Birthday Books
(Books preceded by J are picture books.)
Books for Younger Children (ages 5-7)
ANOTHER IMPORTANT BOOK by Margaret Wise Brown. Look inside this book and discover all the important things about being six, five, four, three, one, two and YOU. By the author of Goodnight Moon.
BRAVEMOLE by Lynne Jonell Jonell. The author reenacts the events of September 11 through the eyes of an animal who perhaps can help young readers to shoulder their fears. Mole wears a hard-hat, carries a lunch pail and lives in a burrow with his molewife and babymole.
DAVID GETS IN TROUBLE by David Shannon. the cat-tail-pulling, burping, grape-juice-dropping, runny-egg-hating out-of-control David wins us over in the end. A defiant "No, it wasn't me!" evolves into a guilt-ridden, late-at-night shout, "Yes! It was me! I'm sorry. I love you, mom."
CRICKWING by Janell Cannon. From the author of Stellaluna, who taught us that bats can be cute, comes this new book about a cockroach with a cricked wing and a flair for sculpture.
DADDY IS A DOODLEBUG by Bruce Degen. As Daddy and his doodlebug snack on potoodle chips, padoodle their canoe, and count firefloodles, they savor the special joys of companionship by spending time doing the things they love, together.
THE DINOSAURS OF WATERHOUSE HAWKINS by Barbara Kerley. Can you fathom a time when almost no one in the world knew what a dinosaur looked like? That was true in the mid-nineteenth century, until an artist named Waterhouse Hawkins brought these animals to life for all to see. From the youngest dinosaur aficionados to those interested in art, science, or pioneering people, the story of Waterhouse Hawkins and his dinosaurs has something to teach all of us about the importance of believing in oneself and following a dream.
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT PIRATES by Tom Lichtenheld. A collection of made-up facts, educated guesses, and silly pictures about bad guys of the high seas.
EVERYTHING TO SPEND THE NIGHT FROM A TO Z by Ann Paul. What’s in the overnight bag? Find out in this lively alphabet book that captures all the delights of spending a night away from home.
FARMER BROWN SHEARS HIS SHEEP by TERI SLOAT. Children can learn about the process of turning wool into the yarn that becomes the sweaters on their backs, while sympathizing with the somewhat ineffective sheep who must become all tangled up in yarn before clueless Farmer Brown catches on to their plight. However, never let it be said that Farmer Brown doesn't have a heart.
FISHING IN THE AIR by Sharon Creech. A father and son set out early one morning in search of a cool, clear river in which to fish. With their lines and bobbers, they cast high into the air catching memories, discoveries and a bubble of breeze, and a sliver of sky, and a slice of yellow sun.
HEDGIE’S SURPRISE by Jan Brett. Every morning the Tomten steals an egg from Henny’s nest for his Breakfast. Henny doesn’t like the Tomten taking her egg. With the help of her friend Hedgie, the little hen finally gets to keep her eggs through a sharp and clever plan that in the end surprises even Henny.
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG by Jean Craighead George. Learn what those movements, sounds and looks from your dog really mean. Then learn how you can talk back to your dog in a language she will understand.
IDORA by Alex Gadard. The day Idora, a giraffe, found she would have to move out of her Paris apartment was one of the worst days of her life. But rather than make a bad situation worse, she musters the energy and imagination to turn her life around and recreate herself. And move she does . . . to the far-away sea of her dreams.
IF THE EARTH WERE A FEW FEET IN DIAMETER by Joe Miller. The meaning is simple but the message is enormous. If the Earth were small, we could see how lovely, miraculous and precious it is and we would want to protect it. The main story in the book consists of nine lines of verse whose single, powerful message builds page by page until the last line.
IGNUS by Gina Wilson. Everybody loved Ignis. He could run the fastest and fly the highest of all his dragon friends, and "his wings, depending on the weather, opened like silk umbrellas or gossamer parasols." But there was one thing Ignis couldn't do: "Every night, he sat at the back of the cave, huffing and puffing till he thought he would burst, but not a single flame ever appeared, not a flicker." And among dragons, who are always playing Fling a Flame and All Blaze Together, not being able to breathe fire can be pretty disappointing indeed.
JUBELA BY CRISTINA KESSLER. Based on the real-life experience of an orphaned rhino from Swaziland, Jubela is a heartbreaking--and heartwarming--story of the plight of rhinos, 97 percent of which have been lost to poachers over the last 30 years.
