Books for Children 3 and Under
Animal Crackers
Jane Dyer
If you are frantically searching for a
special shower gift for a first-time mother-to-be, this book
fits the bill. It is a marvelous collection of pictures,
poems, and lullabies you may recall from your own childhood.
1996, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 2 to 5, $17.95.
Ba Ba Ha Ha
Oooh Oooh Moo
Zimm
Both board books are designed for newborns
and have a striking black and white drawing on each page.
1996, HarperFestival, Ages 3 mo to 1 year, $4.95.
Car
Diggers and Dumpers
Fire Engine
Tractor
Four die cut board books for those who just
want to get their hands on these big vehicles. 1996,
Snapshot/DK, Ages 2 up, $3.95 ea.
Cat is Sleepy
Dog is Thirsty
Satoshi Kitamura
Both board books have simple, bright
effective illustrations on sturdy pages. Also in the series
are Duck is Dirty and Squirrel is Hungry. 1996, Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, Ages 18 mo. up, $4.95 ea.
Freight Train
Donald Crews
Another Caldecott Honor book reissued in
board format. 1996, Tupelo/Morrow, Ages 1 up, $6.95.
Kipper's Snowy Day
Mick Inkpen
A sweet tale of friends and fun on a wintry
day. 1996, Harcourt Brace and Company, Ages 2 up, $14.00.
My Very First Mother Goose
Edited by Iona Opie
Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Nursery rhymes go back centuries and this
delectable collection is a treat for the eyes and ears. 1996,
Candlewick Press, Ages 2 to 6, $19.99.
Owl Babies
Martin Waddell
Illustrated by Patrick Benson
A sweet story of three baby owls awaiting
their mother's return, reissued in a board book format. 1996,
Candlewick Press, Ages 2 up, $6.99.
You and Me, Little Bear
Martin Waddell
Illustrated by Barbara Firth
This charming story is perfect for bedtime or anytime
you want to cuddle up and read aloud to a child. 1996,
Candlewick Press, Ages 2 to 6, $15.99. Reviewer:Trina
Heidt
Picture Books Generally for Children Ages 4 to 8
Animals Black and White
Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
Dynamic pictures and simple text allow the
reader to identify a particular black and white animal. 1996,
Charlesbridge, Ages 5 to 7, $14.95 and $6.95.
Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble
Phyllis Root
Illustrated by David Parkins
Energetic Aunt Nancy outwits the crafty and
wicked Old Man Trouble. 1996, Candlewick, Ages 4 to 7,
$16.99. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz
Baby Duck and the Bad Eyeglasses
Amy Hest
Illustrated by Jill Barton
Baby Duck is back! This time she has new
glasses but she doesn't like the way she looks in them. 1996,
Candlewick Press, Ages 3 to 6, $16.99.
Big and Little
Steve Jenkins
Beautiful illustrations and minimal,
explanatory text introduce readers to the beauty of the
diversity in the animal kingdom. 1996, Houghton Mifflin Co.,
Ages 3 up, $14.95.
Bill Picket Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy
Written by Andrea D. Pinkney
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This historical biography provides a unique
glimpse into the Old West. 1996, Harcourt Brace, Ages 8 to
12, $16.00.
Bug in a Rug: Reading Fun for Just-
Beginners
Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
This charming book brings together twenty-
three interactive poems, stories, and songs especially
designed to make reading exciting and fun for children and
parents together. 1996, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 4 to 7,
$16.00 and $7.95.
The Bunyans
Audrey Wood
Illustrated by David Shannon
In this hilarious tall tale, find out how
Paul Bunyan, Babe, and Paul's wife and two children helped to
create some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the
United States. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 7 up, $15.95.
The Day Gogo Went to Vote
Elinor Batezat Sisulu
Illustrated by Sharon Wilson
Voting and equality are also themes in this
picture book. 1996, Little Brown and Company, Ages 6 to 10,
$19.95.
Fanny's Dream
Caralyn Buehner
Pictures by Mark Buehner
It is a witty twist on a familiar story and
beautifully illustrated. 1996, Dial, Ages 5 up, $14.99.
The Farmer and the Poor God: A Folktale from
Japan
Retold by Ruth Wells
Illustrated by Yoshi
An unhappy, struggling farmer and his
family blame their poverty on a poor god, an unlucky spirit
that dwells in their attic. 1996, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to
12, $16.00.
The Ghost of Nicholas Greebe
Tony Johnston
Pictures by S. D. Schindler.
