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Best of the Best

Outstanding Books of 1997 to 2008
From the 1998 to 2008 editions of The Best Children's Books of the Year

Under Five | Five to Nine | Nine and Up | Twelve and Up | SPECIAL INTERESTS

Special Interests

ACTIVITIES

All in Just One Cookie

by Susan E. Goodman, ill. by Timothy Bush
(Greenwillow, 2006)

Grandma bakes cookies while her dog and cat research the origins of the ingredients. Recipe included. (8-12)
 

Can You See What I See?: Picture Puzzles to Search and Solve

written and ill. by Walter Wick
(Scholastic, 2002)

To find: a series of small objects set in wonderfully complex photographic compositions.  (5-10)
 

Follow the Line

by Laura Ljungkvist
 (Viking, 2006)
In this creative counting book, the reader follows a single line through different terrains. (4-7)
 

Grow It Again

by Elizabeth MacLeod, ill. by Caroline Price
( Kids Can, 1999)
Directions for potting the seeds and green tops from the foods we eat. (8-11)
 

How Many : Spectacular Paper Sculptures

by Ron van der Meer
(Random, 2007)
Exquisite designs invite discovery of different shapes and colors through an interactive format. (6-9)
 

How to Write Poetry
by Paul B. Janeczko
 (Scholastic, 1999)
Advice and practice writing various types of rhyming poems, free verse, narratives. Includes a bibliography, glossary, and biographies of poets whose poems are included as examples. (10-14)
 

The Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts

by Judy Ann Sadler, Gwen Blakely Kinsler, Jackie Young, Biz Storms, ill.
by Esperança Melo, June Bradford, Jane Kurisu
(Kids Can, 2005, paperback)
Colorful, clear illustrations and instructions for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, appliqué and more. (10-14)
 

Kids Cook 1-2-3: Recipes for young chefs using only 3 ingredients

by Rozanne  Gold, ill. by Sara Pinto
(Bloomsbury, 2006)
Excellent, appealing creative recipes should inspire all ages to cook.  Attractive illustrations, clear directions. (8+)
 

Making Fleece Crafts
by Judy Ann Sadler, ill. by June Bradford
(Kids Can Press, 2000)
Attractive, easy-to-make projects. (8-12)


Mouse House

by Juliet Williams
(Handprint, 2002)

A lift-the-flap, seek and find search for seven tiny white mice among a photo-collage of found objects. (4-7)
 

One Red Dot: A Pop-Up Book for Children of All Ages
written and ill.
by David A. Carter
(S&S, 2005)

Exquisite paper sculptures and challenging puzzles. (6-10)
 

A String of Beads
by Margaret S. Reid, ill. by Ashley Wolff
(Dutton, 1998)
A child learns from her grandmother the many different kinds and uses of beads. Vibrant illustrations. (4-8)


Traditional Crafts from China
Traditional Crafts from Japan
Traditional Crafts from the Caribbean

by Florence Temko, ill. by Randall Gooch
(Lerner, 2001)
Fascinating traditional crafts adapted for construction with everyday materials. (9-14)



ANTHOLOGIES

Face Relations: 11 stories about seeing beyond color

by Marilyn Singer
(S&S, 2004)

Intriguing short story collection about teens explores the many possible ways to embrace diversity. (12-14)
 

Fire and Wings: Dragon Tales from East and West
edited
by Marianne Carus, ill. by Nilesh Mistry
(Cricket, 2002)

A host of dragons by fifteen authors including Eric A. Kimmel, Jane Yolen and E. Nesbitt. (9-12)
 

First Crossing: stories about teen immigrants
edited
by Donald R. Gallo
(Candlewick,  2004)

Ten short stories about teenage immigrants living in the United States
by popular young adult authors. (12-14)
 

Wachale!: Poetry and Prose about Growing Up Latino in America
edited
by Ilan Stavans
(Cricket, 2001)

A superb collection of writings that celebrate the joys and challenges of growing up Latino in the United States.  (10-13)
 

When I Was Your Age, Volume Two: Original Stories about Growing Up

edited by Amy Ehrlich
(Candlewick, 1999)

Ten stories reflecting important incidents from their youth written
by noted children's book authors, including Norma Fox Mazer, Karen Hesse and E.L. Konigsburg. (11-14)
 


ARCHITECTURE

Building Big

by David Macaulay
(HMC, 2001)
 
Technical and historical perspectives of bridges, dams and other large constructions. Clearly written with helpful illustrations. (11+)
 

Empire State Building

by Elizabeth Mann, ill. by Alan Witschonke, photos by Lewis Hine
(Mikaya, 2003)
Clear text, fascinating facts and captivating illustrations and photos. (9-13)
 

Mosque
written and ill. by David Macaulay
(HMC, 2003)
Clear text and detailed illustrations show the extensive construction process of this impressive structure while presenting its impact on a community. (11-14)
 


ARTS

600 Black Spots: A Pop-Up Book for Children of All Ages

by David A. Carter, paper engineering by David A. Carter
(Little Simon, 2007)
Museum quality, colorful and intricate paper-engineered sculptures are unified
by their inclusion of black dots throughout. (6-15)
 

Action Jackson

by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, ill.
by Robert Andrew Parker
(Roaring Brook, 2002)
Jackson Pollock's astonishing contribution to twentieth-century art, focusing on his seminal work in the early 1950s.   (7-10)
 

Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art
edited
by Patricia Lee Gauch et al.
(Philomel, 2007)
Favorite artists speak to children about illustrating. Includes pictures from all phases of their lives. (7+)
 

Ballerina Dreams

by Lauren Thompson, photos by James Estrin
(Feiwel, 2007)
Through hard work, an inspiring teacher, and many helpers, five disabled children learn to perform ballets.  (6-9)
 

Bembo's Zoo: An Animal ABC Book
written and ill.
by Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich
(Henry Holt, 2000)
A sophisticated look at graphic design and topography in a playful ABC book. (5-7)
 

Cave Paintings to Picasso: The Inside Scoop on 50 Art Masterpieces

by Henry Sayre
(Chronicle, 2004)

Each of the chronologically arranged selections is explained with regard to historical context and technique. (11-14)
 

Chuck Close Up Close

by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
(DK, Inc., 1998)
Inspiring biography of the celebrated modern portrait painter who overcame learning disabilities and then paralysis.  Illustrated with reproductions of Close's art.   (9-14)
 

Dance

by Bill T. Jones, and Susan Kuklin
(Hyperion, 1998)
Clean, sharp color photographs of dancer Bill T. Jones on a stark white background and simple, precise language convey the joy and satisfaction of movement. (3-5)
 

Elephants Can Paint Too!

written and ill. by Katya Arnold
(Atheneum, 2005)
An artist teaches elephants to paint to raise funds for conservation efforts. (6-9)
 

frank o. gehry: outside in

by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
 (DK Ink, 2000)
The development of this famous architect depicted through his ground-breaking buildings. Superb photographs. (10+)
 

The Illustrator's Notebook
written and ill.
by Mohieddin Ellabbad
(Groundwood, 2006)
About the creative sources of the famous Egyptian illustrator. (7-12)
 

In Search of the Spirit: The Living National Treasures of Japan

by Sheila Hamanaka and Ayano Ohmi, photos
 (Morrow, 1999)

Six great masters who have devoted their lives to traditional crafts and performing arts. Includes instructions on essential aspects of each art form. (8-12)
 

Jazz

by Walter Dean Myers, ill. by Christopher Myers
(Holiday House, 2006)
The evolution of a powerful African-American musical style celebrated in lively poems and impressionistic illustrations. (9-14)
 

Let it Shine: three favorite spirituals

ill.by Ashley  Bryan 
(Atheneum, 2007)
 "Let it Shine," "When the Saints Go Marching In,"  "He's got the Whole World in His Hands"--all celebrated in brilliant collages. (7-12)
 

Meet the Musicians: From Prodigy (or not) to Pro

by Amy Nathan
(Henry Holt, 2006)
Fifteen members of the New York Philharmonic give information about their lives and their instruments.  Tips for young musicians. (10-14)
 

On My Block: Stories And Paintings
by Fifteen Artists
edited by Dana Goldberg
(Children's Book Press, 2007)
Brief autobiographies of diverse artists illustrate their origins in their individual styles. (8-12)
 

Photo
by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War

by Jennifer Armstrong
(Atheneum, 2005)
The Civil War, preserved on film by Matthew Brady and other photography pioneers, is revisited in a meticulously researched, artfully written account. (12-14)
 

Romare Bearden: Collage of Memories

by Jan Greenberg, ill. by Romare Bearden
(Abrams, 2003)
The life of the twentieth century African-American artist enhanced
by his exuberant art. (9-14)
 

Rome Antics
written and ill. by David Macaulay (HMC, 1997)
Fly with a homing pigeon through the streets of Rome. Detailed, expressive pen-and-ink drawings. (6+)


Savion: My Life in Tap

by Savion Glover and Bruce Weber, photos
(Morrow, 2000)
The young tap dancer talks about learning from older tap masters and discusses what the art form means to him. (10-12)
 

The Story of the Incredible Orchestra: An Introduction to Musical Instruments and the Symphony Orchestra
written and ill.
by Bruce Koscielniak
(HMC, 2000)
The development of the instruments including present-day innovations. (6+)
 

Talking to Faith Ringgold
by Faith Ringgold , Linda Freeman, and Nancy Roucher, photos (Crown, 1996)
Unusual interactive biography of the African American artist and author. Copiously illustrated with artwork and archival photographs. (10-12)


To Be an Artist

by Maya Ajmera, and John D. Ivanko
(Charlesbridge,  2004)

Children around the world engaging in a variety of art forms. Captivating photographs. (4-7)
 

Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists

by Tonya Bolden
(Abrams,  2004)

African-American artists from 1800 to the present, including  descriptions of their art and their lives. (12-14)
 

Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine?: The Art of making Zines and Mini-Comics

by Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson
(HMC, 2006)
The process of self-publishing a special interest magazine. Includes examples and practical information on writing and materials. (12-14)
 

William Shakespeare & the Globe
written and ill.
by Aliki
(HarperCollins, 1999)
Lively scenes of citizens and actors and informative text sweep one into the world of 16th century theatre. Engrossing!  (8-10)
 


BIOGRAPHY

The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin

by James Cross Giblin, ill. by Michael Dooling
(Scholastic, 2000)
The statesman, ingenious inventor, civil innovator.  Beautiful illustrations. (9-12)
 

Anne Frank: The Young Writer Who Told The World Her Story

by Ann Kramer
 (National Geographic, 2007)
Details of the happy accomplished childhood and the tragic ending of the renowned teenager. Informative photographs. (12-14)
 

Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The Making of a Champion

by Russell Freedman, photos
(Clarion, 1999)

Daredevil, tomboy, talented and cocky, Babe Didrikson worked tirelessly to become one of the world's greatest athletes.  Archival photographs. (9-13)
 

Barbara Jordan: Getting Things Done

by James Mendelsohn
(Twenty-first Century Books, 2000)
The promising political career of the formidable, first black Southern woman in the U.S Congress. Archival photographs. (12-14)
 

Behind the Mask: The Life of Queen Elizabeth I

by Jane Resh Thomas
(Clarion, 1998)
The life of the great sixteenth-century queen, who ruled England for forty years.  Archival illustrations. (10-13)
 
 
The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World

by Julius Lester, ill.
by Lisa Cohen
(Hyperion, 2001)
Mini profiles, from Bessie Smith to Aretha Franklin.  Strong illustrations and imaginative design. (9-12)
 

The Book of Rock Stars: 24 Musical Icons that Shine Through History

by Kathleen Krull, ill. by Stephen Alcorn
(Hyperion, 2003)
Fabulous overview of the last fifty years of pop music history, focusing on the best known vocalists and bands. (9-12)
 

Boss of the Plains: The Hat That Won the West

by Laurie Carlson, ill. by Holly Meade
(DK, Inc., 1998)
Charming illustrations accompany this well-told true tale of a John Stetson, a determined hat maker.   (6-9)
 

Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly

by Anne Bustard, ill. by Kurt Cyrus
(S&S, 2005)
Breezy, lyrical text about the childhood and early career of the Rock and Roll legend. Watercolor illustrations. (8-12)
 

Confucius: The Golden Rule

by Russell Freedman, ill. by Frederic Clément
(Arthur A. Levine, 2002)

Excellent introduction to the life and teachings of the revered Chinese thinker who lived more than 2,500 years ago. (9-12)
 

The Dancer Who Flew: A Memoir of Rudolf Nureyev

by Linda Maybarduk, photos
(Tundra, 1999)
The life of one of the world's greatest dancers.  Beautiful photographs. (10-14)
 
 
Dickens: His Work and His World

by Michael Rosen, ill. by Robert Ingpen
(Candlewick, 2005)
The life and times of the novelist with insights into his best-loved works. (11-14)
 

Fight On!: Mary Church Terrell's Battle for Integration

by Dennis Brindell Fradin, and Judith Bloom Fradin
(Clarion, 2003)
The life and times of the daughter of slaves whose career as a civil rights leader spanned sixty years. Includes photographs and reproductions of newspaper articles. (12-14)
 

Forging Freedom: A True Story of Heroism during the Holocaust
written and ill.
by Hudson Talbott
(Putnam, 2000)
 
In 1938 Amsterdam, Jaap Penraat chooses to risk his life to guide persecuted Jews to freedom. Stunning watercolor paintings. (10-12) M

George Washington : An Illustrated Biography

by David A. Adler
(Holiday House, 2004)

The man who led his ragged troops to victory, was unanimously elected president, but refused to be called king.  (12-14)
 

Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women

by Catherine Thimmesh, ill.
by Melissa Sweet
(HMC, 2000)
 
How female inventors faced diverse challenges and improved daily life throughout the ages. (8-12)
 

Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth & John Wilkes Booth

by James Cross Giblin, photos
(Clarion, 2005)
About the Booths--Edwin, the actor and John Wilkes, Lincoln's assassin. Includes letters, diaries and family biographies.  (12-14)
 

Hans Christian Andersen: His Fairy Tale Life

by Hjørdis Varmer, ill. by Lilian Brøgger, trans. by Tiina Nunnally
(Groundwood, 2005)
The author of children's books whose life was more of a dark fairy tale than his stories. (12+)
 

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez

by Kathleen Krull, ill. by YuYi Morales
(Harcourt, 2003)
The champion of migrant farm workers. Vibrantly illustrated. (6-9)
 

Henry David Thoreau

by Milton Meltzer
(Twenty-First Century Books, 2007)
The life of the naturalist, teacher, abolitionist, surveyor, writer is presented along with a glossary, notes and further reading. (12+)
 

Hokusai: The Man Who Painted a Mountain

written and ill. by Deborah Kogan Ray
(FSG, 2001)
Beautifully illustrated life of the artist who rose from poverty and enlarged the Japanese idea of art. (7-10)


I Could Do That!: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote

by Linda Arms White, ill.
by Nancy Carpenter
(FSG, 2005)
About the woman who helped gain the vote for Wyoming's women and became the first female justice of peace in the United States. (7-10)
 

Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement

by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin
(Clarion, 2000)
 
Born a slave, this amazing woman became a journalist who fought against lynching  and for equality for all African Americans.  Archival photographs. (11-14)
 

Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Powerhouse with a Pen

by Catherine A. Welch
(Carolrhoda, 2000)
 
The Civil Rights and anti-lynching crusader. Illustrations and period photographs. (9-12)
 

Joan of Arc
written and ill.
by Diane Stanley
(Morrow, 1998)
The brave Maid of Orleans who at seventeen led the French army to victory and at nineteen was burned at the stake as a heretic.  Well-documented and beautifully illustrated. (7-12)
 

Joan of Arc

by Josephine Poole, ill. by Angela Barrett
(Knopf, 1998)
The moving story of the great 15th century French heroine whose courage and visions led an army to success against the English.  Extraordinary illustrations. (6-10)
 

John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement

by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson, ill. by Benny Andrews
(Lee & Low , 2006)
Civil-rights activist and Georgia Congressman. Dramatic oil and collage illustrations. (7-10)
 

Julia Butterfly Hill: Saving the Redwoods

by Dawn Fitzgerald
(Millbrook, 2002)
Life story of the twenty-five year-old conservationist who spent 738 days living in a Redwood tree to save it from being cut down. (9-14)
 

Langston Hughes
by Milton Meltzer, ill. by Stephen Alcorn
(Millbrook, 1997)
 
The complex life story of the famous black poet. Bold artwork. (12+)


Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters

by Andrea Davis Pinkney, ill. by Stephen Alcorn
(Harcourt, 2000)
The stories of ten African-American women who struggled to achieve dignity, freedom and civil rights. Stylized paintings. (8-11)
 

Little Stevie Wonder

by Quincy Troupe, ill. by Lisa Cohen
(HMC, 2005)
The life of the musician in lyrical text with bold vibrant illustrations. With CD and select discography. (7-10)
 

The Man Who Made Parks: The Story of Parkbuilder Frederick Law Olmsted

by Frieda Wishinsky, ill. by Song Nan Zhang
(Tundra, 1999)
A tale of the first modern landscape architect who designed Central Park and other parks in North America.  Detailed illustrations. (9-12)
 

The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins

by Bea Uusma Schyffert
(Chronicle, 2003)
What the astronaut saw, did and thought during the Apollo 11 mission to the moon (9-14)
 

Margaret Bourke-White: Her Pictures Were Her Life

by Susan Goldman Rubin, photos by Margaret Bourke-White
(Abrams, 1999)
The life of the famous photographer, with examples of her celebrated work. (9-12)
 
 
Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl

by Tonya Bolden
(Abrams, 2005)
Born in 1848 in New York City, African-American Maritcha lives a comfortable life until events change things drastically--but she overcomes prejudice and fulfills her dreams. Based on an unpublished memoir. (10-13)
 

Martha Graham: A Dancer's Life

by Russell Freedman, photos
(Clarion, 1998)
The great pioneering American modern dancer and choreographer.  Stunning photographs.  (10-14)

 
Mr. Williams
written and ill.
by Karen Barbour
(Henry Holt, 2005)
About an African-American boy growing up in rural Louisiana before the Civil Rights movement. Bold gouache, ink and collage illustrations. (7-10)
 
 
Muhammad
written and ill.
by  Demi
(McElderry, 2003)
The life of the Saudi Arabian, born in 570 AD, who became revered as the prophet of God and the receiver of the revelations written as the Koran. Illustrated with Persian style miniatures.  (10-14)
 

Music for the End of Time

by Jen Bryant, ill. by Beth Peck
(Eerdmans, 2005)
French composer Olivier Messiaen rediscovers music while detained in a German prison camp. Poetic text accompanied
by evocative pastels. (8-12)
 

My Family Shall Be Free!: The Life of Peter Still

by Dennis Brindell Fradin
(HarperCollins, 2001)
Born into slavery, Peter Still endures hardship and loss, but finally purchases his freedom. An in-depth look at slavery and the Underground Railroad. (11-14)


Of Numbers and Stars: The Story of Hypatia

by D. Anne Love, ill. by Pam Paparone
(Holiday House, 2006)
The fourth-century Alexandrian scholar was a female astronomer, mathematician and philosopher.  Attractive acrylics with Egyptian motifs. (7-9)
 

Out of the Shadows: An Artist's Journey

by Neil Waldman
(Boyds Mills, 2006)

A revealing glimpse into the childhood of the author, a well-known illustrator.  Reproductions of his art. (9-12)


Pass It Down: Five Picture-Book Families Make Their Mark
edited
by Leonard S. Marcus
(Walker, 2007)

Vivid interviews, photographs and art samples describe five multigenerational creative picture book families. (9-13)
 

Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World
written and ill.
by Jane Breskin Zalben
(Dutton, 2006)
Sixteen short selections about influential writers, religious leaders, scientists and others.  Stylized illustrations. (9-12)
 

The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen

by Jane Yolen, ill. by Dennis Nolan
(Dutton, 2005)

About the determined imaginative man who overcame extreme hardship to become the famous storyteller.  (8-11)
 

Play Ball!

by Jorge Posada with Robert Burleigh, ill.
by Raúl Colón
(S&S, 2006)

How Posada became a great switch-hitter. (6-8)
 

Playing To Win:  The Story Of Althea Gibson

by Karen Deans, ill.
by Elbrite Brown
(Holiday House, 2007)

Grit and determination pay off in this inspiring story of the African-American tennis champion. Mixed-media illustrations. (6-8)
 

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano

by Margarita Engle, ill.
by Sean Qualls
(Henry Holt, 2006)

The harsh story of the life of a poet born into slavery in Cuba related in haunting verse. (12-14) M

Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange

by Elizabeth Partridge
(Viking, 1998)
 
The life of the famous American photographer who influenced social policy with her pictures of the Great Depression. Illustrated with excellent reproductions of Lange's work. (10-14)
 

Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam
written and ill.
by Diane Stanley
(HarperCollins, 2002)
The life of the powerful conqueror and ruler in the twelfth-century Middle East. Brilliant illustrations in Islamic art style.  (9-13)
 

Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs
written and ill.
by James Rumford
(HMC, 2000)
 
The fascinating story of Jean-Francois Champollion who first found the key to understanding Egyptian writing. Beautifully illustrated with both watercolors and hieroglyphics. (8-11)
 

Shout, Sister, Shout!: Ten Girl Singers Who Shaped a Century

by Roxane Orgill, photos
(McElderry, 2001)
 
Influential popular artists, from Sophie Tucker to Lucinda Williams. (10-14)


Sisters in Strength: American Women Who Made a Difference

by Yona Zeldis McDonough, ill.
by Malcah Zeldis
(Henry Holt, 2000)
 
Courageous women crusaders from various fields who overcame obstacles and made a difference. Time line and folk-inspired illustrations. (9-12)
 

Snowflake Bentley

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, ill.
by Mary Azarian
(HMC, 1998)
 
Vermonter Wilson Bentley photographed thousands of individual snowflakes over his lifetime. Stunning woodcuts. (7-10)
 

Stone Girl, Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning

by Laurence Anholt, ill.
by Sheila Moxley
(Orchard, 1999)
 
Born in England in 1799, Anning became one of history's most celebrated fossil finders.  Colorful illustrations. (6-9)
 
 
Su Dongpo: Chinese Genius

written and ill. by  Demi
(Lee & Low, 2006)
The inspirational life of Su Dongpo, one of China's greatest artists, poets and philosophers. Colorful illustrations inspired
by Chinese art. (10-14)
 

Sweet Land of Liberty

by Deborah Hopkinson, ill.
by Leonard Jenkins
(Peachtree, 2007)
A new wrinkle in Marian Anderson's story focuses on Oscar Chapman, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, who arranged the Lincoln Memorial concert. (8-11)
 

This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie

by Elizabeth Partidge
(Viking, 2002)

The tragic life of one of America's greatest folk singer songwriters who celebrated the poor and downtrodden in his stories and songs. (12-14)  M

Toulouse-Lautrec: The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light

by Robert Burleigh, photos
(Abrams, 2005)
The vibrant world that inspired Lautrec and his craft. Richly illustrated with the artist's work. (9-14)
 

The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin
written and ill.
by Peter Sís
(FSG, 2003)
The pioneering naturalist who showed how evolution worked. Detailed diagrams, maps and journal entries. Extraordinary illustrations. (10-14)
 

Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker

by Kathryn Lasky, ill.
by Nneka Bennett
(Candlewick, 2000)
Turn-of-the-century African-American businesswoman. Engaging text and vivid illustrations.  (6-9)
 

The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights

by Russell Freedman, photos
(Clarion,  2004)

An extraordinary woman whose musical talent helped focus the fight for equal rights. Archival photographs. (9-13)
 

