. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.
Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief.
Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You
In this accessible "keep-it-real" guide, Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making the world a better place, and how they can make their dreams come true.
Solo by Kwame Alexander
AGE 14-17
From award-winning and bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes Solo, the story of seventeen-year-old Blade Morrison, who is being crushed between the scathing tabloids exposing his former rock-star-father's addictions and a protected secret that threatens his own identity. The answers to his past and future change everything he thought to be true.
Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers
Jimmy hasn't seen his father in nine years. But one day he comes back -- on the run from the law. Together, the two of them travel across the country -- where Jimmy's dad will find the man who can exonerate him of the crime for which he was convicted. Along the way, Jimmy discovers a lot about his father and himself -- and that while things can't always be fixed, sometimes they can be understood and forgiven.
6th - 7th
Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London by Andrea Warren
Award-winning author Andrea Warren takes readers on a journey into the workhouses, slums, factories, and schools of Victorian England, and into the world of a beloved writer who used his pen to do battle on behalf of the poor, becoming one of the greatest reformers of his or any age.
The Firefly Letters: a Suffragette's Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle
In this stunning new work in verse, a Newbery Honor winner paints a portrait of early women's rights pioneer Fredrika Bremer and the journey to Cuba that transformed her life.
The Greatest : Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers
Age 8-12
This inspiring biography of Muhammad Ali--Olympic gold medalist, former heavyweight champion, and one of the most influential people of all time--from legendary two-time Newbery Honoree Myers is reissued under for a new generation.
Chains - reprint - Seeds of America Trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson
AGES 10-14
A National Book Award finalist. At the start of the Revolutionary War, Isabelis sold to a cruel loyalist family, even though she has been promised freedom by her former owner. Soon faced with the choice of working for or against the British, Isabel chooses to work with anyone who can help her. 5 1/8 x7 5/8.
Fallout by Todd Strasser
AGE 10-14
Tweens and teens will enjoy reading the fast-paced novel about Scott and his pranks, as well as understand the reason bomb shelters were built in the 1960s.
--Library Media Connection[A] gripping and superbly constructed novel for sophisticated young readers... There's not a word out of place in this evocative book... Mr. Strasser's skill at ratcheting up the tension is, if anything, exceeded by his ability to conjure midcentury ways of thinking...
--The Wall Street JournalImmerse yourself in our country's past - 1962 to be exact. Become quietly enthralled in Fallout by Todd Strasser with what could've been - had the bombed been dropped.
--Buffalo Grove Countryside
Publisher Marketing:
"Combines terrific suspense with thoughtful depth. . . . Riveting." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)In the summer of 1962, the possibility of nuclear war is all anyone talks about. But Scott's dad is the only one in the neighborhood who actually builds a bomb shelter. When the unthinkable happens, neighbors force their way into the shelter before Scott's dad can shut the door. With not enough room, not enough food, and not enough air, life inside the shelter is filthy, physically draining, and emotionally fraught. But even worse is the question of what will -- and won't -- remain when the door is opened again.
It Aint So Awful, Falafel
AGE 10-14
"Firoozeh Dumas's unique gift is her ability to use her wry, bold, but always gentle wit to tell serious stories about family, heritage, and loss. . . . In this era of suspicion and paranoia, [this book] offers a tender and compassionate glimpse into the immigrant experience." --Khaled Hosseini, bestselling author of The Kite Runner"This book is a sheer delight--rambunctious and rich. . . . Firoozeh Dumas writes with the perfect light touch that makes us wonder once again: Who is running the big world and why not this person, please?" --Naomi Shihab Nye, novelist and poet"[A]n honest, witty, and moving portrayal of what it means to be an Iranian immigrant in the late 1970s, during the Iran hostage crisis." --Scholastic Teacher Magazine
Publisher Marketing:
Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block . . . for the fourth time. California's Newport Beach is her family's latest perch, and she's determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name--Cindy. It's the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even puka shell necklaces, pool parties, and flying fish can't distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. A poignant yet lighthearted middle grade debut from the author of the best-selling Funny in Farsi.California Library Association's John and Patricia Beatty Award Winner
Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award (Grades 6-8)
New York Historical Society's New Americans Book Prize Winner
Middle East Book Award for Youth Literature, Honorable Mention
Booklist 50 Best Middle Grade Novels of the 21stCentury
You Can Fly : The Tuskegee Airmen by Carole Boston Weatherford, paperback
age 9-12
Review Quotes:
* "Weatherford's skill with language provides clear voices for the trainees, and cultural specifics provide additional texture and deepen understanding of the young men. A masterful, inspiring evocation of an era."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review Quotes:
"The narrative voice draws readers into the action, addressing them directly and inviting them to imagine themselves into this ground-breaking role . . . this title is particularly well adapted to classroom use, where language arts and history students can share common air space."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review "BCCB"
