Books

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When it’s time for young children to listen closely, this book sets the tone. They discover that it’s important to open their eyes and ears but to close their mouths so good listening can begin. Tips for parents and caregivers included.

**Description from Amazon: These contemporary “fables” are instructive, hilarious, and now in paperback!The fourth graders at Aesop Elementary are, well, unusual. There’s Calvin Tallywong, who wants to go back to kindergarten. But when he actually gets the chance, he’s forced to do the squirrel dance and wear a yello...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From the acclaimed author of The Great and Only Barnum—as well as The Lincolns, Our Eleanor, and Ben Franklin's Almanac—comes the thrilling story of America's most celebrated flyer, Amelia Earhart.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

To heal the hurt pride of Thomas Jefferson as Congress makes changes to his Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin tells his friend the story of a hatmaker and his sign.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Toddlers and pets belong together—as long as toddlers don’t chase, grab, squeeze, yank, and tease. In simple words and delightful illustrations, this book teaches the basics of kindness to animals: careful handling, awareness, safety, and respect. It also includes helpful tips for parents and caregivers.

**Description from Amazon: Kids need help learning how to manage their anger. Blending solid information and sound advice with humor and lively illustrations, these anger-management tips guide kids to understand that anger is normal and to learn they can express it in healthy ways. The book teaches them how to recognize anger...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
The fifth-grade Week in the Woods is a beloved tradition of Hardy Elementary, where Mark Chelmsley (the Fourth) is pretty much killing time before his parents send him off to an exclusive prep school. But then Mark realizes the Week might be a chance to prove to Mr. Maxwell that he's not just another of the slacker rich kids the teacher can't stand.
But it may be too late for Mark to change Mr. Maxwell's opinion of him

** Description from Amazon: NEW STUDENT GETS OLD TEACHER The bad news is that Cara Landry is the new kid at Denton Elementary School. The worse news is that her teacher, Mr. Larson, would rather read the paper and drink coffee than teach his students anything. So Cara decides to give Mr. Larson something else to read -- her o...

FROM SARAH:

Andrew Clements was a master of the school story, and this book is especially hilarious for twins! All of my kids loved it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Identical twins Ray and Jay Grayson are moving to a new town. Again. But at least they’ll have each other’s company at their new school. Except, on the first day of sixth grade, Ray stays home sick, and Jay quickly discovers a major mistake: No one knows about his brother.

** Description from Amazon: Winner of American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award! Bobby Phillips is an average fifteen-year-old-boy.  Until the morning he wakes up and can't see himself in the mirror.  Not blind, not dreaming-Bobby is just plain invisible.  There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to Bobb...

FROM SARAH:

Another book by Andrew Clements your kids will enjoy. My oldest son especially loved this one.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Greg Kenton has two obsessions -- making money and his long-standing competition with his annoying neighbor, Maura Shaw. So when Greg discovers that Maura is cutting into his booming Chunky Comics business with her own original illustrated minibooks, he's ready to declare war.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Nora's managed to make it to the fifth grade without anyone figuring out that she's not just an ordinary kid, and she wants to keep it that way. But then Nora gets fed up with the importance everyone attaches to test scores and grades, and she purposely brings home a terrible report card just to prove a point. Suddenly the attention she's successfully avoided all her life is focused on her, and her secret is out. And that's when things start to get really complicated....

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It’s boys vs. girls when the noisiest, most talkative, and most competitive fifth graders in history challenge one another to see who can go longer without talking. Teachers and school administrators are in an uproar, until an innovative teacher sees how the kids’ experiment can provide a terrific and unique lesson in communication.

**Description from Amazon: Who has the most power to stop and prevent bullying? Teachers? Parents? The Principal of the Universe? No, no, and no way! When it comes to changing bullying behavior, nobody has more power than upstanders—all the people who see bullying or know it’s happening . . . and decide to do something ab...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Even young children can learn that their words affect other people in powerful ways. In child-friendly language and full-color illustrations, this book gently guides them to choose words that are helpful instead of hurtful, and to say “I’m sorry” when hurtful words com out before they can stop them.