Walker Evans: Photographer of America

by Thomas Nau
(Roaring Brook, 2007
The photographer of "life as he saw it" is portrayed in words and photographs. Citations and bibliography. (9-12)
 

Walt Whitman: Words for America

by Barbara Kerley, ill.
by Brian Selznick
(Scholastic,  2004)

Dramatic illustrations, documented research and relevant verses bring this powerful poet's Civil War years to life. (9-14)
 

We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History

by Phillip Hoose
(FSG, 2001)
 
Fascinating glimpses into the lives of a wide variety of young people who made their mark on the rich history of our country.  Archival illustrations. (9-12)
 

What Charlie Heard
written and ill.
by Mordicai Gerstein
(FSG, 2002)
How Charles Ives, one of America's most important twentieth-century composers, translated sounds into music.  Delightful illustrations. (7-10)
 

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

by Pam Munoz Ryan, ill.
by Brian Selznick
(Scholastic, 2002)
A celebration--in words and illustrations--of the life of the famous singer. (6-9)
 

Wings and Rockets: The Story of Women in Air and Space

by Jeannine Atkins, ill.
by Dusan Petricic
(FSG, 2003)
Extremely informative and inspiring accounts of American women pioneers in aviation.  (11-14)
 


ECOLOGY

Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share
written and ill. by Molly Bang
(Blue Sky, 1998)
Thought-provoking demonstration of how humans share and use up the earth's resources.
(5-8)


Desert Trek: An Eye-Opening Journey through the World's Driest Places
written and ill.
by Marie-Ange Le Rochais, trans.
by George L. Newman
(Walker, 2001)
 
Exceptional introduction to desert ecology.  Includes maps.  Lush, acrylic paintings. (7-10)
 
 
Dig Wait Listen: A Desert Toad's Tale

by April Pulley Sayre, ill.
by Barbara Bash
(Greenwillow, 2001)
 
A lyrical and informative look at a toad's desert life. Watercolor illustrations. (4-7)
 

The Environmental Movement: From Its Roots to the Challenges of a New Century

by Laurence Pringle (HarperCollins, 2000)
 
From Thoreau to Ralph Nader, the efforts to save our planet from man-made destruction. Helpful photographs and cartoons. (10-14)
 

Interrupted Journey: Saving Endangered Sea Turtles

by Kathryn Lasky, photos
by Christopher G. Knight
(Candlewick, 2001)
 
The rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release of a juvenile Atlantic ridley turtle washed up on a Cape Cod beach. Photographs follow the saga. (8-12)
 

Nobody Particular: One Woman's Fight to Save the Bays
written and ill.
by Molly Bang
(Henry Holt, 2000)

Provocative cartoon-format tale of a female Louisiana shrimper who campaigned against a multinational corporation for clean water.  (9-14)

 
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth

by Rochelle Strauss, ill.
by Rosemary Woods
(Kids Can, 2007)
Delicate illustrations accompany facts and a needed plea to care about our connected world.  (7-10)
 

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside
written and ill.
by Laurie Keller
(Henry Holt, 2000)
Everything you ever wanted to know about teeth.  Wacky humor and wordplay. (6-9)
 

The Race to Save the Lord God Bird

by Phillip  Hoose
(FSG,  2004)
An exciting tale of the history of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and the scientists who tried to keep it from extinction. (12-14)
 

Song of La Selva: A Story of a Costa Rican Rain Forest

by Joan Banks, ill.
by Higgins Bond
(Soundprints, 1999)
 
A creative telling of the life cycle of a small, poisonous red frog.  Excellent illustrations. (5-12)
 

The South Atlantic Coast and Piedmont: A Literary Field Guide
edited
by Sara St. Antoine, ill.
by Trudy Nicholson
(Milkweed, 2007, paperback)

Riveting essays, poems and stories describing plants, animals and terrain from the Florida coast up to the beaches of Maryland. (11+)
 

To Save the Earth: The American Environmental Movement

by Jules Archer, photos
(Viking, 1998)
The biographies of four great American environmentalists: John Muir, Rachel Carson, David McTaggart and Dave Foreman. (9-12)
 

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion

by Loree Griffin Burns
(HMC, 2007)
Floating sneakers, turkeys, fishnets and laundry baskets all help scientists learn about currents and how we can protect our oceans. (8-12)
 


HEALTH

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

by Jim Murphy
(Clarion, 2003)
An unflinching look at the Yellow Fever plague in Philadelphia in 1793. Includes medical practices, the efforts of free blacks to treat patients when no one else would and how the Federal government worked when it fled the city.  (10-14)
 

The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide to Fitness
written and ill.
by Lizzy Rockwell
(Crown,  2004)

The human body and its functions with engaging illustrations of energetic play activities. (5-8)
 

Invisible Enemies: Stories of Infectious Disease

by Jeanette Farrell
(FSG, 1998)
Seven diseases that changed the course of human history. Archival illustrations.  (10-13)
 

I'm a Vegetarian: Amazing facts and ideas for healthy vegetarians

by Ellen Schwartz, ill.
by Farida Zaman
(Tundra, 2002)
Informative, persuasive introduction to a complex way of living, with commentaries
by young adult vegetarians. (12+)
 

It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families

by Robie H. Harris, ill.
by Michael Emberley
(Candlewick, 1999)
Lucid explanation with humorous illustrations of human reproduction and how families are formed. Comprehensive, extremely appealing. (7-10)
 

Positively ADD: Real Success Stories to Inspire Your Dreams

by Catherine A. Corman, and Edward M. Hallowell
(Walker, 2006)
A diverse group of successful professionals discuss the impact of Attention Deficit Disorder on their personal and work lives. Good information and resources. (12-14)
 

What Are You Afraid of?: Stories About Phobias
edited
by Donald R. Gallo
(Candlewick, 2006)
Ten teenagers face, accept and try to overcome their fears. (13-15)
 


HISTORY

10,000 Days Of Thunder: A History Of The Vietnam War

by Philip Caputo
(Atheneum, 2005)
The causes, history and outcomes of this intense and destructive war. Archival photographs, maps, glossary and bibliography. (12-14)
 

The Adventures of Marco Polo

by Russell Freedman, ill.
by Bagram Ibatoulline
(Arthur A. Levine, 2006)
The fabulous journey of the Polo family triad, from Italy to China, circa. 1250 AD.  Illuminated with art painted in an archival fashion. (10-14)
 

After the Holocaust

by Howard Greenfeld
 (Greenwillow, 2001)
Informative and riveting accounts by young Holocaust survivors focusing on what befell them after liberation. (11-14)

 
America Dreaming: How Youth Changed America in the ‘60s

by Laban Carrick Hill
(Little, 2007)
Filled with documentary photos, strong graphics, and primary sources, this is a kaleidoscopic look at history, music, art culture and politics in a turbulent time. (12-14)
 

Anasazi
written and ill.
by Leonard Everett Fisher
(Atheneum, 1998)
The culture and daily life of the "ancient ones" of the Four Corners region is clearly described and strikingly illustrated. (8-11)


Antarctica:  Journeys to the South Pole

by Walter Dean Myers
(Scholastic,  2004)

Beautifully written history of the Antarctica explorations. Archival photographs and maps. (11-14)
 

Ballet of the Elephants

by Leda Schubert, ill.
by Robert Andrew Parker
(Roaring Brook, 2006)
A circus owner, a choreographer and a composer create an extraordinary spectacle. Lyrical watercolor and ink illustrations. (6-12)
 

Black, Blue & Gray: African Americans in the Civil War

by Jim Haskins
(S&S, 1998)
This revisionist history of the African American participation in the military   during the Civil War is well-documented, clearly presented and fluently written. (9-11)
 
 
Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers

by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick L. McKissack
(Scholastic, 1999)
Exciting and insightful presentation of the role and influence of African Americans on the American whaling industry and in the abolition of slavery. (10-14)
 

Black Legacy: A History of New York's African Americans
by William Loren Katz  (Atheneum, 1997)
Rich coverage of the political and cultural movements in black history in New York City from its days as a Dutch colony to the early 1990s. Archival photographs. (12-14)


Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
 (HMC, 2002)
Events which changed Ireland forever:  a natural disaster coupled with unenlightened British policies.  Illuminating period illustrations. (9-13)
 

Blizzard!

by Jim Murphy
(Scholastic, 2000)

The fateful and historic storm of March 12, 1888 described
by some of the people who experienced it. Archival photographs and drawings. (11-14)
 

Bodies From the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii

by James Deem
 (HMC, 2005)
A fascinating account of the volcanic destruction of ancient Pompeii and the difficult job of uncovering its mysteries. Awe-inspiring photographs. (10-14)
 

Buffalo
written and ill.
by Beverly Brodsky
(Cavendish, 2003)
A moving tribute to the buffalo and the Plains Indians. Extraordinary paintings. (9-13)
 

Children of the Great Depression

by Russell Freedman
(Clarion, 2005)
A simple and poignant description of the plight of children enduring hardship during the economic hard times in the United States in the 1930s. Archival pictures
by some of the famous photographers of the times. (11-14)
 

Children of the Relocation Camps 

by Catherine A. Welch
(Carolrhoda, 2000)
Unflinching look at the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.  Archival photographs. (9-14)

 
Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts: A History of Burial
by Penny Colman, photos (Holt, 1998)
An extensive and anthropological view of death and burial. Compassionate and straightforward. (11-14)


Countdown to Independence: A Revolution of Ideas in England and Her American Colonies: 1760-1776

by Natalie S. Bober
(Atheneum, 2001)
The personalities, ideas and events that gave rise to the American Revolution. Well-researched and well-written. (12+)


Darkness over Denmark: The Danish Resistance and the Rescue of the Jews

by Ellen Levine
 (Holiday House, 2000)
Fascinating account of one nation's remarkable efforts to subvert the Nazis during World War II. Period photos. (11-14)
 

"Dear Friend" Thomas Garrett & William Still: Collaborators on the Underground Railroad
by Judith Bentley, photos (Cobblehill, 1998)
These two old friends, one black, one white, key conductors on the Underground Railroad, describe in their letters their fears and triumphs. (9-12)


Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference.

by Joanne Oppenheim
  (Scholastic, 2006)
A courageous librarian and the interned Japanese-American families with whom she corresponded during World War II. (12-14)
 

The Declaration of Independence: The words that made America
ill. and inscribed
by Sam Fink
(Scholastic, 2002)

Illustrated phrase by phrase with whimsical drawings that provide clarity and invoke respect for familiar ideas. (8+)
 

Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster: The Search for the Smallpox Vaccine

by Albert Marrin
(Dutton, 2002)

Humanity's long struggle with smallpox and the discovery of the vaccine in the eighteenth century. (12-14)
 

Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s

by Michael L. Cooper
(Clarion, 2004)

The westward migration of thousands of suffering Americans changed the U.S. forever. Evocative Dorothea Lange photographs. (9-12)
 

Empires Lost and Won: The Spanish Heritage in the Southwest
by Albert Marrin, photos (Atheneum, 1998)
Eyewitness accounts of exploration and conflict. Archival illustrations. (12-14) M

Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy

by Andrea Warren, photos 
(FSG,  2004)

Well told account of a child's life in Vietnam during the war and in the U.S. as an adoptee. (10-12)
 

Fields of Fury: The American Civil War

by James M. McPherson
(Atheneum, 2002)

Lucidly written and lavishly illustrated.  Excellent maps, index and glossary. (11-14)
 

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey

by Maira Kalman
(Putnam, 2002)

How one boat, long retired from active service, helped put out the fires of September 11. An inspiring story of heroism. (5-10)
 

The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students

by Suzanne Jurmain
(HMC, 2005)

The woman who determined that, against fierce odds, she would open a school for ladies of color in Canterbury, Connecticut in the 1830s. (11-14)
 

Free at Last!: Stories and Songs of Emancipation

by Doreen Rappaport, ill.
by Shane W. Evans
(Candlewick, 2004)

From emancipation to Brown vs. Board of Education. Beautifully illustrated and memorably told historical accounts of landmarks in race relations. (9-12)
 