Review Quotes:
This book sheds light on the Tuskegee Airmen through stories filled with authentic voices and hard truths. For those who already know of the Airmen's accomplishments, the book offers a more personal connection to the men and their ideas and feelings through poems . . . which demonstrate that despite their proven skill and heroism, the aviators were still denied acceptance and respect.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review "School Library Journal"
Review Quotes:
"Weatherford's informative, evocative poems follow the Airmen from the early vision . . . to the flyers' experiences at home and abroad, with poems about Joe Louis and Lena Horne reminding us that the Airmen were also fighting another war in this country--against prejudice."--Horn Book - July/August 2016 "School Library Journal"
Review Quotes:
"This volume offers a vivid, personal point of view. A welcome addition to traditional books on the Tuskegee Airmen."--Booklist - April 1, 2015 "School Library Journal"
Publisher Marketing:
In this "masterful, inspiring evocation of an era" ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review), award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford "wields the power of poetry to tell [the] gripping historical story" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review) of the Tuskegee Airmen: pioneering African-American pilots who triumphed in the skies and past the color barrier during World War II.I WANT YOU! says the poster of Uncle Sam. But if you're a young black man in 1940, he doesn't want you in the cockpit of a war plane. Yet you are determined not to let that stop your dream of flying.So when you hear of a civilian pilot training program at Tuskegee Institute, you leap at the chance. Soon you are learning engineering and mechanics, how to communicate in code, how to read a map. At last the day you've longed for is here: you are flying!From training days in Alabama to combat on the front lines in Europe, this is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the groundbreaking African-American pilots of World War II. In vibrant second-person poems, Carole Boston Weatherford teams up for the first time with her son, artist Jeffery Weatherford, in a powerful and inspiring book that allows readers to fly, too.
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm
AGE 9-11
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2014:
"Holm's writing is crisp, accessible, and well paced, and her enthusiasm for science and its impact emerges clearly and consistently but not overbearingly, with clear, appreciative nods to the world of theater and its purpose in our lives. Indeed, this novel explores weighty elements of human existence with a light touch, allowing readers to engage with the issues at multiple levels; an excellent appendix of recommended readings encourages exploration and dialogue. This novel would make an ideal classroom read aloud, particularly to expose students to the rich and rewarding STEM fields."
Publisher Marketing:
Believe in the possible . . . with this New York Times bestseller by three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm. A perfect read about a child's relationship with her grandfather!
Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer. Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He's bossy. He's cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie's grandfather, a scientist who's always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this gawky teenager really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?With a lighthearted touch and plenty of humor, Jennifer Holm celebrates the wonder of science and explores fascinating questions about life and death, family and friendship, immortality . . . and possibility. Look for EXCLUSIVE NEW MATERIAL in the paperback--including Ellie's gallery of scientists and other STEM-appropriate features.And don't miss the much-anticipated sequel, The Third Mushroom!"Warm, witty, and wise." -- The New York Times* "Written in a clean, crisp style, with lively dialogue and wit, this highly accessible novel will find a ready audience." -- Booklist, Starred* "Top-notch middle-grade fiction." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred* "Ellie's memorable journey into the world of science will inspire readers to explore the world around them and celebrate the possible." -- Shelf Awareness, Starred"Awesomely strange and startlingly true-to-life. It makes you wonder what's possible." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me
25 STATE AWARD LISTS including the Sunshine State!
The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien
age 12-17
Brief Description:
Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return.
Brief Description:
In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved novels. Features cover art by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Marc Notes:
Includes excerpt from The fellowship of the ring.;Includes bibliographical references.;Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return. .
Review Quotes:
One of the most freshly original and delightfully imaginative books for children that have appeared in many a long day... The Hobbit is a glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irrestible... All those, young or old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts The New York Times Book Review
Brief Description:
Celebrated Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee, a conceptual designer for the blockbuster films based on "The Lord of the Rings, " contributes 50 beautiful full-page, full-color paintings to this elegant three-volume edition.
Publisher Marketing:
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001). Unforgettable!
The Samurais Tale by Erik Haugaard
AGE 10-12
When the powerful Lord Takeda's soldiers sweep across the countryside, killing and plundering, they spare the boy Taro's life and take him along with them. Taro becomes a servant in the household of the noble Lord Akiyama, where he meets Togan, a cook, who teaches Taro and makes his new life bearable. But when Togan is murdered, Taro's life takes a new direction: He will become a samurai, and redeem the family legacy that has been stolen from him.