This is a good-natured ghost story about a
colonial gentleman who gives up his ghost in the fullness of
time&139;
only to have one of his bones separated from his grave
by an enterprising dog. 1996, Dial, Ages 4 to 8, $14.99.
Goose
Molly Bang
A baby goose adopted by woodchucks at birth
has the feeling she doesn't belong. 1996, Blue Sky, Ages 4
up, $10.95.
Happy Birth Day!
Robie H. Harris
Illustrated by Michael Emberley
This is the book you will need when your
little one asks, "Where did I come from?" 1996, Candlewick
Press, Ages 4 to 6, $16.99.
Is There Room on the Bus?
Helen Piers
Illustrated by Hannah Giffard
Sam is a young boy who sets off for a trip
around the world in a rickety old bus that he fixed and
painted. 1996, Simon and Schuster, Ages 2 to 5, $14.00.
Jack, Skinny Bones, and the Golden Pancakes
M. C. Helldorfer
Illustrated by Elsie Primavera
Recounted in the grand tradition of the
American Tall Tale, but in reality a folktale for the 90's.
1996, Viking, Ages 7 to 9, $14.99.
Jigsaw Jackson
David F. Birchman
Illustrated by Daniel San Souci
J. Jupiter is a natural born jigsaw
champion. 1996, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, Ages 3 to 7,
$16.00.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Kevin Henkes
One day Lilly brings her new purple plastic
purse to school. She is so excited to show and tell everyone
about it that she can't keep quiet. 1996, Greenwillow, Ages 5
to 7, $15.00.
Little Lil and the Swing-Singing Sax
Libba Moore Gray
Illustrated by Lisa Cohen
A touching story about giving. 1996, Simon
and Schuster, Ages 5 up, $16.00.
The Lonely Lioness and the Ostrich Chicks
Verna Aardema
Illustrated by Yumi Heo
This clever retelling of a Masai fable
begins with a mother ostrich leading her chicks to feed under
a tree, unaware that a lioness lies sleeping in the branches
above. 1996, Knopf, Ages 4 to 7, $17.00.
Market!
Ted Lewin
We are transported to various markets
throughout the world to discover at least some of the wonders
to be found there. 1996, Lothrop, Ages 5 up, $16.00.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for
Kindergarten
Joseph Slate
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
The first day of kindergarten can be a time
of anxiety, excitement or even fear. 1996, Dutton, Ages 3 to
6, $14.99.
Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Written and illustrated by Karen B. Winnick
This is the charming, true story of how
eleven-year-old Grace Bedell wrote to Abraham Lincoln on the
eve of the 1860 presidential election to suggest that growing
a beard might enhance his chances for winning. 1996, Boyds
Mills Press, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95.
Old Bag of Bones: A Coyote Tale
Janet Stevens
Coyote, the trickster character from Native
American folklore is back to his old tricks again. 1996,
Holiday, Ages 4 to 7, $15.95.
One Potato: A Counting Book of potato
Prints
Diana Pomeroy
One Potato is a lovely counting book of
fruits and vegetables, beautifully and unusually rendered
with potato prints. 1996, Harcourt, Ages 2 to 5, $15.00.
Possum's Harvest Moon
Anne Hunter
It's that time of year&139;
the Harvest Moon is
ripe, and Possum is stirred by a longing to celebrate. 1996,
Houghton Mifflin, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95.
The Ring
Lisa Maizlish
This story, all photos and no text, takes a
kid who is bored while on a walk in Central Park on a flying
adventure after he finds a ring on the ground. 1996,
Greenwillow Books, Ages 3 to 8, $15.00.
Roman Numerals I to MM
Arthur Geisert
The text explains how Roman numbers are
made using addition and subtraction and lots of wonderful
illustrations.. 1996, Houghton, Ages 4 to 10, $15.95.
Saving Sweetness
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Humor abounds in this tongue-in-cheek tale
of a sweet little orphan who saves the local sheriff and ends
up convincing him to become her new Pa. 1996, Putnam, Ages 4
to 8, $15.95.
Some Smug Slug
Pamela Duncan Edwards
Illustrated by Henry Cole
A very funny story that is especially
useful for youngsters learning to pronounce "S" or learning
to recognize its sound. 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8,
$14.95.
Squishy, Misty, Damp & Muddy: The In-Between World of
Wetlands
Molly Cone
This attractive volume introduces young
readers to the many kinds of wetlands and the incredible
variety of life they support. 1996, Sierra Club Books for
Children, Ages 7 to 11, $15.95.
What Faust Saw
Written and illustrated by Matt Ottley
Australian Ottley gets directly into a
dog's head in this fantastic vision of a hound's nightmare.