**Description from Amazon: What's an opera singer to do when the appeal of performing in concert halls wears thin? Why, go West, of course! And sure as shootin', that's what Carlotta Carusa does. Out on the prairie, she finds all the adventure she's been craving: snarling wolves, disastrous droughts, and that no-good villain ...

**Description from Amazon: ‘Thirty-five imaginative and humorous poems for an adult and a child to read aloud together. . . . The entertaining verses are varied as to length, rhythm, and subject and are illustrated with harmoniously amusing drawings.’ —BL.

**Description from Amazon: With a fresh and deceptively simple style, acclaimed author Sharon Creech tells a story with enormous heart. Written as a series of free-verse poems from Jack's point of view, Love That Dog shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and o...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Every day people tune in to The Writer's Almanac on public radio and hear Garrison Keillor read them a poem. And here, for the first time, is an anthology of poems from the show, chosen by Keillor for their wit, their frankness, their passion, their "utter clarity in the face of everything else a person has to deal with at 7 a.m."

**Description from Amazon: All of Jane Kenyon's published poems gathered in one definitive collection, now in paperbackYes, long shadows go outfrom the bales; and yes, the soulmust part from the body:what else could it do?―from "Twilight: After Haying"Jane Kenyon is one of America's most prized contemporary poets. Her previ...

FROM SARAH:

I'll be honest, I've never read Beowulf... but this is the version I've seen recommended most often, and the one my own teens read as part of their history class at our homeschool co-op.

Recommended for ages 13+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Composed toward the end of the first millennium, Beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero who saves the Danes from the seemingly invincible monster Grendel and, later, from Grendel's mother. He then returns to his own country and dies in old age in a vivid fight against a dragon. The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on in the exhausted aftermath

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
This anthology embodies Robert Pinsky's commitment to discover America's beloved poems, his special undertaking as Poet Laureate of the United States.

FROM SARAH:

There is everything to love about every book featuring Henry Huggins, and this is the best place to start! Great as a read-aloud, a read-alone, or an audiobook. All ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This book continues to delight kids for another generation. He might be an average boy, but he doesn't have average adventures! Especially wonderful for dog-lovers.

** Description from Amazon: Horton is back! After his first appearance in Horton Hatches the Egg, everyone’s favorite elephant returns in this timeless, moving, and comical classic in which we discover that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” Thanks to the irrepressible rhymes and eye-catching illustrations, yo...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Scholastic is re-releasing the ten original Magic School Bus titles in paperback. With updated scientific information, the bestselling science series ever is back!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Clear, easy principles to spot what's nonsense and what's reliable Each year, teachers, administrators, and parents face a barrage of new education software, games, workbooks, and professional development programs purporting to be "based on the latest research." While some of these products are rooted in solid science, the research behind many others is grossly exaggerated. This new book, written by a top thought leader, helps everyday teachers, administrators, and family members who don't have years of statistics courses under their belts separate the wheat from the chaff and determine which new educational approaches are scientifically supported and worth adopting.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

My Book House Complete Set. Volumes 1-12. Rainbow Edition. Volume colors gradually change from light green to dark green to dark blue to light blue. First published in 1937 and continuously reprinted from 1937 through 1965 by The Book House for Children, Lake Bluff, Illinois.

**Description from Amazon: As selected by the author, Opened Ground includes the essential work from Heaney's twelve previous books of poetry, as well as new sequences drawn from two of his landmark translations, The Cure at Troy and Sweeney Astray, and several previously uncollected poems. Heaney's voice is like no other--"b...

**Description from Amazon: In her own singularly beautiful style, Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, prou...

