Books

NARRATED BY: Laural Merlington, BEST FOR AGES: 9+

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Jane and her mother live in a gloomy old mansion, where their lives are ruled by her ovebearing grandmother. For most of her life Jane has believed that her father is dead. Then, one dull April morning, a letter comes. Not only is her father alive and well, but he wants Jane to spend the summer with him on Prince Edward Island.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Emily Starr and Teddy Kent have been friends since childhood, and as Teddy is about to leave to further his education as an artist, Emily believes that their friendship is blossoming into something more. On his last night at home, they vow to think of each other when they see the star Vega of the Lyre

FROM SARAH:

My favorite novel in verse. This book makes me want to write poetry, but mostly it just leaves me gobsmacked with what a good story and beautiful language can do to the heart. Especially wonderful on audio. (Audible | LibroFM)

Recommended for ages 12+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. 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.

NARRATED BY: Sophie Thompson, BEST FOR AGES: 7+

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The classic Newbery Honor book that inspired the hilarious Jim Carrey movie--and a childhood favorite book for generations.

NARRATED BY: Eric Michael Summerer, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

FROM SARAH:

This book is positively exquisite, but I must insist that you listen to the audio version. You won't regret it! This has got to be one of the best audiobooks I've ever heard. I recommend it for anyone age 10+. Available on Audible and Libro.FM.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.

Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo.

NARRATED BY: Robert Glenister, BEST FOR AGES: 9+

NARRATED BY: Teresa Gallagher, BEST FOR AGES: 5+

FROM SARAH:

Swallows and Amazons is the first in a series about the four Walker children and their new friends, the Blacketts, who camp together on an island for a summer holiday. A quintessential summer tale.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Friendship, resourcefulness, adventures! Here’s the classic tale of two families of children who band together against a common foe: an uncle who claims he’s too busy for his nieces.

The Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are on school holiday in the Lake District and are sailing a borrowed catboat named “Swallow,” when they meet the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy), who sail the boat, “Amazon.” The children camp together on Wild Cat Island where a plot is hatched against the Blackett’s Uncle Jim who is too busy writing his memoirs to be disturbed. Fireworks―literally―ensue along with a dangerous contest, a run-in with houseboat burglars, and the theft of Uncle Jim’s manuscript. How all this is resolved makes for an exciting and very satisfying story. Uncle Jim ends up apologizing for missing his nieces’ adventures all summer―thankfully, readers won’t miss a thing.

NARRATED BY: Bill Wallis, BEST FOR AGES: 3-12

FROM SARAH:

A classic fairy tale read. Edith Nesbit's books are loads of fun! This book happens to be mentioned in both Kate Albus's A Place to Hang the Moon and Sarah Arthur's Once a Queen.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Experience the magical and enchanting world of E. Nesbit's The Enchanted Castle in this beautifully designed edition. This captivating children's novel takes readers on a magical adventure filled with mysterious castles, hidden treasures, and extraordinary powers. Join the young protagonists as they navigate the realms of fantasy and imagination in this timeless tale.

Recommended for ages 8+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. Jane, Michael, and the twins have never had such a wonderful nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement everywhere she goes.

In Mary Poppins Comes Back, the beloved nanny returns when she's pulled down from the clouds by the string of Michael's kite. In her care, the Banks children meet the King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal, visit the upside-down world of Mr. Turvy and his bride, Miss Topsy, and spend a breathless afternoon above the park, dangling from a clutch of balloons. Surprises are sure to pop up when Mary Poppins is around!

FROM SARAH:

This novel is based on the true story of the start of the American Morgan horse breed, originating in the Northeast. We love it both as a read-aloud and as an audiobook!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In 1791, a Vermont schoolmaster by the name of Justin Morgan comes home with a two-year-old colt named Little Bub. Taken as payment for an outstanding debt, the little colt doesn’t seem like he’s worth much, but the teacher asks one of his students, Joel Goss, to train the horse. Joel knows that the horse has great potential, and soon word about Little Bub spreads throughout the entire Northeast for his ability to work harder, run faster, and perform better than any horse in the area!