1996, Dutton, Ages 2 up, $13.99.
The Wise Washerman
Deborah Froese
Illustrated by Wang Kui
Aung Kyaing is a Burmese washerman who is
famed for his ability to work magic in his washtub, making
white clothes gleam and colorful clothes sparkle. 1996,
Hyperion, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95.
Yard Sale
James Stevenson
"A yard sale," Oliver says to Simsbury, is
"where you take the stuff you don't want anymore, and somebody else buys it."
1996, Greenwillow, Ages 5 to 9,
$15.00.
Short Books or Picture Books with More Text Than Usual for Young Readers (Children 5 to 10)
All About Deer
Jim Arnosky
Arnosky drew on many years of tracking,
observing, and learning about deer before writing this
comprehensive look at one of nature's most graceful animals.
1996, Scholastic, Ages 7 up, $15.95.
The Bobbin Girl
Emily A. McCully
Caldecott Medal winner McCully has produced
another outstanding book. She recounts the exploitation of
women and girls who worked in the mills of Lowell,
Massachusetts. 1996, Dial, Ages 6 up, $14.99.
Brave as a Mountain Lion
Ann Herbert Scott
Illustrated by Glo Coalson
Spider is a young Indian boy who lives with
his extended family on a reservation in the West. It is a
nice representation of the importance of culture and family
in a young child's life. 1996, Clarion Books, Ages 6 to 8,
$14.95.
Coral Reef: A City That Never Sleeps
Mary M. Cerullo
Photographs by Jeffrey L. Rotman
The clarity and color of these remarkable
photographs show the beauty of coral reefs while a
straightforward text describes how reefs develop, the variety
of sea life, and what the future holds. 1996, Cobblehill,
Ages 9 up, $16.99.
Cowboys: Roundup on an American Ranch
Joan Anderson
Photographs by George Ancona
A realistic look at ranch life with
photographs that clearly tell the story of and reveal the joy
and freedom Leedro and Colter enjoy. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 7
up, $16.95.
The Desert Fox Family Book
Hans Gerold Laukel
The text is informative and personal, and
the breathtaking photographs introduce children to the desert
fox, or fennec. 1996, North-South, Ages 8 to 12, $17.95.
Emma's Rug
Alan Say
Emma is a child prodigy artist who learns
where true inspiration lies. 1996, Houghton, Ages 5 up,
$16.95.
Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers
Priscilla Belz Jenkins
Illustrated by Megan Lloyd
The decline of the peregrine falcon as a
result of DDT is documented, as well as its resurgence
following a captive breeding program. 1996, HarperCollins,
Ages 5 to 9, $4.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
Flood: Wrestling with the Mississippi
Patricia Lauber
The Mississippi River has long been an
incredible force, building and shaping the land in what is
presently the interior of the United States. 1996, National
Geographic, Ages 10 and up, $18.95.
The Goalie
Susan Shreve
Shreve has sculpted a wonderfully,
realistic and hopeful family story about finding new love
while still cherishing the old. 1996, Tambourine, Ages 8 to
11, $15.00.
Golem
David Wisniewski
The layered cut paper images pratically
leap off the pages and seem so real you want to touch them in
this retelling of a Jewish legend. 1996, Clarion, Ages 4 up,
$15.95.
Hey, New Kid!
Betsy Duffey
Illustrated by Ellen Thompson
Cody decides to cope with his first day in
a new school by being "Super Cody," someone the other kids
will admire. 1996, Viking, Ages 8 to 12, $13.99.
How Artists See Animals
How Artists See the Elements
How Artists See People
How Artists See the Weather
Colleen Carrol
Wow! If you have been looking for a way to
get children interested in art, call off the search: it just
doesn't get any better than this. 1996, Abbeville, Ages 8 up,
$10.95 ea.
Icky Squishy Science
Sandra Markie
Illustrated by Cecile Schoberle
The hard thing about this book is deciding
whether it'll grab kids because of its icky-squishyness, or
because of its presentation of fun and easy-to-do science
projects. 1996, Hyperion, Ages 8 to 12. $3.95.
Into The Sea
Brenda Z. Guiberson
Illustrated by Alix Berenzy
At dawn, a newly hatched sea turtle, no
bigger than a bottle cap, manages to survive the perils of
sand and sea. 1996, Holt, Ages 5 to 12, $15.95.
Just So Stories
Rudyard Kipling
Illustrations by Barry Moser
These stories cry out to be read aloud, as
Kipling himself once did for his own children. 1996, Books of
Wonder, All Ages, $22.00.