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

by Russell Freedman
(Holiday House, 2006)

The bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 which began the modern Civil Rights Movement. (10-14)
 

From Slave Ship to Freedom Road

by Julius Lester, ill.
by Rod Brown
(Dial, 1998)
Based on strong descriptive paintings, this history of slavery evokes powerful feelings of suffering and fortitude.  (12-14)
 

Give Me Liberty!: The Story of the Declaration of Independence

by Russell Freedman
(Holiday House, 2000)
The background leading to the creation of this eloquent document masterfully described. Archival illustrations. (10-13)
 
 
Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Maya
written and ill.
by Leonard Everett Fisher
(Holiday House, 1999)
Outstanding profiles of Mayan deities illustrated with bold, bright images in ancient style.  Endpapers include a map and an explanation of the Mayan number system. (9-12)
 
 
The Gold Rush
by Lisa Ketchum, photos
(Little, 1998)
An honest, unromantic telling of the people and events leading to the settlement of the West. From the Ken Burns television series. (10-14)


Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt for the Great Whale

by Jim Murphy, photos
 (Clarion, 1998)
Brilliant history of whaling drawn from journal entries and accompanied by rare and stunning photographs and drawings. (11+)
 
 
The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won

by Stephen E. Ambrose
(Atheneum, 2001)
A compact history of World War II with clear maps, splendid photographs, a glossary, bibliography and index. (9-14)

 
Hana's Suitcase

by Karen Levine
(Albert Whitman, 2003)
A persistent Japanese educator pieces together the essence of a holocaust victim from remnants of her short life.  (10-14)
 

Harlem Stomp!: A cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance

by Laban Carrick Hill
(Little,  2003)

Photos, paintings, poems present a lively view of the Harlem Renaissance. (12-14)
 

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
(Scholastic, 2005)
Detailed, well-documented account of the Nazi youth organization that trained over seven million children to work and fight for the Third Reich. (12-14)
 

Hurry Freedom: African Americans in Gold Rush California

by Jerry Stanley
(Crown, 2000)
Mifflin Gibbs struggled to earn respect and dignity in nineteenth-century California through entrepreneurial success and efforts to change discriminatory laws. (9-12)
 

I Have a Dream
by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ill. by various artists (Scholastic, 1998)
The landmark speech from the 1963 March on Washington. Lavishly illustrated by fifteen noted artists. (8-12)


In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America's Bill of Rights

by Russell Freedman
(Holiday House, 2003)

Its meaning and the conflicts arising from the original draft to the present. Includes landmark cases and bibliography. (11+)
 

In the Days of the Vaqueros: America's First True Cowboys

by Russell Freedman (Clarion, 2001)
A careful, intriguing history of these American icons, including Mexican origins and continuing counterparts.  Illustrated with period paintings and drawings. (8-12)
 

Kennedy Assassinated!: The World Mourns

by Wilborn Hampton, photos (Candlewick, 1998)
 
The historical event related with brilliant immediacy through the eyes of a cub reporter. (10-12)


The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish: Based on a True Story

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, ill.
by Beth Krommes
(HMC, 2001)
 In 1913 a native Inupiaq family joined the voyage of the Karluk, exploring the Canadian Arctic. When the ship froze and sunk, their skills enabled the crew to survive. (5-10)
 
 
The Last River: John Wesley Powell & The Colorado River Exploring Expedition

by Stuart Waldman, ill. by Gregory Manchess
 (Mikaya, 2005)

Fine account of the exploration of the last unmapped (by non-natives) territory in the U.S. Vibrant illustrations and historical photographs. (10-13)
 

Luba The Angel of Bergen-Belsen
as told to Michelle R. Mccann
by Luba Tryszynska-Frederick, ill. by Ann Marshall
(Tricycle, 2003)
About Luba Tryszynska, the Jewish heroine, who rescued more than fifty children in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during World War II. (9-12) M

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
written and ill.
by Mordicai Gerstein
(Roaring Brook, 2003)
Conversational text and dramatic paintings tell of the spectacular 1974 tightrope walk between the world Trade Center towers. (8-10)
 

Meltdown: A Race Against Nuclear Disaster at Three Mile Island

by Wilborn Hampton, photos
(Candlewick, 2001)
 Fascinating discussion of the atomic age and the inherent benefits and risks of nuclear energy with references to Hiroshima, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. (11-14) M

No More!: Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance

by Doreen Rappaport, ill.
by Shane W. Evans
(Candlewick, 2002)

Eleven individuals who resisted slavery, with dramatic oil paintings and traditional songs. (8-12)
 

Oh, Freedom! Kids Talk About the Civil Rights Movement with the People Who Made It Happen
by Casey King and Linda Barrett Osborne, photos by Joe Brooks (Knopf, 1998, paperback)
Personal histories of the Civil Rights movement, superbly told, with children as interviewers. Enriched
by photographs and historical essays. (10+)


The Orphans of Normandy: A true story of World War II told through drawings by children

by Nancy Amis
(Atheneum, 2003)
Forced from their orphanageby the Allied invasion, one hundred children walked for twenty-nine days to safety behind the lines. Told by the children. (7-12)
 

Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story
by Ken Mochizuki, ill. by Dom Lee (Lee & Low, 1999)
The courageous tale of the Japanese consul to Lithuania who saved many Jews during World War II. Expressive sepia-toned illustrations. (8-11)

The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party

by Marian Calabro
(Clarion, 1999)
The infamous 1846 westward trek in well-researched detail, including a letter from a fourteen-year-old survivor.  A spellbinding adventure.  Archival illustrations. (12-14)
 
 
The Power of One: Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine

by Judith Bloom Fradin, and Dennis Brindell Fradin 
(Clarion, 2005)

How the courageous civil rights activist endured threats to property, livelihood and life in her battle to integrate Little Rock's Central High. Archival photographs. (12-14)
 

The Queen's Progress: An Elizabethan Alphabet

by Celeste Davidson Mannis, ill.
by Bagram Ibatoulline
(Viking, 2003)
Queen Elizabeth I journeys through the English country-side, alphabetically. Extraordinary illustrations and clever historically accurate text. (8-11)
 

The Real Revolution : The Global Story of American Independence 

by Marc Aronson
(Clarion, 2005)
The global events leading to the U.S. War for Independence. Masterfully told with archival photographs, extensive notes and bibliography. (12+)
 

Remember: The Journey to School Integration

by Toni Morrison
(HMC,  2004)
Imagined voices illustrate powerful, real photos from this important time in American civil rights.  (9-12)
 

The School is Not White!: A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement

by Doreen Rappaport, ill.
by Curtis James
(Hyperion, 2005)
 
A brave African-American family of Mississippi sharecroppers endure incredible hardship to realize their dream of a good education.  Fine illustrations. (7-10)
 

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley

by Sally M. Walker
(Lerner, 2005)
 
About the first submarine used in warfare--its development, sinking and use of advanced scientific techniques for its recovery. Well told and documented. (11-14)
 

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

by Jennifer Armstrong, photos
(Crown, 1998)
 
The eighteen-month ordeal of a 1914 Antarctic expedition gone terribly awry. Archival photographs. (10-13)
 

Shipwrecked!: The true adventures of a Japanese boy

by Rhoda Blumberg
(HarperCollins, 2001)
 
A fourteen-year-old's travels from Japan to Hawaii and the United States in the 1800s.  Illustrated with Manjiro's sketches and period prints. (10-13)


So You Want to be President?
by Judith St. George, ill. by David Small
(Philomel, 2000)
A lively potpourri of historically accurate Presidential trivia.  Cartoon-like illustrations (7-10)


The Story of Salt

by Mark Kurlansky, and ill. by S.D. Schindler
( Putnam, 2006)
 
A fascinating and accessibly written and illustrated glimpse of salt -- a prized substance -- that had a huge impact on discoveries and world history. (7-10)
 

Through My Eyes

by Ru
by Bridges
 (Scholastic, 1999)
The author's involvement as a six-year-old in school integration. Extraordinary archival photographs. (7-12)
 

Traveling Man: The Journey of Ibn Battuta, 1325-1354
written and ill.
by James Rumford
(HMC, 2001)
 
Exquisite prose, watercolors and calligraphy introduce a fourteenth-century Moroccan traveler who covered 75,000 miles around the old world. (9-12)
 

Understanding September 11th: Answering Questions about the Attacks on America

by Mitch Frank
(Viking, 2002)

Clear, balanced explanation of the complex geopolitical issues that led up to the terrorist attacks. (11-14)
 

Up Before Daybreak: Cotton and People in America

by Deborah Hopkinson
(Scholastic, 2006)

A well documented account of the important, and often cruel, role that  cotton played in the life of our nation. (10-13)
 

Vaqueros: America's First Cowmen

by Martin W. Sandler
(Henry Holt, 2001)
 
The history and stories of these Mexicans who taught American cowhands from Texas to Hawaii.  Archival illustrations. (11-14)


War Women and the News: How Female Journalists Won the Battle to Cover World War II

by Catherine  Gourley
(Atheneum, 2007)
 
The rise of female journalists and their work reporting World War II. (12-14)
 

We Asked for Nothing: The Remarkable Journey of Cabeza de Vaca

by Stuart Waldman, ill. by Tom McNeely
(Mikaya, 2003)
The unusual conquistador who developed an abiding respect for Indians on his arduous travels from Florida to Mexico. Map. Strong realistic illustrations. (10-13)
 

Who Was First?: Discovering the Americas

by Russell Freedman
(Clarion, 2007)
 
The theories about who came to America, when and where they landed, are presented along with a discussion of the earliest Native Americans. Bibliography and archival photographs.   (10-14)
 

You Can't Read This : Forbidden Books, Lost Writing, Mistranslations & Codes 

by Val Ross
(Tundra, 2006)

The history and power of the written word and the various efforts to acquire, manipulate and limit access. Archival illustrations. (12-14)
 

Young Oxford History of African Americans (5 volumes)
(Oxford, 1997)
Laudable, thorough series on the history of African Americans from 1502 to the present day. (12+)



HOLIDAYS

The Animals' Christmas Carol
written and ill.
by Helen Ward
(Millbrook, 2001)
 
A handsome and loving portrait of the animals at the Nativity, with new verses for the old carol. (4-8)
 

Auntie Claus
written and ill.
by Elise Primavera
(HBC, 1999)
 
Stowaway Sophie Kringle accompanies her glamorous and mysterious Auntie Claus on her annual trip to the North Pole.  Whimsical illustrations. (4-8)
 


by the Hanukkah Light
by Sheldon Oberman, ill. by Neil Waldman
(Boyds Mills, 1998)
 Beautifully illustrated and warmly told story of Hanukkah, relating the soldiers of WWII to the Maccabees. (6-9)


Celebrate! Connections Among Cultures

written and ill. by Jan Reynolds 
(Lee & Low, 2006)

The fascinating variations and underlying similarities of celebrations in very diverse cultures. Colorful photographs. (7-11)
 

Coming Through the Blizzard: A Christmas Story

by Eileen Spinelli, ill. by Jenny Tylden-Wright
(S&S, 1999)
 
Even a blizzard cannot prevent Christmas from coming to the small village church.   (5-8)
 
 
The First Christmas Stocking

by Elizabeth  Winthrop, ill. by Bagram Ibatoulline
(Delacorte, 2006)

Memories, dreams and kindness bring the magic of Christmas to a small town. Soft, sketchy illustrations. (9-13)
 

On Passover
by Cathy Goldberg Fishman, ill. by Melanie W. Hall (Atheneum, 1998)
An explanation of the holiday with questions and answers woven into the narrative. Evocative illustrations. (6-9)


Shall I Knit You a Hat?: a Christmas Yarn

by Kate Klise, ill. by M. Sarah Klise 
(Henry Holt,  2004)

Little Rabbit helps Mother Rabbit make special hats for all their friends. Delightful illustrations. (4-7)
 

What's Cooking, Jamela?

written and ill. by Niki Daly
 (FSG, 2001)
Preparations for Christmas in South Africa are similar to those elsewhere, but love for a chicken complicates matters. (5-7)