LITTLE MISS SPIDER AT SUNNY PATCH SCHOOL by David Kirk. Little Miss Spider is preparing for her first day at Sunny Patch School. Full of excitement and anticipation, she tries hard to, but just can’t, master her new lessons. In the end, however, she discovers that her true talent is kindness.
THE LITTLE WING GIVER by Jacques Taravant. Once, long, long ago, before birds and butterflies and bugs and windmills had wings, a little boy appeared with a bottomless bag of wings to distribute. No one knew where he came from, but everyone loved him. The boy, though devoted to his mission, grows tired and discouraged after a while, and is only "uplifted" by the love and gratitude of thousands of newly winged creatures. This book can be a gentle touching-off point for parents and kids to discuss spirituality, selflessness, and even death.
MAGIC WORDS by Edward Field. Drawing from Knud Rasmussen's writings of the Inuit people and their legends, Field presents the powerful and simple legends of the Inuit and their world. Readers will marvel at the magic of the words and images in this thoughtful fusion of culture, poetry, and art.
MARSUPIAL SUE by John Lithgow. Young Sue really doesn’t like being a kangaroo, so she goes off to find something better. First she tries climbing the trees like a koala, but that doesn’t work. Then she wades into the sea like a platypus, but that’s no good either. Finally Sue joins up with some bouncy, jouncy wallabies. . .and discovers that being a kangaroo isn’t so bad, after all.
MICHELANGELO by Diane Stanley. With her thoroughly researched, lively narrative and superbly detailed illustrations, Stanley has captured the life of an artist who towered above the late Renaissance-and whose brilliance in architecture, painting, and sculpture amazes and moves us to this day.
MISS ALAINEUS (A VOCABULARY DISASTER) by Debra Frasier. Sage has misheard and misunderstood one of Mrs. Page’s weekly vocabulary words. Her error leads to a humbling catastrophe (a momentous tragedy) in front of the entire class. Can she turn her vocabulary disaster (an event bringing great misfortune) into a triumph (a true success)?
NONSENSE SONGS by Edward Lear. They dined on mince and slices of quince, which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon. From one generation to the next, Lear’s nonsense rhymes have been beloved by children. Four favorites are here, illustrated by a gifted English artist. It is a perfect introduction for children to the magical, comical, mysterious world of Lear.
NOTHING SCARES US by Frieda Wishinsky and Neal Layton. Lucy and Lenny are best friends. They do everything together. They chase aliens together. They fight pirates together. They watch television together. Until one day the “Creature” appears on the television. Lenny loves it, but Lucy finds him scary! Dare she tell Lenny? What will he think of her? A funny and moving tale about friendship and adventure.
THE OTHER DOG by Madeleine L’Engle. Based on the true tale of her own talented pet’s experience coping with the new baby in the house, Newbery Award-winning author L’Engle now treats the youngest readers to a familiar domestic drama with an utterly charming new twist. Lively pictures tell Touchæ’s story with all the flair and wit of this most precocious poodle.
THE PRACTICALLY PERFECT PAJAMAS by Erik Brooks. Percy thinks his pajamas are practically perfect. The problem is that no one else agrees with Percy about his pj’s. The other bears and animals tease him for not looking like everyone else. Just when Percy has given up hope, he meets an Arctic fox that likes him for being different. Together they hatch a plan to show the others that being original is not only good, it’s “positively perfect.”
THE RED WOLF by Margaret Shannon. Roselupin has had quite enough of being locked away in her tower room. So when she receives a mysterious gift on her seventh birthday, she uses it as her ticket out of the tower and into the woods, where she howls and dances all day long-and surprises the kingdom folk right out of their socks. Twice.
SOMETIMES I’M BOMBALOO by Rachel Vail. Sometimes, Katie loses her temper. She uses her feet and her fists instead of words. When Katie is this mad, she’s just not herself. Sometimes, she is Bombaloo. Being Bombaloo is scary. But a little time-out and a lot of love calm Bombaloo down and help Katie feel like Katie again. This reassuring book is perfect for sharing with anyone who is, sometimes, Bombaloo.
STAND TALL, MARY LOU MELON by Patty Lovell. Molly Lou Melon may be tiny, clumsy, buck-toothed, and with a voice "like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor," but she doesn't mind. Her grandmother has utmost confidence in her. But Molly Lou's self-assurance is put to the test when she moves to a new town, away from her friends and beloved grandmother.