Leonardo da Vinci
Diane Stanley
For a guy who started off as the
illegitimate son of a peasant woman and a country nobleman,
Leonardo da Vinci ended up doing all right for himself. 1996,
Morrow, Ages 8 to 12, $16.00.
Locks, Crocs, & Skeeters: The Story of the Panama
Canal
Nancy Winslow Parker
An explanation of the people, politics, and
procedures that were used to tame the danger and realize the
dream of establishing a short-cut connection between the
Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. 1996, Greenwillow Books, New
York, Ages 10 and up, $16.00.
Milk and Honey: A Year of Jewish Holidays
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Louise August
With art, story, song, and history Jane
Yolen and Louise August have created an informative and
inviting Jewish almanac. 1996, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Ages 6
and up, $21.95.
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
Alan Schroeder
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
A stirring account of the 1820's plantation
life of the young slave Minty, (as Harriet Tubman was known
as a child). 1996, Dial, Ages 5 to 12, $16.99.
Miro in the Kingdom of the Sun
Jane Kurtz
Woodcuts by David Frampton
Kurtz retells the Incan folktale of Miro's
determination to reach her dream and her kinship with all
things wild. 1996, Houghton, Ages 7 to 10, $15.95.
Mississippi Going North
Sanna Anderson Baker
Paintings by Bill Farnsworth
A nicely evocative portrait of the
headwaters of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota.
1996, Albert Whitman & Company, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95.
Molly Limbo
Margaret Hodges
Illustrated by Elizabeth Miles
This gently didactic tale is the author's
own version of an old Scottish folktale. 1996, Atheneum, Ages
3 to 9, $16.00.
Muskrat Will Be Swimming
Cheryl Savageau
Illustrated by Robert Hynes
The kids in school are unkind and they call
the kids who live by the water Lake Rats. Jeannie is upset,
because she loves the lake and all of the surrounding
wildlife. 1996, Northland, Ages 5 up, $14.95.
The One-Eyed Giant and Other Monsters from the Greek
Myths
Anne Rockwell
With economy of phrase, and playful and
appropriately horrific illustrations, Rockwell retells ten
well-known tales about monsters from Greek mythology. 1996,
Greenwillow Books, $16.00. Ages 5 to 8.
Raptors!: The Nastiest Dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Illustrated by David Peters.
Don Lessem was a science advisor to Steven
Spielberg's Jurassic Park, and is quick to point out in this
book the difference between film fiction and fact on the
subject of small, meat-eating dinosaurs. 1996, Little, Brown,
Ages 5 to 10.
Red Wolf Country
Jonathan London
Illustrated by Daniel Sans Souci
Beautiful, evocative watercolors and a
brief, poetic text introduce us to the world of the
endangered red wolf, which disappeared from the wild in 1980.
1995, Dutton, Ages 4 to 9, $15.99.
TheReturn of the Buffaloes
Paul Goble
As the subtitle indicates, this is a Plains
Indians story of famine and renewal of the earth. 1996,
National Geographic, Ages 7 up, $15.95.
See Your Around, Sam!
Lois Lowry
Illustrated by Diane de Groat
In this latest book featuring Sam and
Anastasia Krupnik, we spend an afternoon with Sam as he runs
away from home. 1996, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 6 to 8,
$14.95.
Shiloh Season
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
This sequel to the Newbery Medal winning
Shiloh is set in rural West Virginia. A realistic portrait of
rural life and its culture. 1996, Atheneum, Ages 8 to 12,
$15.00.
Shock Waves Through Los Angeles: The Northridge
Earthquake
Carole G. Vogel
Vogel writes of crusts and mantle, plates
and fault zones, as well as of human tragedy, heroism and
survival. 1996, Little, Brown, Ages 9 up, $15.95.
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei
Peter Sis
This is an exceptional book that documents
the life of a great scientist who children usually don't meet
until they are older. 1996, Frances Foster Books /FS&G, Ages
3 to 12, $16.00.
The Tale of Tsar Sultan
Alexander Pushkin
Pictures by Gennady Spirin
Betrayed by her jealous sisters, a young
tsarina and her infant son are cast out to sea. 1996, Dial,
Ages 6 up, $16.99.
The Toy Brother
William Steig
Yorick is a mischievous boy who meddles
with alchemy in his father's medieval workshop, and
accidently shrinks himself to the size of a toy. 1996,
HarperCollins, Ages 5 up, $14.95.