LAW & JUSTICE

Stolen Dreams: Portraits of Working Children
by David L. Parker with Lee Engfer and Robert Conrow, photos by author (Lerner, 1997)
Poignant photographs and moving narratives portray the plight of poverty-stricken working children around the world. (9-12)


Women in Politics

by Karen Zeinert
 (Twenty-First Century Books, 2002)

Women's challenges and contributions in United States politics from the Revolution to the twenty-first century. Includes timeline and bibliography (12+)
 


MATHEMATICS

It's Probably Penny
Written and illustrated by Loreen Leedy  (Henry Holt, 2007)
The concept of probability is explained, along with useful information about making predictions. (8-14)


One Is a Snail, Ten Is a Crab: A Counting by Feet Book

by April Pulley Sayre, and Jeff Sayre, ill. by Randy Cecil
(Candlewick, 2003)
Number combinations from one to one hundred, using feet--starring snail! Humorous illustrations. (5-8)
 


MEMOIR & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Bad Boy: a memoir

by Walter Dean Myers
(HarperCollins, 2001)

An account of the author growing up as a "reader and writer" in 1940s Harlem, surmounting many obstacles including his own demons. (12-14)  M

Fire! My Parents' Story

by Jessie Haas, photos
(Greenwillow, 1998)
The author recalls her family's ordeal when a fire in the night destroyed their home.  (7-10)
 
 
In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer

by Irene Gut Opdyke, with Jennifer Armstrong, photos
(Knopf, 1999)
A young Polish girl's courageous work to hide and save Jews during the Holocaust.  An extraordinary narrative. (12-14)
 
 
Kinderlager: An Oral History of Young Holocaust Survivors

by Milton J. Nieuwsma, photos
(Holiday House, 1998)
Three women recall their ordeals as young children in Nazi concentration camps. (10-14)
 
 
Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid

by Jerry Spinelli
(Knopf, 1998)
Beloved children's author reminisces about his childhood in 1950s Pennsylvania. (8-11)
 

Leon's Story
by Leon Walter Tillage, ill. by Susan L Roth (FSG, 2000)
The moving, often brutal, story of a young African American's growing up in the South in the 1940s and 1950s. (9-12)


My Life in Dog Years

by Gary Paulsen 
(Delacorte, 1998)

A deceptively simple collection of short pieces extolling the virtues of eight memorable dogs the author has known and loved.   (9-12)
 

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
by Ji-Li Jiang (Harper, 1998 )
The terrible hardships one family endured in Maoist China. (12-14)


Speaking of Journals

by Paula W. Graham, photos
 (Boyds Mills, 1999)

Writers of children's books talk about their note making, and explain how they began and why and how they  write. (10-14)
 


PARENTING

The Anti-Defamation League's Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice

by Caryl Stern-LaRosa and Ellen Hofheimer Bettmann 
(Scholastic, 2000) available as an e-book only
Advice to adults on helping children at various ages to understand differences and to respond constructively in the face of bigotry. Includes list of resources and recommended readings. (all ages)
 
 
Families

written and photographed by Susan Kuklin
(Hyperion, 2006)
Children describe diverse families from many cultures and backgrounds.  Engaging photographs. (6-10)
 

Hello Benny!

by Robie H. Harris, ill. by Michael Emberley
(McElderry, 2002)

Many facts about babies in a humorous story. (All Ages)
 

The Purple Balloon

written and ill. by Chris Raschka
(S & W, 2007)
The community of caregivers surrounding  a dying child is compassionately presented for the very young. Reassuring illustrations. (5-8)
 

Sleepy Little Yoga

by Rebecca Whitford, ill. by Martina Selway 
(Henry Holt, 2007)
Toddlers and animals are matched in gentle yoga positions. Simple, colorful illustrations. (1-4)
 


POETRY

Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart

written and ill. by Vera B. Williams
(Greenwillow, 2001)
Two sisters help each other create bright moments in a tough life. (8-12)


Animal Poems

by Valerie Worth, ill. by Steve Jenkins
(FSG, 2007)
Rich, interesting language and finely detailed, cut-paper collages bring a diverse menagerie to life. (8-14)
 

Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems

by Judy Sierra, ill.  by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey (Gulliver, 1998)
 Enchanting collection of thirteen humorous poems describes the antics of ba
by penguins in their icy Antarctic home.   (6-8)
 

Be Blest: A Celebration of Seasons
written and ill.
by Mary Beth Owens
(S&S, 1999)
An exquisite celebration of the changing seasons and the natural world. Beautifully detailed watercolor. (4-8)
 

The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom
selected by Jack Prelutsky, ill. by Meilo So
(Knopf, 1997)
More than 200 poems by poets well known and obscure. Watercolor illustrations. (9+)


Behind the Museum Door: Poems to Celebrate the Wonders of Museums
selected
by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill. by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
(Abrams, 2007)
Renowned poets highlight such museum treasures as mummies and medieval relics, fine art and fossils. Colorful acrylic, pastel and colored pencil illustrations.  (7-10)
 

Beyond The Great Mountains: A Visual Poem About China
written and ill. by Ed Young
(Chronicle, 2005)
Fourteen lines about the many aspects of China. Illustrated with collages of ancient characters juxtaposed against modern symbols.  (8-12)
 

Birmingham, 1963

by Carole Boston Weatherford 
(Wordsong, 2007)
A fictional ten-year-old witness describes her feelings at the scene of the devastating Alabama bombing. Powerful words and archival photographs. (9-12)
 

Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems

by John Grandits
(Clarion, 2007)
Wry, varied, humorous concrete poems reveal a high school student's musing on her life.  (9-14)
 

Bow Wow Meow Meow: it's rhyming cats and dogs
written and ill. by Douglas Florian
 (Harcourt, 2003)
Dogs and cats by breed in wonderful rhyme. (6-12)
 

The Braid

by Helen Frost
(FSG, 2006)
About two sisters with different but intertwining fates in nineteenth-century Canada and Scotland. (12-14)
 

Butterfly Eyes: and Other Secrets of the Meadow

by Joyce Sidman, ill. by Beth Krommes
 (HMC, 2006)
Inventive poem riddles and simple explanations of habitat explore the diverse nature of the meadow. Striking scratchboard illustrations. (5-10)
 

Cactus Poems

by Frank Asch and Ted Levin
 (Gulliver Green, 1998)
Spare poetry and beautiful photographs depict desert ecosystems.   (7-10)
 

Carver: a life in poems
by Marilyn Nelson(Front Street, 2001)
The famous inventor and his self-effacing manner revealed through sensitive poems. Archival photographs.  (12-14)
 

Casey at the Bat
by Ernest L. Thayer, ill.by Joe Morse
(Kids Can, 2006)
The famous poem with Joe Morse's brilliant acrylic illustrations make a powerful and contemporary story.   (10-14)
 

Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888
by Ernest L. Thayer, ill. by Christopher Bing (Handprint, 2000)
Pseudo-memorabilia about baseball in the late nineteenth century surrounds this intriguingly illustrated reprint of the well-known poem.  (8-12)
 

Central Heating: poems about fire and warmth
by Marilyn Singer, ill. by Meilo So (Knopf, 2005)
Fire as friend and foe. Red lino and wash illustrations.  (6-10)
 

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings
written and ill. by Douglas Florian (Harcourt, 2007)
Descriptions of what can be seen in outer space. Bright gouache and collage illustrations.  (6-9)
 

Cool Melons-Turn to Frogs!: The Life and Poems of Issa
by Matthew Gollub, ill. by Kazuko G. Stone (Lee & Low, 1998)
The poetry and tragic life of Japan's revered master of Haiku explored in a sensitively illustrated book.  (6-12)
 

A Dime a Dozen
by Nikki Grimes, ill. by Angelo
(Dial, 1998)
The life of a young African-American girl growing up in the city told in a series of evocative poems.  (9-13)
 

Dreamtime: A Book of Lullabies
selected by Belinda Hollyer, ill. by Robin Bell Corfield (Viking, 1999)
A charming, fresh collection of lullaby poems. Magically illustrated.  (2-5)
 

Earth-Shattering Poems
editedby Liz Rosenberg
 (Henry Holt, 1998)
An outstanding collection of powerful poems.  (12+)
 

ellington was not a street
by Ntozake Shange, ill.by Kadir Nelson (S&S,  2004)
Celebrating African-American men who helped shape modern America. Rich oil paintings.  (7-12)
 

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children
selected by Caroline Kennedy, ill. by Jon J. Muth (Hyperion, 2006)
More than one hundred poems from the classic to the contemporary organized to reflect a child's world. Includes foreign poems in their original languages. colorful, luminous watercolors.  (6-14)
 

heartbeat
by Sharon Creech (HarperCollins, 2004)
Twelve-year-old Annie, who loves to run, faces the rhythms of her life--her mother's pregnancy, grandfather's forgetfulness and her friend Max's moods. Tenderly told in free verse (9-12)
 

Here in Harlem: poems in many voices
by Walter Dean Myers (Holiday House, 2004)
In strongly evocative verse, Harlem is depicted in many voices.  (12+)
 

Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George, ill. by Barry Moser (Harcourt, 2004)
A hummingbird makes a nest, lays two eggs and waits. A remarkable telling of a remarkable event with remarkable illustrations.  (All Ages)
 

If Frogs Made Weather
by Marion Dane Bauer, ill. by Dorothy Donohue (Holiday House, 2005)
What kind of weather would different animals make? Lyrical text with colorful collages.  (4-8)
 

Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing and More
by Jack Prelutsky, ill. by Chris Raschka (Knopf, 2007)
Various sports in catchy, appealing rhythms and rhymes, with watercolors brimming with energy and motion.  (6-9)
 

Grassroots
by Carl Sandburg, ill. by Wendell Minor
 (Browndeer Press, 1998)
Sandburg's poems reflect on the seasonal sights and sounds in the Midwest in years past.  The paintings enhance the poems.  (8+)
 
 
The Great Frog Race and Other Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George, ill. by Kate Kiesler (Clarion, 1997)
Short poems in a farm setting, accompanied by beautiful illustrations.  (6-9)


Harlem: A Poem
by Walter Dean Myers, ill. by Christopher Myers (Scholastic, 1997)
The rhythm of place and people captured in poetry and vibrant illustrations.  (7-11)


Here's A Little Poem: A Very First Book Of Poetry
collected by Jane Yolen, and Andrew Fusek Peters, ill. by Polly Dunbar (Candlewick, 2007)
High quality, exuberant poems and multimedia illustrations introduce young children to this genre.  (3-5)
 

Holiday Stew: A kid's portion of holiday and seasonal poems
written and ill. by Jenny Whitehead (Henry Holt, 2007)
From Thanksgiving to Christmas, Passover and Ramadan, poems are enhanced with humorous illustration.  (5-9)
 

Hoops
by Robert Burleigh, ill. by Stephen T. Johnson  (HBC, 1997)
Feel the action and experience the poetry of basketball. Pastel illustrations.  (9-11)


I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry
by Catherine Clinton (HMC, 1998)
In thirty-six handsomely illustrated selections, the editor suggest the richness of African American poetry. Includes biographies.  (11-14)
 

In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers
ill. by Javaka Steptoe (Lee & Low, 1997)
A dozen modern African American poets give tribute to the influence of fathers. Inventive artwork includes collages of found objects.  (10+)


The Invisible Ladder: An Anthology of Contemporary American Poems for Young Readers
selected by Liz Rosenberg, photos
 (Holt, 1996)
 A celebration of American poetry including photographs of the poets and their own descriptions of how they write.  (12+) M

Is it Far to Zanzibar?
by Nikki Grimes, ill. by Betsy Lewin (HarperCollins, 2000)
Lovely poems developed during a year-long visit to Africa. Delicate, exuberant illustrations.  (6-9)
 

It's About Dogs
by Tony Johnston, ill.
by Ted Rand
 (Harcourt, 2000)
Appealing  illustrations capture both humor and poignancy in forty-three poems about dogs.  (6-8)
 

