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Picks for Kids
Grades K–3
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman- Celebrates the shape of a spiral in nature, from rushing rivers to flower buds and even the shape of an ear.
Neville by Norton Juster- When a boy and his family move to a new house, he devises an ingenious way to meet people in the neighborhood.
My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee- A rhinoceros does only two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites. But rhinoceroses can really do more--so much more--than that!
Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden- Cast off by her old friends, Cinderella agrees to help a new student deal with the stepsisters she will soon have, and meantime, a former friend tries to prevent Cinderella from dancing the lead in their tap recital.
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke- When young Zita discovers a device that opens a portal to another place, and her best friend is abducted, she is compelled to set out on a strange journey from star to star in order to get back home.
Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider- A father tells outlandish stories while trying to get his young son, who is a very picky eater, to eat foods he thinks he will not like.
E-Mergency by Tom Lichtenheld-
The letter E has fallen and injured herself-- which letters will replace her and how will words be spelled without her?
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers- When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he tries to knock it down with increasingly larger and more outrageous things.
The Totally Awesome Epic Quest of the Brave Boy Knight by Pranas Naujokaitis- A young boy and his furry friend, Butterscotch, as brave knights, battle a green monster that is destroying a princess's kingdom, seek a hidden treasure, and patrol the kingdom.
Balloons over Broadway: the True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet-
Tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America--the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Me-- Jane by Patrick McDonnell- Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals. Includes biographical information on the prominent zoologist.
Pomelo Begins to Grow by Ramona Badescu- When his favorite dandelion looks surprisingly small, Pomelo the garden elephant discovers that he is growing and then wonders about the mysterious process called growth.
Grades 4–6
Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland- Presents a collection of stories about animals who have forged unlikely, abiding bonds with other animals of different species, from Koko the gorilla and All Ball the kitten to Owen the hippo and the tortoise Mzee.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente- Twelve-year-old September's ordinary life in Omaha turns to adventure when a Green Wind takes her to Fairyland to retrieve a talisman the new and fickle Marquess wants from the enchanted woods.
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu- "Hazel and Jack are best friends until an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own, entering an enchanted wood in the hopes of saving Jack's life"-- Provided by publisher.
Sidekicks by Dan Santat- When Captain Amazing feels he is getting too old to be a reliable superhero, he tries to hire a new sidekick, but his pets have different ideas.
Attack of the Vampire Weenies and Other Warped and Creepy Tales by David Lubar- Thirty creepy stories about warped technology, revengeful ants, sadistic gym teachers, and other terrifying things. Includes author's notes on how he got his ideas for these stories.
The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson- When the Hag of Dribble, an orphan boy, and a troll called Ulf are sent to rescue a princess from an ogre, it turns out to be far from the routine magical mission they expect.
Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan- When Papa goes away for a little while, his family tries to cope with the separation by adopting four dogs and a cat.
Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham- Top notch Boy Scout Max "the Wolf" cannot remember how he came to be in a strange forest, but soon he and three talking animals are on the run from the Blue Cutters, hunters who will alter the foursome's very essence if they can catch them.
The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce- When two Mongolian brothers inexplicably appear one morning in her sixth grade class, Julie, who lives in a town near Liverpool named Bootle, becomes their new friend and "Good Guide," navigating them through soccer, school uniforms, and British slang.
Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach
- When brothers Simon, Henry, and Jack move with their parents to Arizona, they are irresistably drawn to explore the aptly named Superstition Mountain, in spite of warnings that it is not safe.
The Fires Beneath the Sea by Lydia Millet
- Cara's mother is missing and the rest of her family is ignoring the problem or is busy with other things. But when a watery spector begins to haunt the family's Cape Cod home, Cara and her brothers realize their scientist mother may not have been who they thought she was. With the help of Cara's best friend Hayley, the brothers and sisters embark on a quest that will lead them from Cape's hidden, ancient places to a shipwreck at the bottom of the sea. They're soon on the front lines of an ancient battle between good and evil, with the terrifying Pouring Man close on their heels.
Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature by Sarah C. Campbell
- What's the biggest mathematical mystery in nature? Fibonacci numbers! The pattern creeps up in the most unexpected places. It's clear that math holds secrets to nature and that nature holds secret numbers.