The Unbreakable Code
Sara Hoagland Hunter
Illustrated by Julia Miner
In this compelling combination of story and
history, Hunter reveals the heroic work of Navajo signalmen
during World War II. 1996, Northland, Ages 8 up, $14.95.
What's the Matter, Kelly Beans?
Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Gordon Tessler
The Brennans just moved to a new neighborhood and
Kelly is feeling out of sorts. 1996, Candlewick Press, Ages 7
to 10, $ 14.99.
When Birds Could Talk and Bats Could Sing
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrated by Barry Moser
Hamilton has taken African American tales
originally written down by Martha Young shortly after the
Civil War, and retells them in colloquial speech to make them
accessible to today's readers and storytellers. 1996,
Scholastic, All Ages, $17.95.
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's
Fastest Woman
Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by David Diaz
It truly is amazing to learn that a little
premature baby who was stricken with many childhood diseases,
including the dreaded polio, overcame it all to become one of
the world's greatest runners. 1996, Harcourt, Ages 7 to 12,
$16.00.
The Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
Zwerger now brings her extraordinary
talents to this modern fairy tale and has created a
masterpiece of fantasy. 1996, North-South, Ages 7 up,
$19.95.
Longer Books with More Sophisticated Themes for Middle Readers (Children 8 to 12)
Amazon Diary: The Jungle Adventures of Alex
Winters
Hudson Talbott
Illustrated and photographed by Mark Greenberg
It is a very appealing way for both kids
and adults to learn more about the Amazon Jungle and the
Yanomami people. 1996, Putnam, Ages 8 up. $15.95.
Bad Girls
Cynthia Voight
The personalities of both "bad girls",
Mrs. Chemsky, and the other students are especially well
developed. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 9 to 13, $16.95.
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple
Karen Cushman
Lots of interesting characters and
descriptions of the hard life facing the miners, and those
whose livelihoods are part of the gold fever, make for an
amusing and informative look at California and the struggles
of one girl to find herself and a place to call home. 1996,
Clarion, Ages 10 up, $13.95.
The Bone Detectives
Donna M. Jackson
Photographs by Charlie Fellenbaum
Its subtitle, “How Forensic
Anthropologists Solve Crimes and Uncover Mysteries of the
Dead,” nearly tells it all. 1996, Little, Brown, Ages 10
up, $16.95.
Clara and the Hoo Doo Man
Elizabeth Partridge
This tale revolves around Clara’s
struggles to gain her mother’s respect, her
mother’s superstition about the hoo doo man, and
Clara’s fight to save her little sister Bessie’s
life. 1996, Dutton Children’s Books, Ages 8 to 12,
$14.99.
The Classroom at the End of the Hall
Douglas Evans
Illustrated by Larry di Fiori
Evans introduces us to the strangest
elementary school classroom in the world. 1996, Front Street,
Ages 7 to 10, $14.95.
Crash
Jerry Spinelli
Spinelli humorously tells this coming of
age story. 1996, Knopf, $16.00, Ages 11 to 14.
The Cuckoo’s Child
Suzanne Freeman
Mia returns to America from Beirut after
her parents mysteriously disappear at sea. 1996, Greenwillow,
Ages 11 up, $15.00.
Daring to be Abigail
Rachel Vail
After stating that she has never refused a
dare, Abigail gets trapped into carrying out a very nasty
prank on her only friend at camp. 1996, Orchard Book, Ages 10
up, $15.95.
The Down & Up Fall
Johanna Hurwitz
Illustrated by Gail Owens
Hurwitz’s humorous series featuring
the friends Bolivia, Rory, and Derek is now completed. 1996,
Morrow, Ages 8 to 12, $15.00.
Earthquakes
Sally M. Walker
This Carolrhoda earth watch book explains
the forces involved in earthquakes, scientific measurements
and predictions of earthquakes, and survival tips if caught
in an earthquake. 1996, Carolrhoda Books, Ages 10 and up,
$19.95 and $7.95.
Exotic Invaders: Killer Bees, Fire Ants, and Other
Alien Species are Infesting America!
Jeanne Lesinski
Besides killer bees and fire ants, six
brief chapters describe problems associated with sea lampreys
and zebra mussels in the Great Lakes. 1996, Walker, Ages 8
up, $16.95.
Far North
Will Hobbs
This bracing, genuinely exciting adventure
novel gives new life to the durable lost-in-the-wilderness
genre. 1996, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 11 and up, $15.
