BOOKLIST

Dr. Pompo's nose by Freymann & Elffers

Case of the missing pumpkin nose is a literary and visual delight-close to fright!

 

Officer Buckle and Gloria  by Peggy Rathmann

Officer Buckle was an officer who visited the school to talk about school safety; the police department bought Gloria a police dog. Officer Buckle was pleased and so was Gloria that all the kids loved their safety presentations illustrated and performed with humor.

 

Rainbow Goblins by Ulde Rico

Rainbow Goblins live on the colors of the rainbow and search around for these delicious colorsto fill their bellies. Beautiful illustrations.

 

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

A strange yet interesting towm of Chewandswallow where the food comes daily fromthe sky! There are sequels too.

 

Abiyoyoyo By Pete Seeger

Townspeople love to tell stories about giants especially Abiyoyoyo but noone really believes in these giants until one day a young boy saves the town with his quick thinking and musical ability.

 

Bubba, the cowboy prince by Helen Ketleman

"A fratured texas tale" as it is called is the cinderfella counterpart to yetanother Cinderrella story.

I have a sister; My sister is deaf by Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson

The deaf world is depicted through the eyes of nn older sister.

 

When mama wore a hat by Eleanor Schick

This story is based on the author's own experience with surviving cancer. Eleanor continues to work with cancer patients in using writing as a therapy and healing tool.

 

My sister's wedding by Eleanor Schick

Two young girls who attend a Navajo wedding ceremony are bonded also in their friendship.

 

A fantasy about fairies who oversee our dreams and use our dreams by night to help us during the day.

 

I once heard someone describe these children as the most unlucky children in the world! Equally they are the most clever children, too. You have to read their stories to believe it fortunately.

 

Ugglies, Pretties & Normals series by David Westerfeld

An advanced time in our human civilization when beauty is engineered and culturally controlled. What happens when there are outcasts who do not follow this perfect plan?

 

Ride a Purple Pelican by Jack Prelutsky

Grandma Bear, Poor Potato, Little Pink Pig, Yellow Bill Duck are a few of these short rhyming ditties that enthrall your tongue and captivate young children into chanting.

 

A Breeze Swept Through by Luci Tapahonso

Her poems tell of what Navajo life is like.  As I read the poems I could tell that these days were in the seventies because many of the things she speaks of were true in my mother's life.  I was especially sad on the passing away of her brother and the marital discord.

 

American folk songs for children by Ruth Crawford Seeger

Just about every traditional folk song is in this book. A good reference with music and lyrics.

 

Go in and out the window edited by Dan Fox

Fine art pictures are also featured along with piano accompaniment for each song and brief background information. A gift from a dear friend, Nancy Hess.

 

Talking to the Sun selected by Kenneth Koch & Kate Farrell

Metropolitan of Art selected art graces the pages of this anthology of poems for children and young adults. Also a gift from Nancy Hess.

 

REALISTIC FICTION

Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

Crsuader by Edward Bloor

The art of keeping cool by Janet Lisle

Holes by Louis Sachar

Indise my feet by Richard Kennedy

 

Little Sophie is a crew member along with her uncles and cousins to meet their grandfather in England. This perilous sailing adventure tests them all. The veracity of Sophie's stories of her grandpa, Bompie, told during the excursion are questioned by the other crew members. How could Sophie know so much and they so little of their grandpa?

 

Set in England the sotry focuses on coal mining and pays tribute to the young boys who worked in the mines. Literally, the coal industry was formed on the backs of these boys who toiled through injury and inhospitable conditions. There is a chiscura of darkness versus ligh in the two major characters of Kit Watson and John Asher. Will darkness win out over light?

 

Paulsen learns all about the dog athletes he is about to race in the famous Iditarod. There is a great teacher web unit study which can be found on my resouce page.

 

Woodson has  authored many a book about the African-American experience of growing up. This is a tender story of three boys trying to make sense of a family tradgedy in their own way while trying to remain a family. 

 

Moose and his family move to Alcatraz and what he thought was going to be a boring and inconvenient time, has adventures of his own to keep him busy!

 

So B It by Sarah Weeks

While searching for her mother's true identity challenges herself to deal with her own issues of growing up.

 

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

 

A true adventurer who details his life with his Huskies and the special relationship that ensues working toward running the Iditarod. Over the years he and his beloved canines wear with age and these accounts are the most tender of all as they share their remaining days together even though the love of running and mushing are past memories. They are memories they share together.

 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The Color of Water by James McBride

As the subtitle celebrates, a Black man's tribute to his mother, written from both perspectives is a humorous, strong testimony of how a mother's love defies any and all preconceived racial boundaries.

 

How the Camel got its hump is one of my favorite stories.

 

These parables are still relevant today.

 

Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats by Ann Earle

     An informational beginner book about the different type of bats, how the use sound to hunt and their eating habits.