(Not your average princess tale- Sarah highly recommends this one!) NARRATED BY: Laura Credidio, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

FROM SARAH:

I really enjoyed this steampunk fantasy novel!

Recommended for ages 12+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!

When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

NARRATED BY: Jessica Almasy, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

FROM SARAH:

I love Pam Munoz Ryan's novels, and this one is especially for boys who like historical fiction or biographies.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

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.

NARRATED BY: Natalie Ross, BEST FOR AGES: 8+

FROM SARAH:

All of the historical American Girl books are excellent (yep, even my boys enjoy them, and we all learn a whole lot while reading). Highly recommend! Available on Audible and Libro.FM.

Recommended for Ages 6+

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

NARRATED BY: Jean Fritz, BEST FOR AGES: 7+

FOR THE PUBLISHER: 

A group of young cousins and their friends meet up for the summer on Prince Edward Island in Canada. They share many childhood adventures interspersed with stories told by one cousin known as the Story Girl.

FROM SARAH:

A short story from the author of The Wind in the Willows, and just as beloved, read aloud by the inimitable Jim Weiss (Audible). This is a wonderful audiobook for kids of all ages. It's only an hour long, so it's a quick (and worthwhile) win. A gentle, funny fantasy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The people call for that famous dragon-slaying knight Saint George to defeat the monstrous beast. But when one smart little boy actually meets the dragon, he finds a harmless, friendly creature who would much rather write poems than burn villages.

Can the boy find a way to make peace before the knight and the dragon have to fight?

NARRATED BY: Jim Dale, BEST FOR AGES: 8+

FROM SARAH:

This may be one of the audiobooks my kids have heard more than any other. Perfection.

Also available on LibroFM.

(My son likes to listen to this while he looks as his own copy of The Action Bible) NARRATED BY: Full Cast, BEST FOR AGES: 7+

FROM SARAH:

The fictional setting of Point Mouette is based on Ocean Point, near Booth Bay Harbor, in Maine. You'll probably enjoy the Penderwicks series best if you start from the beginning, but this book in particular will make you feel like you're in Maine!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

When summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind . . . and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their old friend, Jeffrey.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Penderwick sisters are home on Gardam Street and ready for an adventure! But the adventure they get isn't quite what they had in mind. Mr. Penderwick's sister has decided it's time for him to start dating--and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster.

FROM SARAH:

I recommend the whole series, but this one, book #4, is a masterpiece! RAR Families tell me the Penderwicks series remains a family favorite for all ages. And nope, it's not just for girls. My boys loved it every bit as much as their sisters. Ages 6-14 will probably enjoy them most. (Audible | LibroFM)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Springtime is finally arriving on Gardam Street, and there are surprises in store for each member of the family.
Some surprises are just wonderful, like neighbor Nick Geiger coming home from war. And some are ridiculous, like Batty’s new dog-walking business. Batty is saving up her dog-walking money for an extra-special surprise for her family, which she plans to present on her upcoming birthday. But when some unwelcome surprises make themselves known, the best-laid plans fall apart.

**Description from Amazon: From the bestselling author of 100 Cupboards comes the second book in a one-of-a-kind middle grade time travel series that is perfect for fans of Soman Chainani's School for Good and Evil books.Sam Miracle never thought that his future could lie in the past. But after leaping through centuries at...

FROM SARAH:

Jan Brett, need I say more? A summer tale from the author/illustrator we all know and love for her wintery stories!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Bo spots what he thinks is a "rip-roaring', routine'-tootin', shiny red armadillo," he knows what he has to do. Follow that armadillo!

FROM SARAH:

Lovely. I've only seen fireflies once in my life (we don't have them here in the Pacific Northwest), but this book makes me want to catch a few in a jar... and then let them go!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A young boy is proud of having caught a jar full of fireflies, which seems to him like owning a piece of moonlight, but as the light begins to dim he realizes he must set the insects free or they will die.