Following My Own Footsteps
Mary Downing Hahn
In this sequel to Scott O’Dell Award
winner Stepping on the Cracks, we learn what happens to Gordy
Smith after his abusive father went to jail and his mother
moved the remaining family south. 1996, Clarion, Ages 10 to
14, $13.95.
Full Steam Ahead: The Race to Build a Transcontinental
Railroad
Rhoda Blumberg
In a meticulously researched book about the
building of a railroad that would span the continental U.S.,
Blumberg’s writing entertains and informs. 1996,
National Geographic, Ages 10 up, $18.95.
The Ghost of Grania O’Malley
Michael Morpurgo
Readers will be drawn into this magical
story of perseverance, strength, and common bonds as
today’s inhabitants of Clare Island join with the
pirates, cutthroats, and other ancestors of its past to
preserve their future. 1996, Viking, Ages 9 up, $14.99.
Ghost Train
Jess Mowry
With the help of his street-smart neighbor
Niya, Remi tries to solve the mystery of a murder that took
place on the train while at the same time adjusting to life
in his new country. 1996, Holt, Ages 9 up, $14.95. Reviewer:
Rebecca Joseph
The Great Interactive Dream Machine
Richard Peck
The Great Interactive Dream machine, which
will grant the boys anything they wish for&139;
anything in the
whole world! There are, however, certain small problems with
the machine. 1996, Dial, Ages 9 to 14, $14.99.
The Greek News
Anton Powell & Philip Steele
The Roman News
Andrew Langly & Philip De Souza
These two oversized books representing
daily newspapers are a very clever way to teach history.
1996, Candlewick, Ages 8 up, $15.99.
Hurricanes: Earth’s Mightiest Storms
Patricia Lauber
Hurricanes are powerful, terrifying, and
damaging, yet they are also one of the most fascinating
storms. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 9 and up, $ 16.95.
Iditarod Dream
Ted Wood
A native of Alaska, Dusty follows his
family's tradition of dog racing. 1996, Walker, Ages 8 to 12,
$16.95.
Introducing Beethoven
Introducing Gershwin
Roland Vernon
Two excellent biographies of world famous
musicians. 1996, Silver Burdett, Ages 10 and up, $14.95 and
$8.95 (paper).
Jip: His Story
Katherine Paterson
Jip is the fascinating story of an orphan
“poor farm” boy in Vermont during the 1850’s.
1996, Lodestar, Ages 9 up, $15.99.
Margaret Bourke-White: A Photographer’s
Life
Emily Keller
Margaret Bourke-White is best remembered
for her work as a photographer for Life magazine. 1996,
Lerner, Ages 12 up, $22.95.
Orphan Train Rider: One Boy’s True
Story
Andrea Warren
It is a true story, and as such is
compelling in its revelation of Lee’s emotions and the
well researched details of this American social experiment.
1996, Houghton, Ages, 10 up, $15.95.
Purely Rosie Pearl
Patricia A. Cochrane
Rosie Pearl Bush engages us from the first
to the last paragraph in this moving story of the struggles
of a migrant family. 1996, Delacorte, Ages 12 up, $14.95.
Room for a Stranger
Ann Turnbull
This historical fiction sequel to Speedwell
and No Friend of MIne continues the adventures of the Dyer
family and features the youngest daughter, Doreen. 1996,
Candlewick Press, Ages 11 to 15, $15.99.
The Sandy Bottom Orchestra
Garrison Keillor
Jenny Lind Nilsson
Rachel Green is afraid of becoming just
like her parents. 1996, Hyperion, Ages 10 up, $14.95.
Reviewer:
Sees Behind Trees
Michael Dorris
Set in the 16th century, this is a steadily
paced Native American story with wonderful character
development. 1996, Hyperion, Ages 10 up, $14.95.
Step by Wicked Step
Anne Fine
This British novel begins with a chilling
tale of a small group of school children spending a stormy
night in an old mansion with a secret room, but it takes a
unexpected twist. 1996, Little, Brown, Ages 8 to 12,
$15.95.
Taxi Navigator
Richard Mosher
While it isn’t unusual, living through
the divorce of one’s parents isn’t easy. 1996,
Philomel, Ages 8 up, $15.95.
The Tuskegee Airmen: Blacks Heroes of World War
II
Jaqueline L. Harris
Until recently few people knew of the
Tuskegee Airmen, African-American pilots who overcame
prejudice at home to become fighter pilots during World War
II. 1996, Dillon Press, Ages 10 up, $13.95 and $7.95.
The View From Saturday
E. L. Konigsburg
The expertise and experience of the author
glimmer in this intriguing novel about the journey and
triumph of Epiphany Middle School’s sixth-grade
scholastic bowl team. 1996, Atheneum, Ages 8 to 12,
$16.00.