STELLA, FAIRY OF THE FOREST by Marie-Louise Gay. Stella’s little brother, Sam, wonders whether fairies are invisible. So begins the latest adventure of Stella, the irrepressible red-head, and her slightly apprehensive little brother.
THE SHORE BEYOND by MARY JOSLIN. A philosophical picture book about the discovery of one's journey in life. As a tiny child, Clara's imagination beckons her to explore. When she is old enough, she assists her father by rowing his ferry across the lake, but she longs to go beyond this point.
STRANGE STORIES FOR STRANGE LITTLE KIDS by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly. The everyday world is turned upside down and the ordinary becomes extraordinary in this collection of the strangest tales. From Art Spiegelman's The Several Lives of Selby Sheldrake to Maurice Sendak's Cereal Baby Keller to Jules Feiffer's Trapped in a Comic Book, these stories are sure to entice any young reader.
THE THREE PIGS by David Wiesner. Three pigs. . .Straw, sticks, bricks. . .Huffs and puffs. . . You probably know the rest. It’s an old story, and every time someone tells it the same thing happens. But who says it’s supposed to? Who’s in charge of this story? Who gets to decide? Has anyone asked the pigs? No? Well, it’s about time someone did.
THE TIN FOREST by Helen Ward. In the middle of a windswept wasteland full of discarded scrap metal lives a sad and lonely old man. In spite of his gloomy surroundings, he dreams every night of a lively forest full of birds and animals. When he finds a broken light fixture that looks like a flower an idea begins to grow in his mind. The rich illustrations and lyrical text carry an important, empowering message for readers of all ages: No matter where you live or what your circumstances, where there is imagination, there is hope.
TROLL TEACHER by Vivian Vande Velde. Elizabeth's new teacher may be named Miss Turtledove, but there's nothing lovely about her. In fact, the teacher is a gym-sock-eating, desk-stacking, fruit-throwing troll. No matter how hard they try, Elizabeth and her classmates can't convince anyone of Miss Turtledove's real identity.
THE ULTIMATE LEGO BOOK. This book contains everything that Lego Fans have ever wanted to know about the Lego Group and the Lego system of toys.
THE WATER BABIES by Charles Kingsley, retold by Josephine Poole. A favorite since its first publication in 1863, this "fairy tale for a land baby" evokes the magical underwater world encountered by a young chimney sweep. This facsimile edition features nearly 200 two-color illustrations plus 13 full-color plates.
WHEN LIGHTNING COMES IN A JAR by Patricia Polacco A fondly remembered family reunion provides the sweeter-than-sweet backdrop for this picture book, as Polacco recalls how she and her cousins eagerly anticipated her Gramma helping them "catch lightning in a jar”.
WIZZIL by William Steig. Wizzel is bored stiff. So with a little coaxing from her parrot, she turns herself into a housefly and heads over to Frimp Farm to stir up some trouble. Little does she know, DeWitt Frimp hates all breeds of fly and Wizzil narrowly escapes his swatter. Wasting no time at all, she cooks up a nasty plan to teach De Witt a lesson-but in the end, Wizzil finds something much sweeter than revenge.
Books for Older Children (ages 7-12)
AMERICAN GIRL – KAYA – Any or all of a Set of 6. The American Girls Collection welcomes a new character: Kaya, a member of the Nez Perce tribe. Billed as the "first" American Girl, Kaya's story takes place in 1764, before European-Americans made their way to the Pacific Northwest.
ALL THE WAY HOME by Patricia Reilly Giff. It’s August 1941, and Brick and Mariel, a former polio patient at the Windy Hill hospital, both love the Brooklyn Dodgers. After his family’s orchard in Windy Hill is destroyed by fire, Brick is sent to spend the summer with Mariel in her home near Ebbets Field. Maybe, together, they can find a way to return to Windy Hill, save the harvest, and learn the truth about Mariel’s past.
AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS by Jules Verne. Accompanied by his faithful valet Passepartout, the imperturbable and resourceful Phileas Fogg has vowed to make his way across the globe in a mere eighty days. A breathless series of triumphs, mishaps, and near-misses ensues, as the daring duo makes use of nearly every form of transportation then known to bring them closer to their goal. Illustrations and extended captions provide background information so that modern readers can enjoy the story within the context of its era.