Jabberwocky: The Classic Poem from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There
reimagined and ill.
by Christopher Myers
 (Jump At The Sun, 2007)
Christopher Myers discovers the hip-hop beat in Lewis Carroll's classic nonsense poem, reimaging it in the urban world of jump rope and basketball.  (9-12)
 

Jazz ABZ: An A to Z collection of Jazz Portraits
by Wynton Marsalis, ill.
by Paul Rogers, biographical sketches,
by Phil Schapp
 (Candlewick, 2005)
Alliterative, witty poems match stylistic, acrylic portraits of key jazz greats. Brief biographical sketches and descriptions of the poetic forms.  (12+)


A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms
selected
by Paul B. Janeczko, ill.
by Chris Raschka
 (Candlewick, 2005)
From couplet to sonnet, from Ogden Nash to Shakespeare--and more.  (10-14)
 

Knock at a Star: A Child's Introduction to Poetry
compiled
by X.J. Kennedy and Dorothy M.  Kennedy, ill.
by Karen Lee Baker
 (Little, Brown, 1999)
The wonder, the magic, the music of poetry.  Contains seventy-five new poems and over one hundred old favorites. New black-and-white illustrations.  (8+)
 

The Ladder
by Halfdan Rasmussen, ill.
by Pierre Pratt, trans.
by Marilyn Nelson
 (Candlewick, 2006)
A bored and lonely ladder decides to take a trip.  Colorful acrylic illustrations.  (5-9)
 

Langston Hughes
edited
by David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad, ill.
by Benny Andrews
 (Sterling, 2006)
Wonderful selection of Hughes' poetry matched by soft impressionistic paintings. Biographical essay.  (10-13)
 

Lemonade Sun and other Summer Poems
by Rebecca Dotlich, ill.
by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
 (Boyds Mills, 1998)

Delightful original poems about summer pleasures of childhood.  Charming integrated illustrations.   (4-8)
 
 
Light-Gathering Poems
edited
by Liz Rosenberg
 (Henry Holt, 2000)
A remarkable anthology of beautiful and refreshing selections spanning thousands of years. Biographical information about the poets.  (12+)
 

Little Dog and Duncan
by Kristine O'Connell George, ill.
by June Otani
 (Clarion, 2002)

A loving relationship between a little girl's dog and a new sleep-over friend. Captivating illustrations.  (7-10)
 

Little Dog Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George, ill.
by June Otani
 (Clarion, 1999)
Thirty short poems about a dog and his girl.  Charming  watercolors.  (6-9)
 
 
lizards, frogs, and polliwogs
written and ill. by Douglas Florian
 (Harcourt, 2001)
The habits of reptiles and amphibians in clever short poems and humorous paintings.  (6-9)

 
The Llama Who Had No Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems
by Mary Ann Hoberman, ill.
by Betty Fraser
 (Browndeer Press, 1998)
An illustrated collection of poems about all sorts of subjects, including "Wishes," "Birthdays" and "growing."  (6+)
 

Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech
 (HarperCollins, 2001)
Learning to write and appreciate poetry also lets Jack come to terms with the death of his dog.  (8-12)

Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers
edited by Pat Mora, ill. by Paula S. Barragán M. (Lee & Low, 2001)
Anthology of Latino poems extols mothers and grandmothers.  (10-12)
 

A Lucky Thing
by Alice Schertle, ill.
by Wendell Minor
 (HBC, 1999)
Clever, unusual poems about creativity and the quiet observation of natural creatures.  (9-11)
 

Mammalabilia
written and ill.
by Douglas Florian
 (Harcourt, 2000)
Tiger, camel, rhebok  and more, with soft, humorous illustrations.  (7-9)
 

Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose: One Hundred Best-Loved Verses
Introduction
by Leonard S. Marcus, ill.
by Mary Engelbreit
 (HarperCollins, 2005)
Detailed illustrations infuse the familiar verses with insight and contemporary values.  (4-10)
 

Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color
poems
by Elizabeth  Alexander, and Marilyn Nelson, ill.
by Floyd Cooper
 (Wordsong, 2007)
The harsh story of the first school for African-American girls in 1830s Connecticut is told in poems from different viewpoints.   (12-14)  M

Moon, Have You Met My Mother?
by Karla Kuskin, ill.
by Sergio Ruzzier
 (HarperCollins, 2003)
Wonderful, whimsical poems
by the acclaimed author. Delightful line drawings.  (9-12)
 

Mother Goose: Numbers on the Loose
compiled and ill.
by Leo & Diane Dillon
 (Harcourt, 2007)
This collection of numeric nursery rhymes is illustrated with glowing art.  (2-5)
 

Music and Drum: Voices of War and Peace. Hope and Dreams
selectedby Laura Robb, ill. by Debra Lill
 (Philomel, 1997)
Visions of peace, set against poems about war and hardship, will inspire readers.  (9-14)


My Grandma Likes to Say
by Denise Brennan-Nelson, ill. by Jane Monroe Donovan
 (Sleeping Bear, 2007)
The poetry of Grandma's sayings reflect a child's literal interpretation. Origins and meanings are provided.  Humorous illustrations.  (8-12)
 

My Name is Jorge on Both Sides of the River
by Jane Medina, ill. by Fabricio Vanden Broeck (Boyds Mills, 1999)
Poems, in English and Spanish, which capture the painful "betweenness" of being a child of two cultures.   (8-12)
 

Night Garden: Poems from the World of Dreams
by Janet S. Wong, ill. by Julie Paschkis
 (McElderry, 2000)
This fine poet's dreams will remind you of your own.  Perfect illustrations of night time visions.
 (7-10)
 

Oh, Theodore!: Guinea Pig Poems
by Susan Katz, ill.
by Stacey Schuett
 (Clarion, 2007)
Simple poetic text rhythmically explores a boy's rewards of caring for a pet.  Acrylic paint and gouache illustrations.  (5-8)
 

Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George, ill.
by Kate Kiesler
 (Clarion, 1998)
A celebration of trees and their central place in our lives, with luminous paintings.  (8-12)
 
 
Paul Revere's Ride: The Landlord's Tale
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ill.
by Charles Santore
 (HarperCollins, 2003)
Longfellow's historic poem captured in exciting illustrations.  (9-14)
 

red hot salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States
editedby Lori Marie Carlson, intro. by Oscar Hijuelos
 (Henry Holt, 2005)
Bilingual poems about Latino youth in the United States. Includes glossary of translated Spanish vocabulary and biographies.  (12-14)
 

Relatively Speaking: Poems About Family
by Ralph Fletcher, ill.
by Walter Lyon Krudop
 (Orchard, 1999)
An eleven-year-old writes in moving blank verse about his family.   (9+)
 
 
Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People
by Carole Boston Weatherford
 (Philomel, 2002)
A celebration of Black history and culture, inspired and accompanied
by historical photographs and prints.  (8-12)
 

Rise the Moon
by Eileen Spinelli, ill.
by Raul Colon
 (Dial, 2003)
The moon as it appears to humans and animals. Exquisite illustrations and lovely verse.  (4-7)
 

Scranimals
by Jack Prelutsky, ill.
by Peter Sis
 (Greenwillow, 2002)
Scrambled animals, a feast for eye and ear.  (6-10)
 

Shoe Magic
by Nikki Grimes, ill.
by Terry Widener
 (Orchard, 2000)
The many kinds of footwear that fulfill individual dreams.  Appealing verses and multi-ethnic illustrations.  (5-8)
 

Song and Dance
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill. by Cheryl Munro Taylor
 (Simon, 1997)
Poems on song and dance
by modern poets like Carl Sandburg, Langston Hughes, Eve Merriam. Exuberant illustrations.  (7-10)


Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems
by Joyce Sidman, ill.
by Beckie Prange
 (HMC, 2005)
Scientific facts accompany different poetic forms which describe the food chain in changing seasons. Watercolor and woodcut illustrations.   (6-10)
 

Soul Moon Soup
by Lindsay Lee Johnson
 (Front Street, 2002)
The painful journey of eleven-year-old Phoebe and her mother from homelessness to hope.  (10-14)
 

Spectacular Science: a book of poems
selected
by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill.
by Virginia Halstead
 (S&S, 1999)
The wonder of science finds poetic expression. Whimsical illustrations.  (5-12)
 

Step Lightly: Poems for the Journey
collected
by Nancy  Willard
 (Harcourt Brace, 1998)
Seemingly simple, subtle poems are powerful markers to moments of life and living.  (9-12)
 

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy
by Sonya Sones
 (HarperCollins, 1999)
Poignant, precise poems capture the variety of reactions a young girl has to her older sister's mental breakdown.  (12-14)
 

The Sun Is So Quiet
by Nikki Giovanni, ill.
by Ashley Bryan
 (Holt, 1996)
Lovely, mostly seasonal poems, accompanied
by colorful illustrations.  (6-8)


Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George, ill.
by Debbie Tilley
 (Clarion, 2002)
An unerring portrait of a middle school year. Humorous black and white illustrations.  (10-12)
 

The Tale I Told Sasha
by Nancy Willard, ill.
by David Christiana
 (Little, Brown, 1999)
A little girl follows a yellow ball into an adventure. A hauntingly imaginative blend of text and illustration.  (8-12)
 
 
Thanks a Million

by Nikki Grimes, ill.
by Cozbi A. Cabrera
 (Greenwillow, 2006)
The things for which children are thankful.  (6-12)
 

That Sweet Diamond: Baseball Poems
by Paul B. Janeczko, ill.
by Carole Katchen
 (Atheneum, 1998)
All aspects of a baseball game accompanied
by sensitive impressionistic illustrations.  (7-10)

 
This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness
by Joyce Sidman, ill.
by Pamela Zagarenski
 (HMC, 2007)
Poems of children's apologies are paired with forgiveness responses.  Mixed-media journal-page illustrations.  (6-12)
 

This Jazz Man
by Karen Ehrhardt, ill.
by R.G. Roth
 (Harcourt, 2006)
Poetic variations of "This Old Man" introduce nine great jazzmen.  Includes bibliographies with vibrant illustrations.  (6-12)
 

This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort
selected by Georgia Heard
 (Candlewick, 2002)
A reflective blend of poetry and art, offering hope in today's world.  (10+)
 

Today and Today
by Kobayashi Issa, ill.
by G. Brian Karas
 (Scholastic, 2007)
Japanese haiku celebrate the everyday joys and sorrows of one family's life. Pencil and paint on rice paper illustrations.   (7-12)
 

The 20th-Century Children's Poetry Treasury
selected by Jack Prelutsky, ill.
by Meilo So
 (Knopf, 1999)
What fun! Contemporary poems about just about everything from toasters to dinosaurs and from seasons to spinach.  For children of all ages.  (4-14)

 
War and the Pity of War
editedby Neil Philip, ill. by Michael McCurdy (Clarion, 1998)
Powerful anthology of beautiful, devastating poems from wars throughout history. Compelling scratchboard illustrations.  (12+)
 

The Way a Door Closes
by Hope Anita Smith, ill.
by Shane W. Evans
 (Henry Holt, 2003)
A thirteen-year-old African American shares his pain, rage and hopes after his father walks out on his family.  (11-14)
 

Weird Pet Poems
compiled
by Dilys Evans, ill.
by Jacqueline Rogers
 (Simon, 1997)
A boy searches for the perfect pet in a series of delightful poems
by distinguished poets. Highly imaginative illustrations.  (8-10)


What is Goodbye?
by Nikki Grimes, ill.
by Raúl Colón
 (Hyperion,  2004)
Dreamlike, emotional art illustrates poems in alternating voices of two younger siblings after their beloved older brother's death.  (10-14)
 

what my mother doesn't know
by Sonya Sones
 (S&S, 2001)
Fourteen-year-old Sophie struggles to understand her passion and friendship and agonizes over her ensuing dilemma. Poignant, witty, realistic.  (12-14)