FROM SARAH:

I think this is probably my favorite Eric Carle book of all. Try reading it when your child (or you) is a bit on the grouchy side... and see if it doesn't lighten the mood. "Wanna fight?"

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ladybug is little, but he still knows how to use fighting words! I found myself reading this book to my own little ones over and over again. Especially wonderful if you like to use character voices.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A board book edition of the best-selling story features thermographic pages and a raised spider web children can feel for themselves, which complement the book's colorful collages and easy, rhythmic text.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From bestselling author and illustrator Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, comes another classic tale about one very clumsy click beetle. A perfect gift to share with the child or grandchild in your life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When a very lonely firefly goes out into the night searching for other fireflies, it sees a lantern, a candle, and the eyes of a dog, cat, and owl all glowing in the darkness. It even sees a surprise celebration of light. But it is not until it discovers other fireflies that it finds exactly what it's looking for--a surprise sure to bring smiles to anyone who turn the final page!

FROM SARAH:

Summer insects abound in this favorite by Eric Carle. Your library likely has it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

One day a tiny cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. The tiny cricket tries to respond, but there is no sound. The quiet cricket then makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another, each of whom greets the little cricket with a cheery hello--the hum of a bee, the whirr of a dragonfly, the whisper of a praying mantis.

FROM SARAH:

This ranks toward the top of my favorite books by Patricia Polacco. It's a bit longer than a typical picture book, and holds the interest of older kids, as well.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Mary Ellen gets bored with her reading, Grandpa knows a hunt for a bee tree is just what she needs. Half the town joins the exciting chase, but it's not until everyone returns home that Mary Ellen makes a discovery of her own: Sometimes, even the sweetest of things must be worked for.

FROM SARAH:

Pair this book with Cynthia Rylant's The Relatives Came just before the company arrives for summer! A joyful celebration of family.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It's time for a family reunion! When Tricia's aunts, uncles, and cousins arrive at her house for an annual family reunion, the fun begins. And this year, Gramma has promised to teach the children something wonderful - how to catch lightning in a jar. With so many people and so much love, this family reunion will certainly prove to be the most memorable one yet!

FROM SARAH:

There is simply no book Cynthia Rylant has written that I don't love! This one just *feels* like summer in the countryside.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

There is no night so dark, so black as night in the country. And while the people dream of daytime things, the nighttime world awakens. Owls swoop, a rabbit patters, and in the yard an apple falls -- pump! -- from the tree.
Listen. Go to the window. Across the field a light glows. Who else is up so late?

FROM SARAH:

I love reading aloud this book before we're about to have company. There's just nothing quite like when the relatives come, is there?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When the relatives arrived, they hugged and hugged from the kitchen to the front room. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars.
When they finally had to leave, they were sad, but not for long. They all knew they would be together next summer.

FROM SARAH:

Cynthia Rylant famously said that she wrote this book in an hour. Astounding. It stands the test of time for a reason. I love Diane Goode's American folk style illustrations!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

An evocative remembrance of the simple pleasures in country living; splashing in the swimming hole, taking baths in the kitchen, sharing family times, each is eloquently portrayed here in both the misty-hued scenes and in the poetic text.
-Association for Childhood Education International

FROM SARAH:

Beth Krommes' scratchboard illustrations, punctuated by droplets of gold make this a stand-out book. Worth owning for your permanent collection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Beside the house are nighttime things both comforting and intriguing--a bed, many books--and outside, too, there are sources of light and joy--the moon, the sky--that reveal a reassuring order in the universe.

FROM SARAH:

Eliza Wheeler is one of my all-time favorite illustrators, and this first book of hers is worth adding to your permanent collection. Lovely for any season.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

What happens to seeds that don't sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them. Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths by which they might find their new homes. And come spring, she sends them off to take root out in the wide world and to sprout into the wonderful plants she knows they'll become.

