Adler, David. Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery. Cam springs into action when she spots a suspicious woman around a vacant house.
Avi. S.O.R. Losers. Each member of the South Orange River seventh-grade soccer team has qualities of excellence, but not on the soccer field.
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Blood, Charles L. The Goat in the Rug. Geraldine, a goat, describes each step as she and her Navajo friend make a rug, from the hair clipping and carding to the dyeing and actual weaving.
Bunting, Eve. Clancy's Coat. Foreign lands. Ireland and friendship.
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Burnett, Frances H. The Little Princess. Sara Crewe, a pupil at Miss Minchin's London School, is left in poverty when her father dies, but is later rescued by a mysterious benefactor.
Byars, Betsy. Tornado. As they wait out a tornado in their storm cellar, a family listens to their farm hand tell stories about the dog that was blown into his life by another tornado when he was a boy.
Caines, Jeannette. Just Us Women. A little black girl is looking forward to a car ride she is going to take with her aunt.
Christopher, Matt. The Year Mom Won the Pennant and others by this author.
Cleary, Beverly. Otis Spofford. The misadventures of a young boy whose mischievous spirit constantly gets him into trouble.
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Coleman, Evelyn. White Socks Only. Tyrone Geter (Illustrator) Grandma tells the story about her first trip alone into town during the days when segregation still existed in Mississippi.
Conford, Ellen. Get the Picture, Jenny Archer. Jenny Archer takes a picture of what she thinks are mysterious happenings, but they are really only every day occurrences.
DePaola, Tomie. The Legend of The Bluebonnet. Here is the legend behind the bluebonnets that blanket the State of Texas. The story of the little Comanche Indian orphan who sacrificed her only doll in order to send the draught that was ravaging her village.
Dixon, Franklin W. The Giant Rat of Sumatra. The Hardy Boys collaborating on a case with Sherlock Holmes? Well, almost. A new musical play based on the legendary detective is coming to Bayport. It's called "The Giant Rat of Sumatra" and Joe has joined the cast. There's singing! There's dancing! And there's sabotage! (See continued series.)
Duffy, Betsy. Hey New Kids. When third-grader Cody and his family move, the boy decides that it is the perfect time to create a new image.
Fleischman, Sid. McBroom and the Beanstalk. "An Atlantic Monthly Press book." McBroom gets ready to tell his many preposterous stories in the World Champion Liar's contest only to be disqualified for telling the truth. See any other books by the same author.
Flor, Ada Alma. My Name is Maria Isabel. Third-grader Maria Isabel, born in Puerto Rico and now living in the United States, wants badly to fit in at school; and the teacher's writing assignment "My Greatest Wish" gives her that opportunity.
Giff, Patricia. Lily's Crossing. During a summer spent at Rockaway Beach in 1944, Lily's friendship with a young Hungarian refugee causes her to see the war and her own world differently.
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Golenbock, Peter. Teammates. Paul Bacon (Illustrator) Describes the racial prejudice experienced by Jackie Robinson when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black player in Major League baseball and depicts the acceptance and support he received from his white teammate Pee Wee Reese.
Gorman, Carol. Jennifer-the-Jerk is Missing. Thirteen-year-old Amy is babysitting Malcolm, an eight-year-old with a reputation for making up stories. When he tells her he's witnessed the kidnapping of a schoolmate, Amy doesn't know if she should believe him.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Running Out of Time. When a diphtheria epidemic hits her 1840 village, thirteen-year-old Jessie discovers it is actually a 1995 tourist site under unseen observation by heartless scientists, and it's up to Jessie to escape the village and save the lives of the dying children.
Hays, Wilma Pitchford. Pilgrim Thanksgiving. Damaris Hopkins is apprehensive about the Indians who have been invited to the first Thanksgiving Feast at the celebration she finds she has much to be thankful for.
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Hiser, Constance. No Bean Sprouts, Please! Fourth-grader James is resigned to his mother's healthy but boring lunches until he gets a very unusual lunch box for his birthday.
Horwitz, Elinor Lander. When the Sky is Like Lace. Describes the strange and splendid things that can happen on a night when the sky is like lace.
Howe, Deborah and James. Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery. Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.
Keene, Carolyn. The Crooked Bannister. Nancy Drew and her friends Bess and George spend an exciting week exploring a mysterious zigzag house with its fantastically crooked staircase, its bizarre serpent picture, and unpredictable robot that nearly causes the young detective to lose her life. (See continued series.)
Kehret, Peg. Earthquake Terror. When an earthquake hits the isolated island in northern California where his family had been camping, twelve-year-old Jonathan Palmer must find a way to keep himself, his partially paralyzed young sister, and their dog alive until help arrives.
Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie. Wilderness Cat. A cat travels 50 miles to rejoin the family that left him in Vermont when they moved to Canada.
Lasker, Joe. A Tournament of Knights. Justin, a young knight in the Middle Ages, prepares to engage in his first tournament, while an experienced challenger plans to defeat him.
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Lear, Edward. The Pobble Who Had Not Toes. Humor; Poetry; Rhyme
MacLachlan, Patricia. Skylark. When a drought tests the commitment of a mail-order bride from Maine to her new home on the prairie, her stepchildren hope they will be able to remain a family.
Marzollo, Jean. Slam Dunk Saturday. "A Stepping Stone book." Nine-year- old Billy wants to do well in his school's basketball fund-raiser but he is intimidated by a loud-mouthed schoolmate.
Mathis, Sharon Bell. The Hundred Penny Box. Leo Dillon (Illustrator), Diane Dillon (Illustrator) Michael's love for his great-great-aunt who lives with them leads him to intercede with his mother, who wants to toss out all her old things.
McCloskey, Robert. Lentil Lentil's harmonica saves the day when calamity threatens the homecoming celebration for the leading citizen of Alto, Ohio.
Miles, Miska. Annie and the Old One. A Navajo girl unravels a day's weaving on a rug whose completion, she believes, will mean the death of her grandmother. "An Atlantic Monthly Press book."
Monk, Isabell. Family Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter. This picture book takes the reader to a young girl's happy, boisterous black side of her family. She takes after her white dad physically, but fits right in with her mother's side of the family. The subtle message is finding your place within your family.
Mowat, Farley. Owls in the Family. "A Bantam Skylark book." A young boy decides to raise two owlets as pets. Woe and Weeps provide fun and excitement for the boy in Saskatoon.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh. When he finds a lost beagle in the hills behind his West Virginia home, Marty tries to hide it from his family and the dog's real owner, a mean-spirited man known to shoot deer out of season and to mistreat his dogs.
Paterson, Katherine. The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks. A pair of mandarin ducks, separated by a cruel lord who wishes to possess the drake for his colorful beauty, reward a compassionate couple who risk their lives to reunite the ducks.
Prelutsky, Jack. A Pizza the Size of the Sun: Poems. A collection of humorous poetry on a variety of topics.
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Provenson, Alice. The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway: Two Legends From Ancient China. Magical illustrations bring to life two tales from China. The first tells of Little Chu's acquisition of self-defense skills that save his village, and the second tells how a famous artist painted his way out of a death sentence.
Richter, Mordecai. Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang. For the crime of insulting a grown up, Jacob is sent to childrens' prison where he must confront the infamous Hooded Fang. A marvelous tongue-in- cheek adventure story sure to delight all.
Rockwell, Thomas. How to Eat Fried Worms. Two boys set out to prove that worms can make a delicious meal.
Roy, Ron. Awful Thursday. Jack feels responsible for ruining a school tape recorder and dreads telling Miss Hope what happened.
Sachar, Louis. Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger. Unusual things continue to happen in the classroom on the thirteenth floor of Wayside school, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.
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Selden, George. The Cricket in Times Square. The adventures of a country cricket who unintentionally arrives in New York and is befriended by Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat.
Sterman, Betsy and Samuel. Backyard Dragon. With the help of three friends a young boy and his grandfather help a fifteenth-century Welsh dragon find its way home.
Sharmat, Marjorie. I'm Terrific. Jason Bear thinks he's terrific and even awards himself gold stars for superior performance in his chores. His friends don't like to be around him.
Shub, Elizabeth. The White Stallion. In this story of pioneers, Gretchen is saved by a mysterious white stallion.
Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein A boy who turns into a television set and a girl who eat a collection of humorous poetry illustrated with the author's own drawings.
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Spinner, Stephanie. Aliens for Dinner. "A Stepping Stone book." Aric the alien returns to Earth to help Richard Bickerstaff save the world from an invasion of Dwilbs, pollution-loving aliens, who want to turn the planet into a toxic theme park.
Stevenson, James. Sweet Corn. Poetry about everyday things and situations. Poems are a visual experience of typography and colored background.
Sutton, Jane. Not Even Mrs. Mazursky. Stella's "fantastic" teacher from first year lets her down in a very disappointing way and she must come to grips with the realization that no one is perfect.
Taylor, Mildred D. The Gold Cadillac. Michael Hays (Illustrator) Two black girls living in the North are proud of their family's beautiful new Cadillac until they take it on a visit to the South and encounter racial prejudice for the first time.
Thomas, Jane Resh. The Comeback Dog. Grieving over the loss of his dog, Daniel claims he doesn't want another dog, but when he finds one that is near death he takes her home and gives her loving care.
Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Woodson's picture book tells a story of how a friendship develops between two girls of different racial and cultural background. Beautifully written.
Yolen, Jane. Welcome to the Sea of Sand. Describes the climate, environment, and animals of the Sonoran Desert located in the southwestern United States. See any other books by the same author.
Young, Ed. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China. Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother.
Historical Fiction
Blumberg, Rhoda. Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy. Illustrated with prints and photographs. More like an adventure story than a biography, this book traces the life of a shipwrecked boy who is the first Japanese person to visit the United States. Later, he plays an important role in opening his country's borders to westerners.
Bulla, Clyde. The Sword in the Tree. A simply written account of Knighthood at the time of King Arthur.
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Dagliesh, Alice. The Courage of Sara Noble. At the beginning of the eighteenth century an eight-year-old girl journeyed many miles from home into the colonial wilderness with her father. With her family's instructions "keep up the courage," she faces the dangers of the dark forest while father builds their new cabin. The story is an excellent introduction to the historical novel in short form.
Owen, Mary Beth. Counting Cranes. Haiku poetry, delicate and intricate watercolor illustrations. This counting book pays tribute to the Whooping Crane.
Wyeth, Sharon Dennis. Freedom's Wings: Corey's Diary, Kentucky to Ohio, 1857. (My America series.) Illustrated with prints and photographs. Young Corey, a slave child, is determined to reach freedom and the father who taught him to read and write. He and his mother must "follow the drinking gourd," fleeing at the mercy of the Underground Railroad. This "diary" is compelling! Historical note.
Non-Fiction
Ancona, George. Harvest. Illustrated with photographs by the author. Marshall Cavendish. Through text and photography, this elegant essay depicts the life of migrant farm workers. Why they are willing to take risks and make sacrifices becomes clear, as does the work ethic that drives them.
Coombs, Charles Ira. Passage to Space: the Shuttle Transportation System. Discusses the construction, launching, reentry and versatility of the first reusable spacecraft.Jacobsen, Karen. See any other books by the same author.
Johnson, Angela. Those Building Men. Illustrated by Barry Moser. Stunning illustrations of America's building men and the American monuments they constructed are the heart of this lovely picture book. Asians, Native Americans, Africans, and European immigrants are shown building the Erie Canal, bridges, and skyscrapers.
Lambert, David. Weather. Describes factors that influence our climate and weather.
May, Jullian. The Land Beneath the Sea. As simply written as is consistent with the use of correct terminology and sometimes complex phenomena, this is a good introduction to a subject of growing interest. The sharp lines of the scratch board drawings show vividly the formations of underwater mountains and trenches, the deep abysses, the guyots. Pictures in series make clearer the textual explanations of volcanic action and erosion. There is brief mention of marine creatures and of the research vehicles used to explore the deep sea, but most of the book is devoted to the terrain of the ocean depths.
Zim, Herbert. Golden Hamsters. One of the authors nature series of small volumes with large print for young children.
Adler, David. A Picture Book of Davy Crockett. With a simple brief text and many illustrations, this is a beginning biography of a frontier hero.
Brill, Marlene Targ. Margaret Knight: Girl Inventor. Illustrated by Joanne Friar. An excellent book to illustrate the power of youth. Margaret invented a safer loom after witnessing many deadly accidents. She is credited for making mill workers' lives safer when she was only twelve years old.
Christensen, Bonnie. Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People. Illustrated by the author."This Land Is Your Land," written by Woody Guthrie, depicts Guthrie's experience during the Great Depression and is the subject of this enchanting picture book. Guthrie's song lyrics, known by schoolchildren, his biography, and the striking illustrations make this the complete package. Important events.
Cone, Molly. The Ringling Brothers. Tells of a circus-smitten family who achieved the dream so many children have.
Curlee, Lynn. Brooklyn Bridge. Illustrated by the author. Inspiration and perspiration were both essential for completing one of America's most daring architectural and engineering feats ever. Imaginative illustrations complement this biography of the famous bridge and its builders.
Fritz, Jean. Where Do You Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus? Discusses the voyages of Christopher Columbus who determined to beat everyone in the race to the Indies.
Goodman, Joan Elizabeth. Despite all Obstacles: La Salle and the Conquest of the Mississippi. (Great Explorers series) Illustrated by Tom McNeely. Goodman's text allows the reader to uncover the strength of La Salle, as well as his weakness and his ultimate downfall. An outstanding book to help young historians understand the challenges of exploration.
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Moss, Melissa. Brave Harriet. Illustrated by C.F. Payne. An exceptional biography in words and pictures of Harriet Quimby, a young courageous woman who flew across the English Channel in 1912. Harriet was the first woman to fly solo across the Channel, but her feat was overshadowed by the sinking of the Titanic.