William Tell
Leonard Everett Fisher
We know the overture, we know the legend of
his shooting an arrow through an apple while it sat on his
son's head, and now we are treated to a full-length version
under the artistic guidance of Leonard Everett Fisher. 1996,
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Ages 5 to 10, $16.00.
Wonder Child and Other Jewish Fairy Tales
Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush,
Illustrated by Stephen Fieser.
These stories come from almost all over the
world&139;
Morocco, Egypt, Libya, as well as Poland and the
generic "Eastern Europe." 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 8 up,
$16.95.
Young Adult (Children 12 and Up)
An American Hero
Barry Denenberg
This biography traces the life of Charles
A. Lindbergh from his early success, his lionization (and
persecution) by the press, the tragedy of his son’s
kidnapping, and his fall from grace as a Nazi sympathizer.
1996, Scholastic, Ages 12 up, $16.95.
Anastasia’s Album
Hugh Brewster
The sad story of the last of the ruling
Romanovs has been told many times, but this book provides a
personal, intimate glimpse of the family through the
photographs, drawings and writings of Anastasia, youngest
daughter of the Tsar. 1996, Hyperion, Ages 12 up, $17.95.
Belle Prater’s Boy
Ruth White
In this beautifully written novel, Gypsy
tells the story of her sixth grade year when her cousin
Woodrow comes to live next door. 1996, Farrar, Ages 10 up,
$16.00.
Confess-O-Rama
Ron Koertge
Fifteen-year-old Tony Candelaria has had to
grow up fast. His mom has been widowed an amazing four
times, leaving her an emotional basket case. 1996, Orchard
Books, Ages 12 and up, $17.99.
Dangerous Skies
Suzanne Fisher Staples
This novel takes a frightening look at the
depth and effects of racism in modern society. 1996, Farrar,
Ages 12 up, $16.00.
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs.
Dunphrey
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Tish’s mother has abandoned her and
her younger brother Matt. Tish is trying desperately to do
the child-rearing that her mother should be doing. 1996,
Simon and Schuster, Ages 12 up, $15.00.
Gateway
Lee Robinson
Thirteen year old Margaret's comfortable,
secure life in a beautifully restored historic house in
Charleston South Carolina, is suddenly disrupted when her
mother decides that she wants her own life and asks her
father to move out. 1996, Houghton, Ages 11 to 15,
$14.95.
A Girl Named Disaster
Nancy Farmer
The story of Nhamo’s survival and
maturing during this harrowing journey will keep readers
turning the pages. 1996, Orchard Books, Ages 12 up,
$19.95.
Imitate the Tiger
Jan Cheripko
A high school senior, Chris loves to play
football more than anything else, but even the camaraderie of
his football team and a championship season cannot compensate
for his internal emptiness. Alcohol becomes Chris’ way
of trying to forget his unhappiness. 1996, Boyds Mills Press,
Ages 12 up, $14.95.
John Steinbeck
Catherine Reef
Catherine Reef and her publisher have been
producing the most attractive and intelligent author
biographies around. 1996, Clarion, Ages 12 up, $17.95.
The Life and Death of Crazy Horse
Russell Freedman
Drawings by Amos Bad Heart Bull
In this compelling biography based on
extensive research and the artwork of a tribal historian and
cousin of Crazy Horse, we get acquainted with this famous
Native American chief. 1996, Holiday, Ages 12 up, $19.95.
The Long Season of Rain
Helen Kim
This tale of a Korean family who bring an
orphaned boy into their home is subtly told by an observant
and introspective eleven-year-old narrator named Junehee.
1996, Holt, Ages 8 up, $15.95.
The Maestro
Tim Wynne-Jones
When 14-year-old Burl runs away from his
brutish father, he finds a place that feels like paradise.
1996, Orchard, Ages 12 up, $16.95.
The Music of Dolphins
Karen Hesse
Mia has been raised since the age of four
by a pod of dolphins, and when she is discovered by humans
she has no memory of any other family. 1996, Scholastic, Ages
12 up, $14.95.
The Orphan’s Tent
Tom De Haven
Illustrated by Christopher H. Bing
Extrapolating from the historical Orphan
Train saga, De Haven has constructed a curious and
fascinating fantasy. 1996, Atheneum, Ages 12 up, $18.00.