FROM SARAH:

When I think about books I loved most as a child, I think instantly of those by husband and wife team, Don and Audrey Wood. This is one of their silliest, and one of their best! (Also don't miss King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, which was my own all-time fav as a child.)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the napping house is a cozy bed piled high with a snoring granny, a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing cat, and a slumbering mouse. What could be more comfy? All is at peace until a wakeful flea crawls into the mix. One beastly bite from him and the entire pyramid of sleepers might topple. Is he getting ready to nibble? Humorous and inviting, this story encourages young kids to read along—and make predictions.

FROM SARAH:

Don and Audrey Wood pair up for another delightful story about The Napping House! Funny and perfect for a sweet summer bedtime story.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the wide-awake bed in the full-moon house, everyone is restless! The moonlight is pouring in and no one can get to sleep: not Granny, her grandchild, the dog, the cat, or even a mouse. It's not until a tiny musical visitor offers up a soothing song does the menagerie settle down, and finally everyone is off to dreamland.

FROM SARAH:

The writing in this book is just too much fun, and the illustrations can't be beat! This comes from the same husband/wife team that gave us King Bidgood's in the Bathtub and The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A celebration of a child's growing self awareness, and a prime example of how books can contribute to this. Whether brave or shy, strong or weak, in the end the young boy celebrates all different, apparently contradictory parts of himself.

**Description from Amazon: Soon to be an animated film starring Ricky Gervais, Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, and Sean Cullen! From the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Giver and Number the Stars, comes a "hilarious" (Booklist, starred review) and wonderfully old-fashioned story about a mother an...

**Description from Amazon: Katy Thatcher was the bright and curious daughter of the town doctor. She was fascinated by her father’s work, and even as a child she knew that she too wanted to be a doctor. She wanted to know about people. Perhaps it was this, her insatiable curiosity, or simply the charm of Jacob’s gentle in...

**Description from Amazon: Littlest One is a tiny creature slowly learning her job of giving dreams to humans. Each night she and her teacher, Thin Elderly, visit an old woman’s home where she softly touches beloved objects, gathering happy memories, and drops of old scents and sounds. Littlest One pieces these bits togethe...

**Description from Amazon: They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. B...

**Description from Amazon: Lois Lowry won her first Newbery Medal in 1994 for The Giver. Six years later, she ushered readers back into its mysterious but plausible future world in Gathering Blue to tell the story of Kira, orphaned, physically flawed, and left with an uncertain future. This second book in the Giver Quartet h...

**Description from Amazon: Messenger is the masterful third novel in the Giver Quartet, which began with the dystopian bestseller The Giver, now a major motion picture. Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man known for his special sight. Village once welcomed newcomers, but something...

From the moment Gooney Bird makes her grand entrance at the Watertower Elementary School, her fellow second-graders are immediately intrigued. After all, it’s not every day that a new student shows up to Mrs. Pidgeon’s classroom wearing pajamas and cowboy books! Her colorful fashion sense, exube...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
At last Sam, Anastasia Krupnik's irrepressible little brother, gets a chance to tell his own story. From his first days at the hospital, through his Terrible Twos, to his first days at nursery school, we see what Sam is really like. But things are never quite like they seem.

Two-time Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry brings a brand-new, beautiful diary to the Dear America series! Suddenly orphaned by the Spanish flu epidemic in the fall of 1918, eleven-year-old Lydia Pierce and her fourteen-year-old brother, Daniel, of Portland, Maine, are taken by their uncle to ...

FROM SARAH:

Oh goodness, I just love this book so much. Who hasn't stood on the edge of a diving board, wondering if they can garner the courage to jump? Delightful from start to finish. I think this one is worth owning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.

**Description from Amazon: What do you do when you’re the new girl at school? If you’re Lissy, you make a friend. A paper friend. And to Lissy’s surprise, her little origami bird opens his eyes and says hello! So she quickly makes more friends. And soon Lissy has more friends than she can count! But what do you do when ...

**Description from Amazon: "Hey, if I get too loud or something, you can just bang on the ceiling and let me know," Marklee says to his new downstairs neighbor, Artichoke. But he never thought that someone could be so sensitive! No matter what Marklee does, from watching TV to talking on the phone, Artichoke bangs on the ceil...