Where Have the Unicorns Gone?
by Jane Yolen, ill.
by Ruth Sanderson
 (S&S, 2000)
Realistic oil paintings with a touch of magic illustrate this ode to the mythical creatures.  (5-9)
 

We
by Alice Schertle, ill.
by Kenneth Addison
 (Lee & Low , 2007)
Human development from its beginnings millions of years ago in Africa to modern times. Fascinating mixed-media collage.  (12-14)
 

Where I Live
by Eileen Spinelli, ill.
by Matt Phelan
 (Dial, 2007)
Diana's life is disrupted when her father loses his job and the family must move. Endearing black-and-white illustrations.  (6-9)
 

Wonderful Words: Poems about Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill. by Karen Barbour (S&S,  2004)
A joyful celebration of language. Bold illustrations.  (9-14)
 

Worlds Apart: Traveling With Fernie and Me
by Gary Soto, ill.
by Greg Clarke
 (Putnam, 2005)
The imaginary travels of two best friends spanning the globe. Humorous illustrations.  (9-12)
 

A Wreath for Emmett Till
by Marilyn Nelson, ill.
by Philippe Lardy
 (HMC, 2005)
Brilliant tribute to the fourteen-year-old whose murder shook the nation in 1955. In rarely seen heroic crown of sonnets.  (12-14)
 

Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary
by Julie Larios, ill.
by Julie Paschkis
 (Harcourt, 2006)
Brilliantly colored, luminous gouache paintings accompany a menagerie of unusual and clever animal poems.  (5-10)
 

Yesterday I Had the Blues
by Jeron Ashford Frame, ill.
by R. Gregory Christie
 (Tricycle,  2003)
Spare, clever text and dynamic illustrations explore a family's range of emotions.  (4-7)
 

Zoo's Who
written and ill.
by Douglas Florian
 (Harcourt, 2005)
Whimsical treatment of zoological creatures.   (5-9)
 


REFERENCE

1,000 Inventions and Discoveries
by Roger Bridgman
 (DK Ink, 2002)
The history from 3,000,000BC to 2001 covered in pictures.  (9-12)
 

Inventions
by Valerie Wyatt, ill.
by Matthew Fernandes
 (Kids Can, 2003)
Human ingenuity through the ages from the wheel to chewing gum and e-mail. Includes activities, a time line and an index.  (8-12)
 

The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Indepencence
by Dennis Brindell Fradin, ill.
by Michael McCurdy
 (Walker, 2002)
An informative, well researched introduction to the men who made astonishing history.  (9-12)
 

Words That Built a Nation: A Young Person's Collection of Historic American Documents
by Marilyn Miller
 (Scholastic, 1999)
Thirty-nine primary source documents from the Mayflower compact to the 16th Amendment to Nixon's resignation speech. Archival photographs.  (11+)
 

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly
by Gail Carson Levine
 (HarperCollins, 2006)
The many aspects of the writing process presented with clarity and humor. Useful tips and exercises.  (10+)
 

Writing Stories: Fantastic Fiction from Start to Finish
by David L. Harrison
 (Scholastic,  2004)
From idea to rewriting, clear and inspiring guidelines and exercises.  (10-14)
 


RELIGION

Brother Wolf of Gubbio: A Legend of Saint Francis
written and ill. by Colony Elliott Santangelo
 (Handprint, 2000)
A wolf, a town, and a man who believes in the brotherhood of all living things. Illustrations are ink and colored-pencil on wood.  (6-9)
 

A Child is Born
by Margaret Wise Brown, ill.
by Floyd Cooper
 (Hyperion, 2000)
Joyful retelling of the birth of Jesus, resplendent with paintings of a black Madonna and her family. A holiday treasure.  (5-8)
 

The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient China
written and ill. by Leonard Everett Fisher
 (Holiday House, 2003)
Seventeen deities presented in clear text and striking illustrations.  Includes map, bibliography and pronunciation guide.  (8-12)
 

God's Story: How God Made Mankind
by Jan Mark, ill. by David Parkins
 (Candlewick, 1998)
Old Testament stories retold with energy, humor, and dramatic illustrations.   (8+)
 
 
Rock of Ages
by Tonya Bolden, ill.
by R. Gregory Christie
 (Knopf, 2002)
An celebration of the historical role of the Black church. Bold, bright illustrations.  (8-12)
 

The Serpent's Tongue
editedby Nancy Wood.
 (Dutton, 1997)
Authentic, evocative portrait of spiritual and everyday life in New Mexico pueblos. Includes prose, poetry, and art.  (12+)



SCIENCE

All About Frogs
written and ill. by Jim Arnosky
 (Scholastic, 2002)
Fact-filled book with beautifully clear illustrations.  (4-8)
 

and tango makes three
by Justin Richardson, and Peter Parnell, ill.
by Henry Cole
 (S&S, 2005)
After two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo adopt an abandoned egg, the hatchling becomes the focus of their happy family.  (5-8)
 

Apples
written and photographed by Ken Robbins
 (Atheneum, 2002)
How this crunchy tasty fruit grows and the delicious forms it takes: cider, strudel, applesauce. Spectacular photographs.  (4-7)
 

Apples
by Jacqueline Farmer, ill. by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
 (Charlesbridge, 2007)
The farming, varieties and history of the most popular fruit in the United States. Colorful watercolor and pencil illustrations.  (5-8)
 

Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close
written and photographed by Nic Bishop
 (Scholastic, 2002)
All things found in the backyard. Includes photographs and activities to keep young entomologists busy.  (7-10)
 

Bat Loves the Night
by Nicola Davies, ill.
by Sarah Fox-Davies
 (Candlewick, 2001)
The nocturnal world of the pipistrelle bats. Interesting information and splendid illustrations.  (5-8)
 

Bats: Shadows in the Night
by Diane Ackerman, photos
by Merlin Tuttle
 (Crown, 1997)
Fascinating account of Texan bat colony life and habits. Remarkable photographs.  (9-12)


The Beekeepers
by Linda Oatman High, ill.
by Doug Chyka
 (Boyds Mills, 1998)
An easy-to-read book about a young child's introduction to beekeeping.  (4-6)
 

Big Head!: A Book about your brain and your head
by Dr. Pete Rowan, ill. by John Temperton
 (Knopf, 1998)
Clear explanations and detailed illustrations of this important body part.  (8-11)


Birds
photos by Gilles Martin, text by Philippe J. Dubois and Valérie Guidoux, photographs by Gilles Martin, drawings by Jean Chevallier
 (Abrams, 2005)
Magnificent photographs and clear engaging text portray numerous aspects of birds in all their astonishing diversity.  (11-14)
 

Birds Build Nests
by Yvonne Winer, ill.
by Tony Oliver
 (Charlesbridge, 2002)
The amazing variety of birds' nests in various parts of the world. Lyrical verse, detailed illustrations.  (6-9)
 

Butterflies
by Gloria G. Schlaepfer and ill. by Ka Botzis
 (Cavendish, 2006)
The history, varieties and life cycle. Stunning photographs.  (9-11)
 

Chameleon, Chameleon
by Joy Cowley, photos
by Nic Bishop
 (Scholastic, 2005)
A chameleon searches for a new home in a tropical forest. Dramatic, up-close photographs.  (5-8)
 

A Dragon in the Sky: The Story of a Green Darner Dragonfly
by Laurence Pringle, ill. by Bob Marstall
 (Orchard, 2001)
The life cycle, including perils and habits of these fascinating insects. Detailed paintings, bibliography, index.  (9-12)
 

Earthquakes
by Deborah Heiligman
 (Scholastic, 2003)
How earthquakes happen and the damage they do. Marvelously illustrated.  (7-9)
 

Elephant Quest
by Ted & Betsy Lewin
 (HarperCollins, 2000)
On a safari searching for African elephants the authors encounter a splendid variety of wildlife. Beautiful watercolors.   (8-10)
 

EMI and the Rhino Scientist

by Mary Kay Carson, photos
by Tom Uhlman
 (HMC, 2007)
Conservationists discover how to save the rare and endangered Sumatran rhinocerous.   (8-12)
 

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs
by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
 (Candlewick, 2005)
A triumph of artistic paper engineering illustrates a broad range of dinosaurs. Classified and meaningfully discussed.  (8-11)
 

An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly
by Laurence Pringle, ill.
by Bob Marstall
 (Orchard, 1997)
The life cycle and living habits of this beautiful insect, including its fall migration from the north to central Mexico.  (9-12)


Field Trips: bug hunting, animal tracking, bird-watching, and shore walking
written and ill. by Jim Arnosky
 (HarperCollins, 2002)
"How to"  with helpful illustrations and an emphasis on safety and ecological responsibility.  (7-12)
 

Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes
writtenby Pamela S. Turner
 (HMC, 2005)
How human activity imperils gorillas and how people can help them, too. Clear, engaging photos.  (8-11)
 

A Grand Old Tree
written and ill.
by Mary Newell  DePalma
 (Scholastic, 2005)
A tree's life cycle. Simple text and delicate illustrations that ring true for human life as well.  (4-8)
 

Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine
by Leslie Dendy and Mel Boring, ill. by C. B. Mordan
 (Henry Holt, 2005)
Scientists who used themselves as subjects to learn about diseases, the physiological effects of high blood pressure and more.  (12-14)
 

Hurricanes, Tsunamis, and other Natural Disasters
by Andrew Langley
 (Kingfisher, 2006)
The many kinds of natural disasters. Relevant illustrations, glossary and websites.  (9-14)
 

An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis Of Global Warming
by Al Gore
 (Viking, 2007)
Al Gore's famed bestseller is adapted for a younger audience with simple text and clear photographs and diagrams.  (10-14)
 

Into the Volcano: A Volcano Researcher at Work
written by Donna O'Meara, photographs by Stephen and Donna O'Meara
 (Kids Can, 2005)
A female volcanologist explains origin and types. Dramatic photographs and clear diagrams.   (9-12)
 

Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives
by Jeanette Farrell
 (FSG, 2005)
The friendly role of the microorganisms as found in a typical school lunch. Accessible and fascinating! Includes glossary, index and bibliography.  (12-14)
 

Is My Dog a Wolf?: How Your Pet Compares to its Wild Cousin
by Jenni Bidner
 (Lark Books, 2006)
A fascinating comparison of wolves and dogs with photographs that illustrate the text.  (8-12)
 

Kingfisher Voyages: Wild Weather
by Caroline Harris
 (Kingfisher, 2005)
What shapes the Earth's weather takes and the many forms that wild weather takes. Well documented.  (8-12)
 

The Life and Times of the Peanut
written and ill. by Charles Micucci
 (HMC, 1997)
From farm to peanut butter! Charming illustrations and fact-packed text tells about the history and uses of this valuable legume.  (8-10)


Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution
written and ill. by Steve Jenkins
 (HMC, 2002)
An appealing format and watercolor collages make this scientific explanation accessible.  (8-12)
 

Life-Size Reptiles
by Hannah Wilson
 (Sterling, 2007)
A plethora of well-organized information, is accompanied
by colorful, detailed illustrations, many of which are life-size.  (4-10)
 

Mammoths on the Move
by Lisa Wheeler, ill. by Kurt Cyrus
 (Harcourt, 2006)
About woolly mammoths who lived fourteen thousand years ago. Rhyming facts and dramatic illustrations.  (3-6)
 

Messages from Mars
by Loreen Leedy, and Andrew Schuerger, ill. by Loreen Leedy
 (Holiday House, 2006)
In 2016 a group of kids travel to Mars and e-mail their observations and Mars-related facts to their friends and family.  Drawings and stunning NASA photographs.  (9-12)
 

A  Moldy Mystery
by Michelle Knudsen, ill. by Barry Gott
 (Kane Press, 2006)
When he throws out his brother's science experiment, Jeff learns all about molds.  (6-8)

Mud City: A Flamingo Story
written and ill.
by Brenda Z. Guiberson
 (Henry Holt, 2005)
The life cycle of an aquatic bird family in the Bahamas. Watercolor and gouache illustrations.  (7-10)
 