Parrot in the Oven: MiVida
Victor Martinez
Given the book’s subject matters, it
is an excellent resource for classroom discussion, on the
topics of spousal abuse, gangs, and racism. 1996,
HarperCollins, Ages 12 up, $14.95.
Political Timber
Chris Lynch
Fins Foley was the mayor; now he is doing
time, but the vast political machine he controls is still to
be reckoned with. 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 14 up, $14.95.
The President Has Been Shot!
Rebecca C. Jones
Considering that there have only been 42
presidents of the United States and four have been
assassinated, and attempts were made on six more, the ability
of our American government to continue without faltering is
impressive. 1996, Dutton, Ages 10 up, $14.99.
Remembering Mog
Colby Rodowsky
Although Annie Fitzhugh is about to
graduate from high school, and has been accepted by several
colleges, she feels very confused and uncertain about what to
do with her life. 1996, Farrar, Ages 11 up, $14.00.
Slam!
Walter Dean Myers
The book is filled with fast-paced dialogue
and action-packed basketball scenes which help show
Slam’s identity crisis as he tries to decide where he
belongs. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 14 up, $15.95.
SOS Titanic
Eve Bunting
The plot is engrossing, interlaced with
details about the Titanic's construction and fateful voyage.
1996, Harcourt Brace, Ages 12 up, $6.00.
Stone Water
Barbara Snow Gilbert
Fifteen-year-old Grant Hughes’ Grandpa
is hospitalized and unable to communicate. Grant must find a
letter which Grandpa hid, with instructions that the letter
was to be read when Grandpa is moved into the “other
part” of the nursing home. 1996, Front Street, Ages 13
up, $15.95.
The Tuesday Cafe
Don Trembath
This intriguing first novel by a Canadian
author takes a fresh look at the coming of age story and
provides a unique tale of sarcasm, angst, and candor. 1996,
Orca, Ages 12 up, $6.95.
The Whistling Toilets
Randy Powell
Can Stan figure out what is causing
Ginny’s tennis slump and get her to win the local
Seattle tournament? 1996, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 13 and
up, $17.00.
A Young Patriot: the American Revolution as Experienced
by One Boy
Jim Murphy
Joseph Plumb Martin was only 15 in 1776,
when he joined the revolutionary army in Milford
Massachusetts. 1996, Clarion, Ages 11 up, $15.95.
Zel
Donna Jo Napoli
Zel is a tour de force of characterization
and suspense. Fantasy and magic blend seamlessly with
reality. 1996, Dutton, Ages 11 to adult, $15.99.
Zero at the Bone
Michael Cadnum
Cadnum provides a gripping account of a
family’s ordeal when their eighteen year old daughter
Anita fails to come home from work one night. 1996, Viking,
Ages 13 up, $14.99.
Poetry
Falling Up: A New Book of Poems and
Drawings
Shel Silverstein
If you’re looking for something that
will bring out the poetry lover in your child, this is it.
1996, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95.
The Goof Who Invented Homework and Other School
Poems
Kalli Dakos
Illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Dakos takes readers through a
“typical” school year with three dozen poems. 1996,
Dial, Ages 7 up, $13.99.
Monday's Troll
Jack Prelutsky
Peter Sis
Prelutsky's zany new book of poetry on
unsavory characters such as ogres, wizards, goblins and
giants tells the rest of the story. 1996, Greenwillow, Ages
4 and up, $16.00.
Oh Grow Up! Poems to Help You Survive Parents, Chores,
School, and other Afflictions
Florence Parry Heide and Roxanne Heide Pierce
The essence of childhood drudgery has been
captured in these delightful, rhythmic lines. 1996, Orchard,
Ages 7 to 12, $15.95.
A Pizza the Size of the Sun
Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by James Stevenson
A large collection of humorous poems on a
variety of subjects that will appeal to kids. 1996,
Greenwillow, Ages 6 to 12, $18.00.
Poetry Party
Bruce Lansky
Illustrated by Stephen Carpenter
Lansky, well-known as the editor of several
anthologies for children, has written a funny book of poetry.
1996 Meadowbrook, Ages 6 up, $12.00.
Sun Through the Window
Marci Ridlon
“The univeral qualities of childhood
do not change much over the years; Marci captures those
universal qualities and concerns and joys in her poems.”
1996, Boyds Mills, Ages 6 to 9, $7.95.
If you would like the full reviews for the books on the 1997 Choice List, it is available from Children’s Literature for $14.99. Also Children’s Literature can provide copies of the books. Use the on-line order form or call 1- 800 469 2070. Mention our Web site and get a 15% discount on your book order.
Added 04/01/98
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