ARTHUR, THE SEEING STONE by Kevin Crossley-Holland. This book is a unique and brilliant new take on the legends of King Arthur. It is like the seeing stone young Arthur de Caldicot is given. Use it to look into the past, and through the past into the future.
BARTLETT AND THE CITY OF FLAMES by Odo Hirsch. In this second book about Bartlett, Bartlett embarks on a wonderful adventure that takes him from a glorious palace in the City of Sun to the underground depths of the City of Flames, as he endeavors to rescue the kidnapped son of the Pasha.
BILLY THE BIRD by Dick King-Smith. Mary’s little brother seems perfectly normal, until one moonlit evening Mary finds him floating above his bed. Mary is astounded. Never before has anyone in Mary’s family been able to fly-even though their name is Bird. From then on, whenever the full moon rises, Mary, Lilyleaf (the cat) and Mr. Keylock (the guinea pig) stand guard as Billy the Bird flies up, up and away-and home again!
BENNY AND OMARby Eoin Colfer. Benny Shaw's passion is hurling (an Irish version of field hockey), and he's crushed when his father's job takes the family to North Africa for a year. Not only will he miss watching the All-Ireland Hurling Final, but he also has to deal with culture shock, from Tunisia's fierce heat to scorpions
CALEB’S STORY by Patricia MacLachman. Taking over the reins from his sister Anna, who narrated Sarah, Plain and Tall and Skylark, Caleb describes the event in this heartwarming third installment, in which Jacob is reunited with his father. As the novel opens, readers meet Cassie, the baby whom Sarah carries in Skylark; the country is at war in Europe; and Anna leaves home to work for a doctor in town and gives Caleb the responsibility of recording the family events.
CAROLINA CROW GIRL by Valerie Hobbs. Eleven-year-old Carolina lives with her mother and her baby sister in an old school bus. Wheels make you free, her mother says, free to pick up and go at anytime. This beautifully written, moving novel explores the fine line between safety and stagnation, rootlessness and freedom.
CASTAWAYS OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN by Brian Jacques. Filled with passion, drama, and salty images of the high seas, this unusual and deeply satisfying story follows the adventures of a young, mute boy, Neb, and his faithful talking Labrador who together survive the destruction of the doomed ship the Flying Dutchman. Destined to wander the earth together for all eternity, they wander the world, helping people in trouble as they brave the elements, eventually stumbling across a 19th century village on the verge of desolation and in desperate need of salvation.
DEAR OLLY by Michael Morpurgo. A story in three movements, told by three voices – Olly, a young British girl; Matt, her older brother who, moved by the plight of the Rwandan refugees he sees on the news, has left for Africa; and Hero, the swallow Olly and Matt rescued from the cat, who must also make his own migratory journey to Africa.
DRAGONSINGER by Anne McCaffrey. Second book in the Harper Hall trilogy, the story of Menolly of Half-Circle Seahold begins where Dragonsong left it. Menolly arrives at the Harper Hall in great style, on a bronze dragon and in the company of the MasterHarper himself! Now that a dream she once never dared believe would come true has become reality, she finds herself pondering what is to be her place, and what the MasterHarper is planning for her.
EVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE by Polly Harvath. Primrose Squarp simply knows her parents did not perish at sea during a terrible storm, but try convincing the other residents of Coal Harbour on that score. For all practical purposes Primrose is an orphan, and there’s no great clamoring of prospective adopters. When Uncle Jack reluctantly takes her in, Primrose does warm up to him, despite the eerie noises resembling a hockey game that haunt her in the night. But true sanctuary can always be found at a restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything-including lasagna-is served on a waffle.
FAIR WEATHER by Richard Peck. Thirteen-year-old Rosie lives on a farm with her hardworking parents, her Granddad, her sister, Lottie, poised on the threshold of adulthood, and her seven-year-old brother, Buster, "never around unless you didn't want him." Their quiet life changes when Aunt Euterpe invites the children and their mother to visit her in Chicago and see the World's Colombian Exposition.
FAREWELL MY LUNCHBAG by Bruce Hale. (A Chet Gecko Mystery). Chet Gecko’s hunger for mystery is matched only by his appetite for cockroach casserole, mosquito marshmallow surprise, and stinkbug pie. So when the cafeteria needs help catching a food thief, Chet digs into the case with a passion he usually reserves only for dessert.