My Pet Dog
by Ruth Berman, photos
by Billy Hustace
 (Lerner, 2001
Superb guide in an accessible format for the family acquiring a dog.   (7-12)


My Pet Hamster
by Anne Rockwell, ill. by Bernice Lum
 (HarperCollins, 2002)
Care and habits of this popular pet. Simple expressive illustrations.  (3-7)
 

National Audubon Society First Field Guides    (Scholastic, 1998)

Birds
by Scott Weidensaul, photos

Insects
by Christina Wilsdon, photos

Mammals
by John Grassy and Chuck Keene, photos

Rocks and Minerals
by Edward Ricciuti and Margaret W. Carruthers, photos

Weather  
by Jonathan D.W. Kahl

Wildflowers 
by Susan Hood, photos
exquisite field guides with clear photographs and basic information for the novice.  Softcover editions available  (8+)

The Octopus: Phantom of the Sea
by Mary M. Cerullo, photosby Jeffrey L. Rotman  (Dutton, 1997)
A fascinating look at this intelligent, elusive, and gentle wonder of the underwater world. Stunning photographs.  (10-12)


OH, RATS!: The story of Rats and People

by Albert Marrin, ill.
by C.B. Mordan
 (Dutton, 2006)
Everything you ever wanted to know about these fascinating rodents and then some.  (8-10)
 

On the Wing: American Birds in Migration
written and ill. by Carol Lerner
 (HarperCollins, 2001)
Geographic patterns and routes, navigational skills, wing shapes and diets of individual species.  (9-14)
 
 
One Tiny Turtle
by Nicola Davies, ill.by Jane Chapman
 (Candlewick, 2001)
The life cycle of one loggerhead. Poetic writing and glorious illustrations.   (6-8)
 
 
Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
told by Isabella Hatkoff, and Craig  Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu, photos by Peter Greste
 (Scholastic, 2006)
The friendship between a baby hippo and an old tortoise which developed after the Tsunami in December 2004. Vivid photographs.  (7-11)
 

Penguins
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
 (Scholastic, 2003)
About the winged animals who never fly. Extraordinary, engaging photographs.  (6-9)
 

PICTUREPOPS

Ocean: amazing photo pop-ups like you've never seen before
by Matt Denny, Robert Tainsh and Simon Mugford, paper engineering by David Hawcock
 (St. Martin's, 2005)
Creatures of the sea with clear explanatory notes and size comparison charts.

Pop!: A Book about Bubbles
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, photos
by Margaret Miller
 (HarperCollins, 2001)
How soap bubbles are made, why they are round, and why they go pop.  (4-7)

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea
by Sy Montgomery, photos by Nic Bishop
 (HMC, 2006)
The search for the tree kangaroo of New Guinea, brought to life through the rich text and vivid photographs.  (8-12)
 

Rats! The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
by Richard Coniff
 (Crown, 2002)
Everything you did or didn't want to know about this unfairly hated animal.  (8-11)
 

Red-eyed Tree Frog
by Joy Cowley;  photos by Nic Bishop
 (Scholastic, 1999)
A day in the life of a tree frog in clear text and splendid four-color photos.  (4-7)


Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs
by Sandra Markle
 (Walker, 2006)
From slimy eggs to tadpoles to baby frog.  Fascinating text and photographs.   (6-9)
 

Spiders and Their Webs
by Darlyne A. Murawski
 (National Geographic,  2004)
The habitat and habits of various kinds of spiders. Excellent photos, graphics and glossary.  (6-9)
 

Sweet Dreams: How Animals Sleep
by Kinniko Kajikawa
 (Henry Holt, 1999)
Photographs and rhyming verses describe the sleep habits of various animals.   (3-6)
 

The Tarantula Scientist
by Sy Montgomery, photos by Nic Bishop
 (HMC,  2004)
Sam Marshall, spider scientist, leads us to French Guiana where he studies the shy tarantula.  Filled with up-close photographs.  (8-12)
 

Thunder on the Plains: The Story of the American Buffalo
by Ken Robbins
 (Atheneum, 2001)
The tragic near-extinction of this majestic animal. A clear narrative with excellent photographs.
 (8-11)
 
 
Tough, Toothy Baby Sharks
by Sandra Markle
 (Walker, 2007)
The life story of these unusual fish is accompanied by revealing underwater photographs.  (9-12)
 

Tropical Rain Forest
by April Pulley Sayre
 (Scholastic, 2003)
The butterflies, snakes, jaguars, and monkeys that inhabit the rain forest. Colorful, informative photographs.  (7-9)
 

Twilight Hunt: A Seek-and-Find Book
written and ill. by Narelle Oliver
 (Star Bright, 2007)
Linocut illustrations demonstrate the importance of animal camouflage for survival in nature as a screech owl searches for supper.  (5-8)
 

Waiting for Wings
written and ill. by Lois Ehlert
 (Harcourt, 2001)
The vibrant drama of butterflies in a garden. Extraordinary illustrations of butterflies and the flowers that entice them.  (3-7)

 
The Whale Scientists: Solving the Mystery of Whale Strandings
by Fran Hodgkins, photos
 (HMC, 2007)
A well-documented account of how scientists are striving to discover why whales run aground will fascinate readers.   (8-12)
 

What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
 (HMC, 2003)
Cut-paper illustrations and simple text explore unique sensory abilities of various animals.  (6-9)
 

What's That Bug?: Everyday Insects and Their Really Cool Cousins
by Nan Froman, ill. by Julian Mulock
 (Little, 2001)
A brilliant reference filled with information and quirky facts about common and unique insects. Includes scientific illustrations.  (8-11)
 

Where In The Wild?: Camouflaged Creatures Concealed. . . and Revealed
by David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy, photos
by Dwight Kuhn
 (Tricycle, 2007)
Creatures, both on the move and hidden, are revealed
by lifting flaps.  (5-10)
 

The Winking, Blinking Sea: All About Bioluminescence
by Mary Batten
 (Millbrook, 2000)
Extraordinary photographs show how fourteen kinds of animals deep in the sea manage life in the dark.   (7-10)
 


SPORTS

Capoeira
written and photographed by George Ancona
 (Lee & Low, 2007)
Why must one have a nickname to play? Learn the answer and more about this Brazilian game, martial art and dance. Vibrant photographs.  (6-8)
 

Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings
by Deborah Hopkinson, ill.
by Terry Widener
 (Atheneum,  2003)
Alta Weiss develops her natural pitching arm in a cold Ohio barn. In 1907, at 17, she pitches successfully for a semi-pro team.  (7-10)
 

Hammerin' Hank: The Life of Hank Greenberg
by Yona Zeldis McDonough, ill.
by Malcah Zeldis
 (Walker, 2006)
The Jewish baseball superstar was a hero to fans even as he fought discrimination.  Colorful gouache folk art.  (8-10)
 

Heroes of Baseball: The Men Who Made It America's Favorite Game
by robert lipsyte
 (Atheneum, 2006)
The impact of baseball's heroes on the history of the game and its role in the American dream.
 (10-14)
 

Hook, Line, & Seeker : A Beginner's Guide to Fishing, Boating, and Watching Water Wildlife
written and ill.
by Jim Arnosky
 (Scholastic, 2005)
For fishing, boating and aquatic animal enthusiasts, an informative and enlightening book. Paintings and line drawings.  (10-14)
 

Perfect, Once Removed: When Baseball Was All the World to Me
by Phillip Hoose
 (Walker, 2006)
Nine-years-old when his cousin Don Larsen pitches a perfect game,  Phil describes how it changes his life.   (8-12)
 


TECHNOLOGY

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon
by Catherine  Thimmesh
 (HMC, 2006)
The spectacular first moon landing and the many, many people who made it possible.  Photographs, sources, glossary.   (11-14)
 


WORLD

The Big Dig: Reshaping an American City
by Peter Vanderwarker
 (Little, 2001)
The current huge Boston construction project of central artery and tunnel. Color photographs, maps and diagrams.  (10-13)


Bridges Are to Cross
by Philemon Sturges, ill. by Giles Laroche
 (Putnam, 1998)
All kinds of bridges introduced,  from a Peruvian rope bridge to the mighty Golden Gate bridge. Extraordinary cut-paper illustrations.  (7-9)


Hear These Voices: Youth at the Edge of the Millennium
written and photographed by Anthony Allison
 (Dutton, 1999/Candlewick, 2001)
Gripping, real-life stories dealing with homelessness, HIV, and other urgent world-wide crises. Told in rich voices and brought to life with compelling photographs.  (12-14)


If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People
by David J. Smith, ill. by Shelagh Armstrong
 (Kids Can , 2002)
Fascinating introduction to a complex array of population statistics and the social implications.  (8-12)
 

In a Sacred Manner I Live: Native American Wisdom
edited by Neil Philip, photos  (Clarion, 1997)
An anthology of excerpts from speeches and writings, enhanced
by haunting, archival photographs.  (9-12)


Iqbal Masih and the Crusaders Against Child Slavery
by Susan Kuklin
 (Henry Holt, 1998)
A very disturbing yet enlightening description of child labor revealed through the experience of an extraordinary young Pakistani boy.  (11-14)
 
 
Leaving Vietnam: The True Story of Tuan Ngo, a Boat Boy
by Sarah S. Kilborne, ill. by Melissa Sweet
 (S&S, 1999)
The story of Tuan Ngo's escape to freedom with his father, told in moving and compelling fashion.  (7-10)
 

The Milestones Project: Celebrating Childhood Around the World
photos by Richard Steckel and Michele Steckel
 (Tricycle,  2004)
Lost teeth, haircuts, and much more--children and children's authors share universal experiences. Splendid evocative photographs and compelling text.  (6-9)
 

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes
Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz, and The Children's Museum, Boston, ill.
by Meilo So
 (Harcourt, 2002)
Five Chinese festivals and their stories, recipes and activities.  (8-12)
 

My Baby
written and ill. by Jeanette Winter
 (FSG, 2001)
A young mother-to-be describes the culture of Mali to her unborn child as she makes a bogolan cloth.  (5-8)

 
My Childhood Under Fire: A Sarajevo Diary
by Nadja Halilbegovich
 (Kids Can, 2006)
A talented girl recounts her life in Sarajevo during the terrible 1991-1995 civil war. Diary entries, doodles and photographs also depict happy times.  (11-14)
 

No More Strangers Now: Young Voices from a New South Africa
interviews by Tim McKee, photos by Anne Blackshaw
 (DK, Inc., 1998)
Twelve teenagers tell their life stories in their own words with photos of their homes in South Africa. Thought-provoking.  (12+)
 

One Belfast Boy
by Patricia McMahon, photos
by Alan O'Connor
 (HMC, 1999)
Life in contemporary Northern Ireland as we follow a Catholic boy preparing for a boxing match. Compelling photographs.  (9-12)
 
 
The Pot That Juan Built
by Nancy  Andrews-Goebel, ill. by David Diaz
 (Lee & Low, 2002)
Cumulative rhyme describes the pottery of a renowned Mexican potter. Additional historical and technical information. Luminous illustrations.  (5-8)
 

The Shared Heart
by Adam Mastoon, photos
 (Morrow, 1997)
Straightforward narratives, accompanied
by black-and-white portraits, demystify the world of lesbian, gay, and bisexual teenagers.  (13-14)  M

Small Worlds:  Maps and Mapmaking
by Karen Romano Young
 (Scholastic, 2002)
 The language of maps and the people who create them. Illustrated with a vast variety of different kinds of maps.  (11-14)
 

Vote!
written and ill. by Eileen  Christelow
 (Clarion,  2003)
The political process and a history of voting. Entertaining and informative.  (7-10)
 

What Are You?: Voices of Mixed-Race Young People
by Pearl Fuyo Gaskins
 (Henry Holt, 1999)
Youths speak candidly about the joys and hardships of being racially mixed and how it impacts their life, heart, and soul.  (12-14)
 
What You Never Knew About Fingers, Forks, & Chopsticks
by Patricia Lauber, ill.
by John Manders
 (S&S, 1999)
Informative and delightful history of table manners.  (8-10)