**Description from Amazon: More than 300 poems by such masters as Maya Angelou, A. A. Milne, Robert Frost, Dr. Seuss, and W.B. Yeats. Designed to be shared by parents and children, it is organized into appealing categories and includes 50 black-&-white illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A fresh design and appealing new cover enliven this award-winning collection in the acclaimed Poetry for Young People series. Showcasing the extraordinary Langston Hughes, it's edited by two leading poetry experts and features gallery-quality art by Benny Andrews that adds rich dimension to the words.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
See the beauty and magic of the everyday world through the eyes of Emily Dickinson, one of America’s best-loved and most renowned poets. Flowers, birds, sunrises, sunsets, the moon, and even her own existence take on surprising meanings and colorful illustrations accompany more than thirty-five of her best-loved poems. An ideal way to introduce young readers to the marvels of prose, the Poetry for Young People series opens up the world of wonderful word images by pairing classic verses with beautiful illustrations, and by providing helpful definitions and commentary.

**Description from Amazon: Venture into the world of poetic genius, with a fascinating glimpse into the personality and struggles of a complex, mysterious priest

Book by Delli-Carpini, John

**Description from Amazon: Described by Robert Hass as "unquestionably one of the great living European poets" and by Charles Simic as "one of the finest poets living today," Szymborska mesmerizes her readers with poetry that captivates their minds and captures their hearts. This is the book that her many fans have been anxio...

**Description from Amazon: Collecting some of the most beloved poems of Emily Dickinson, a young reader's anthology includes such pieces as ""There is no frigate like a book,"" ""I'm Nobody,"" and ""The sea said, `come'.""

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This gripping story, written in sparse first-person, free-verse poems, is the compelling tale of Billie Jo's struggle to survive during the dust bowl years of the Depression. With stoic courage, she learns to cope with the loss of her mother and her grieving father's slow deterioration.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Cognitive scientist Dan Willingham focuses his acclaimed research on the biological and cognitive basis of learning. His book will help teachers improve their practice by explaining how they and their students think and learn. It reveals-the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences. Nine, easy-to-understand principles with clear applications for the classroom Includes surprising findings, such as that intelligence is malleable, and that you cannot develop "thinking skills" without facts How an understanding of the brain's workings can help teachers hone their teaching skills

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Winner of 3 Emmy Awards these exceptional animated stories have been designed to introduce children and young adults to some Shakespeare's most popular works. Each play has been animated in it own unique style by the exceptional talents of the leading directors of Russia's Christmas Films.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Professional storyteller Patrick Ryan has brought together the stories that are at the heart of seven of Shakespeare's masterpieces.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Twelve of Shakespeare's greatest tales come to life in this entertaining collection of short, lively stories specially adapted for young readers. Capturing the vital events and using some of the original wording, the stories serve as a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for preteens and as literate refreshers for older folks.

This Young Reader's Shakespeare series is a favorite.The series is out of print but still worth hunting down.

A dramatic and modern retelling of the classic drama with superb art throughout. Written by an outstanding scholar, this made-just-for-them Hamlet will foster in children a lifetime love of the Bard. The language is simple yet eloquent, and draws the children into the story with superb dialogue, vivid description, and careful attention to the flow of events. The skillful blending of Shakespeare's own lines with modern language and illuminating information enhances youngsters' involvement and comprehension.

FROM SARAH:

This one will probably most appeal for teen girls. I enjoyed it on my own!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors―one welcome, and the other decidedly less so―brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

FROM SARAH:

A retelling of the Grimm's tale by the same name, this well-paced plot will reel in your teens right from the start—and this one isn't just for girls! There's plenty of adventure, romance, and hand-to-hand combat to keep everyone engaged. This is the first in a series by Shannon Hale. Watch her Author Access replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life listening to her aunt's stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. As she grows up, Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but she never feels quite comfortable speaking with people.

FROM SARAH:

This is not a girl book. It's an adventure story. Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have lived a simple life. But not so any longer. Action-packed and riveting! Meet Shannon Hale in her Author Access replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince will choose his bride from among the village girls.

**Description from Amazon: Growly, Chippy, and Tully have braved the Ocean and a mysterious ruined city to find C.J., the elder bear who disappeared many years before. Now, with time running out, the friends must search for clues to find a way back up The Precipice. As their journey takes them into places unknown, Growly is ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Growly’s adventure has taken him far from home in search of C.J., his grandfather’s long-lost friend who disappeared over The Precipice. Now, the desperate quest continues as Growly, Chippy, and Tully find themselves facing a journey across the Ocean. In a makeshift sailboat, Growly and his friends embark on their greatest adventure yet. It is a journey that will take them to far-off lands and mysterious cities—into the unknown … across the wide, wide water.