FRANCIE by Karen English. Twelve-year-old Francie has one thing on her mind: getting out of Noble, Alabama. While she awaits her family’s move to join her father in Chicago, she takes on the task of teaching sixteen-year-old Jessie to read. But when events take a turn for the worse for Jesse, Francie the tutor finds herself in the position of being Jesse’s proud protector, even though it puts her and her family in serious danger.
JIM THE BOY – Tony Earley. The year is 1934, and like the rest of the country, Aliceville is feeling the pinch of the Great Depression. The story is the tale of a 10-year-old's expanding consciousness, which at first barely extends beyond the family property.
JUDY MOODY by Megan McDonald. Bad moods, good moods, even back-to-school moods-nine year old Judy has them all. She, her little “bother” Stink, her best friend Rocky, and her “pest” friend Frank Pearl will put you in a very Judy Moody mood . . . or something.
LADY LOLLIPOP by Kick King-Smith. Lollipop is no ordinary pig; she is the smartest pig in the entire kingdom. When people stare into Lollipop’s bright intelligent eyes, it somehow changes them for the better. But will Lollipop be able to win over the spoiled Princess Penelope-and her not-so-pig-friendly parents, the King and Queen?
LOVE THAT DOG by Sharon Creech. The author is a Newbery Medal winner who has created a. funny, sweet, original novel about an endearingly unassuming, straight-talking boy who discovers the powers and pleasures of poetry.
MIRACLE’S BOYS by Jacqueline Woodson. Nothing is like it used to be. If it were, Mama would still be alive. Papa wouldn’t have died. Charlie would still be the same old loving big brother to thirteen-year-old Lafayette, oldest brother Ty’ree would have gone to college, and Lafayette wouldn’t be so full of questions. This book tells the story of three remarkable young men-brothers who have only each other to rely on and must decide whether they’ll work with that or let it tear them apart.
PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL (LADYKNIGHT) by Tamara Pierce. The sturdy young heroine, Kel, has finally been knighted. Never one to rest on her laurels, Kel tackles the horrific magic killing devices she was shown in the Chamber of the Ordeal during her knighthood initiation. (for ages 11+)
ROCKING HORSE LAND AND OTHER CLASSIC TALES OF DOLLS AND TOYS compiled by Naomi Lewis. This magnificent collection of classic stories celebrates the intimate and imaginative relationship between child and treasured toy. The exquisite pictures of Angela Barrett sparkle with magic and mystery.
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS – BOOK 6: THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR by Lemony Snicket. Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS – BOOK 7: THE VILE VILLAGE by Lemony Snicket. Nobody in their right mind would read this particular book about the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire on purpose. It contains such unpleasant matters as migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats.
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS – BOOK 8: THE HOSTILE HOSPITAL by Lemony Snicket. Within this book’s pages are such burdensome details as a suspicious shopkeeper, unnecessary surgery, an intercom system, anesthesia, heart-shaped balloons, and some very startling news about a fire. Clearly you do not want to read about such things.
A SINGLE SHARD by Linda Sue Park. The 2001 Newbery-award winner is the story of Tree-ear, an orphan. This account of a creative spirit on its journey toward fulfillment is set in twelfth-century Korea, where the course of human destiny could be determined by a single celadon shard.
SIR GALAHAD, MR. LONGFELLOW, AND ME by Betty Horvath. In 1938 Missouri, sixth-grader Emily wants to leave behind at Park School something that says she is important. With the guidance of her teacher, Emily discovers her gift of poetry.
STORM WARRIORS by Elisa Carbone. The day Nathan helps rescue the crew of a storm-lashed ship, and then watches the black surfmen of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station sharing stories and laughter with the white sailors, he knows that he wants nothing more than to become a surfman. He wants to learn how to row the heavy surfboat, breathe life into half-drowned sailors, and fight the fiercest storms-and win. Inspired by the real Pea Island Life-Saving Station on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the 1890’s, Storm Warriors is a moving tribute to its brave African American crew.
WILD MAN ISLAND by Will Hobbs. In this wilderness adventure novel the 14-year-old Andy Galloway hero kayaks his way through an Alaskan strait and ends up on Admiralty Island on a quest inspired by the death of his archeologist father.
WHAT KATY DID by Susan Coolidge. A classic, first published in 1872, a book about Katy, the eldest of six children who live with their father and their fussy Aunt Izzie in a little American town. Katy always means to set a good example but, being a girl who likes adventures, she gets into all kinds of scrapes instead. Then one day Katy refuses to do as she is told and disaster strikes.