Claudette Colvin - Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
AGE 13-17
Review Quotes:
"Hoose's book, based in part on interviews with Colvin and people who knew her--finally gives her the credit she deserves." --The New York Times Book Review
"History might have forgotten Claudette Colvin, or relegated her to footnote status, had writer Phillip Hoose not stumbled upon her name in the course of other research and tracked her down. . . .The photos of the era are riveting and Claudette's eloquent bravery is unforgettable." -- The Wall Street Journal"Before Rosa Parks, there was Claudette Colvin, a teenager who knew her constitutional rights and was willing to be arrested to prove it" -- The Washington Post, a Best Book of 2009 selection"Compelling." -- New York Daily News"Hoose vividly recreates Colvin's bravery." -- The New York Post"Hoose makes the moments in Montgomery come alive, whether it's about Claudette's neighborhood, her attorneys, her pastor or all the different individuals in the civil rights movement who paths she crossed . . . . An engrossing read." -- Chicago Tribune"Phil Hoose, who has done pioneering work in bringing to our attention the crucial role of young people in social movements, here tells the extraordinary, yet little-known story of Claudette Colvin, who, even before the famous incident involving Rosa Parks, sparked the historic bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. Claudette Colvin was a remarkable teenager. With great courage she acted upon her principles -- and played a significant role in the drama of the civil rights movement. This is a story that if taught in every classroom in the nation, might well inspire a new generation of young activists to join the on-going struggle for social justice." -- Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States"Phil Hoose's profile of the remarkable Claudette Colvin is MUST reading for anyone still imbued with hope. She is a lighthouse in a stormy sea." -- Studs Terkel, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Good War"Today, thanks to Hoose, a new generation of girls--and boys--can add Claudette Colvin to their list of heroines." -- Christian Science Monitor"Hoose writes in a fluid, easy style and weaves in many voices of the time. He captures the tension and explosive emotions in the pivotal scenes." -- Sacramento Bee"Hoose's evenhanded account investigates Colvin's motives and influences, and carefully establishes the historical context so that readers can appreciate both Colvin's maturity and bravery and the boycott leadership's pragmatism." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"Hoose encourages teens to empathize with an age peer, once dismissed as too 'emotional' to withstand public scrutiny, who later testified in the federal lawsuit that would finally end discrimination on public transportation." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review"This inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make." -- Booklist, Starred Review"Smoothly weaves excerpts from Hoose's extensive interviews with Colvin and his own supplementary commentary." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review"Inspiring." -- Kirkus Reviews"Outstanding." -- School Library Journal, Starred Review"Hoose reasserts her [Claudette Colvin] place in history with this vivid and dramatic account, complemented with photographs, sidebars, and liberal excerpts from interviews conducted with Colvin." -- The Horn Book, Starred Review"This stirring account affirms Colvin's rightful place in history and gives young people a reason to stand up for what's right, even if the laws are not." -- Shelf Awareness"This fresh look at a well-documented period in American history will appeal to readers from young teens to adults." -- VOYA"In Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice young readers finally get to hear Claudette Colvin's story in her own words, giving them a detailed look at segregated life in 1950s Montgomery, Alabama, and showing them how one teenager helped change the world." -- Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children's Defense Fund"Through interviews with Colvin and others, Hoose delves into the details behind this largely unknown incident, ensuring that readers will have Colvin's courageous story forever seared into their memories." -- The Horn Book, a Fanfare 2009 book
Publisher Marketing:
When it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. You can't sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say, 'This is not right.' - Claudette Colvin
On March 2, 1955, an impassioned teenager, fed up with the daily injustices of Jim Crow segregation, refused to give her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Instead of being celebrated as Rosa Parks would be just nine months later, fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin found herself shunned by her classmates and dismissed by community leaders. Undaunted, a year later she dared to challenge segregation again as a key plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, the landmark case that struck down the segregation laws of Montgomery and swept away the legal underpinnings of the Jim Crow South.
Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history.
Claudette Colvin is the National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature, a Newbery Honor Book, A YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist, and a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.
Contributor Bio: Hoose, Phillip
Phillip Hoose is an award-winning author of books, essays, stories, songs and articles. Although he first wrote for adults, he turned his attention to children and young adults in part to keep up with his own daughters. His book Claudette Colvin won a National Book Award and was dubbed a Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2009. He is also the author of Hey, Little Ant, co-authored by his daughter, Hannah; It's Our World, Too!; The Race to Save the Lord God Bird; The Boys Who Challenged Hitler; and We Were There, Too!, a National Book Award finalist. He has received a Jane Addams Children's Book Award, a Christopher Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and multiple Robert F. Sibert Honor Awards, among numerous honors. He was born in South Bend, Indiana, and grew up in the towns of South Bend, Angola, and Speedway, Indiana. He was educated at Indiana University and the Yale School of Forestry. He lives in Portland, Maine.
I Never Had it Made - The Autobiography of Jackie Robinson
Marc Notes:
Originally published: New York: Putnam, 1972.;Coretta Scott King Award, 1973.
Jacket Description/Back:
The Autobiography of a Boy of Summer Who Became a Man for All Seasons
Before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.
I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the Noble Experiment--Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.
More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.
Originally published the year Robinson died, I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.
Publisher Marketing:
The bestselling autobiography of American baseball and civil rights legend Jackie Robinson
Before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.
I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the Noble Experiment--Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.
More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.
I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.