FROM SARAH:

He's an adorable bear and he's ready for a big adventure! My boys and girls both enjoyed the stories of Growly, starting here with Begin.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

For centuries the bears of Haven have lived quiet lives, high in the mountains at the edge of the great Precipice. That all changes for a young cub named Growly when he receives a mysterious message. With just his backpack and glider, Growly sets out on a desperate journey to find his grandfather's long lost friend . . . and to find a way back home.

**Description from Amazon: Avi's haunting ghost story is available for the first time as a Scholastic paperback!When 12-year-old Kenny Huldorf moves to Providence, Rhode Island, he soon discovers that his attic bedroom is haunted by the ghost of a teenage slave named Caleb. Before long, Caleb summons Kenny back in time, where...

**Description from Amazon: Enthralling prose retellings for young readers of some of Shakespeare's most beloved works. This selection of works features The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and O...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Tales from Shakespeare is an English children's book written by Charles Lamb with his sister Mary Lamb.

The book reduced the archaic English and complicated storyline of Shakespeare to a simple level that children (and many adults!) could easily read and comprehend.

FROM SARAH:

Comic book style depictions of seven of Shakespeare's plays. These are funny and well done. Your library might have this book!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Come wend your way along London’s Thames River to the Globe Theatre, where seven favorite Shakespearean plays are being performed! Marcia Williams brings to life ROMEO AND JULIET, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, JULIUS CAESAR, HAMLET, MACBETH, THE WINTER'S TALE, and THE TEMPESTt, making liberal use of Shakespeare’s rich dialogue.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Where's Will? Can you spot him? Look carefully, and you'll find him hiding amongst colourful scenes from some of his best-loved plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Twelfth Night. In addition to Will, there are a number of other characters for you to find from each of the ten featured plays.

Each play is summarized so that, as well as having fun, you can become a mini-expert on the world's greatest playwright and some of his finest works.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

May the verse be with you! Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this retelling of George Lucas’s Star Wars® Trilogy in the style of the immortal William Shakespeare.

FROM SARAH:

A nonfiction picture book packed with info about the man who was Shakespeare, the Globe Theatre, and many of Shakespeare's plays. An excellent resource to keep in your home library.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From Hamlet to Romeo and Juliet to A Midsummer Night′s Dream, Shakespeare′s celebrated works have touched people around the world. Aliki combines literature, history, biography, archaeology, and architecture in this richly detailed and meticulously researched introduction to Shakespeare′s world.

From Sarah:

If you're going to read just one biography about Shakespeare himself, I'd suggest making it this one. It makes for a quick and enjoyable read-aloud for all ages.

From the Publisher:

The beloved plays of Shakespeare are still produced everywhere, yet the life of the world's most famous playwright remains largely a mystery. Young Will left the town of Stratford to pursue theater in London, where his work eventually thrived and made him a famous and wealthy man. With black-and-white illustrations that include a diagram of the famous Globe theater, Celeste Davidson Mannis puts together the pieces of Shakespeare's life and work for young readers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

**Description from Amazon:  After taking her children to visit Shakespeare’s house, E. Nesbit – one of the greatest of children’s novelists – was faced with a conundrum:   “I can’t understand a word of it,” said Iris.    “And you said it was so beautiful,” Rosamund added, reproachfully. “Wha...

**Description from Amazon: These eight Shakespeare plays, retold in prose by British author Andrew Matthews and beautifully illustrated by Angela Barrett, make a perfect introduction to the most famous writer in the Western world. As fresh today as when they were first performed, these stories are just right for entertaining ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This is young William, His mind all ablaze, Who stays up all night Writing poems and plays. And this is a book, unforgettable and wise, that applauds inspiration, creation, story, and the world and works of William Shakespeare