Children's Books


The following are some of my favorite children's books.

NEW!You can now order most of these books online because of an agreement I have entered into with Amazon.com, an online bookstore that I have been ordering from for the past year or so. Clicking on the title will take you to the Amazon.com website, will provide you with further information about each book, and will offer you the opportunity to order it online, usually at a savings of 10-30%. For my part in the deal, I receive a small percentage of each order you place that originates on my website. Thanks in advance for your business.

 

Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Avon Books, New York, 1990.

Accused and convicted of murder, thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle decides to reveal what really happened aboard the Seahawk--a ship piloted by a tyrannical captain and crewed by mutinous seamen--during the summer of 1832.

Windcatcher. Avon Books, New York, 1991.

While learning to sail during a visit to his grandmother's at the Connecticut shore, eleven-year-old Tony becomes excited about the rumors of sunken treasure in the area and starts following a couple who seem to be making a mysterious search for something.

Banks, Lynne Reid. The Indian in the Cupboard. Avon Books, New York, 1980.

The Indian in the Cupboard is one of those rare books that is equally appealing to children and adults. The story of Omri and the Indian, Little Bear, is replete with subtle reminders of the responsibilities that accompany friendship and love. For kids, it's a great yarn; for most parents, it's also a reminder that Omri's wrenching decision to send his toy back to its own world is not so different from the recognition of their children's emerging independence.

Baylor, Byrd. I'm in Charge of Celebrations. Alladin Paperbacks, New York, 1996.

The three-time Caldecott Honor partnership of Baylor and Parnall presents a radiant prose-poem about a girl who shares her love of desert life as she tells of treasured experiences such as dancing in the wind on Dust Devil Day and sleeping outside during the Time of the Falling Stars. Full color.

The Desert is Theirs. Aladdin Books, New York, 1975.

"Baylor tells us about the desert, describing selected flora and fauna, and respectfully paying tribute to the Desert People who know its secrets and would live nowhere else . . . A striking mood piece."--Booklist. Caldecott Honor Book; ALA Notable Children's Book.

Boone, Debbie. Nightlights -- More Bedtime Hugs for Little Ones. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 1997.

The many lights that bring comfort and joy to a child's world are celebrated in this delightful new picture book from bestselling children's author Debby Boone and her husband, artist Gabriel Ferrer. Ferrer's fantastic watercolors of fireflies, flashlights, and lighthouses illuminate Boone's lyrical prose.

Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon. HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1947.

Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Bruchac, Joseph. Thirteen Moons on a Turtle's Back -- A Native American Year of Moons. Putnam and Grossett Publishing, New York, 1992.

In many Native American cultures it is believed that the 13 scales on Turtle's shell stand for the 13 cycles of the moon, each with its own name and a story that relates to the changing seasons. A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts, An IRA Teachers' Choice Book, A Reading Rainbow Review Book.

Celsi, Teresa. The Fourth Little Pig. Steck-Vaughn, Austin, TX, 1990.

Currently one of my favorite books to read aloud as a adjunct to discussions of risk-taking during Cooperative Adventures programs. I especially like the fact that a female has the strong, positive role.

Cole, Babette. Princess Smartypants. Putnam Publishing, New York, 1986.

"Truly comical watercolors in soft glowing colors complement this fairy tale parody perfectly . . . It presents a new slant on the traditional fairy tale princess in a light-handed, tongue-in-cheek manner. A refreshing alternative."--School Library Journal. Full-color illustrations.

Frasier, Debra. On the Day You Were Born. Harcourt Brace and Company, New York, 1991.

Come across our round planet as the moons pull, the tides rise, the rain falls, and then a baby is born. Join in Frasier's celebration of our natural world as she extends a loving welcome to each member of our human family.

George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves. HarperTrophy, New York, 1972.

Protected by a wolf pack while lost on the tundra, a 13-year-old Eskimo girl begins to appreciate her heritage--and the oneness with nature that modern man is destroying. This 1973 Newbery Medal-winning book is "compelling . . . A thrilling adventure story."--School Library Journal.

Hague, Kathleen. Numbears -- A Counting Book. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1986.

"With short poems and lush paintings featuring all manner of bears, the Hagues help children learn numbers 1 through 12. The pictures are a pure delight. Children will like the coziness of the book."--Booklist. Full-color throughout.

Alphabears -- An ABC Book. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1984.

"The Hagues have created a delightful bear menagerie in Alphabears. Each letter of the alphabet is introduced through a special teddy bear, whose unique qualities are described in rhyme. A treasure for family reading and teddy-bear lovers everywhere!"--School Library Journal. Full color.

Hunt, Irene. Across Five Aprils. Berkeley Publishing Group, New York, 1981.

The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton, who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War, by the Newbery Award-winning author of Up a Road Slowly. "An impressive book both as a historically authentic Civil War novel and as a beautifully written family story."--University of Chicago Center for Children's Books.

Juster, Norton. The Phantom Tollbooth. Random House, New York, 1961.

"It seems to me that almost everything is a waste of time," Milo laments. "[T]here's nothing for me to do, nowhere I'd care to go, and hardly anything worth seeing." This bored, bored young protagonist who can't see the point to anything is knocked out of his glum humdrum by the sudden and curious appearance of a tollbooth in his bedroom. Since Milo has absolutely nothing better to do, he dusts off his toy car, pays the toll, and drives through. What ensues is a journey of mythic proportions, during which Milo encounters countless odd characters who are anything but dull.

Kraus, Robert. Leo the Late Bloomer. Windmill Books, New York, 1971.

Leo couldn't do anything right. He couldn't read. He couldn't write. He couldn't draw. When Leo's father asks what's the matter with Leo, Leo's mother explains that he's simply a late bloomer. In his own good time, Leo does read, he does write, and he does draw. "Reassuring for late bloomers, this book is illustrated with beguiling pictures."--Saturday Review.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. Dell Publishing Company, New York, 1962.

A well-loved classic and 1963 Newbery Medal winner, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time is sophisticated in concept yet warm in tone, with mystery and love coursing through its pages. Meg's shattering, yet ultimately freeing, discovery that her father is not omnipotent provides a satisfying coming-of-age element. Readers will feel a sense of power as they travel with these three children, challenging concepts of time, space, and the triumph of good over evil.

Martin, Bill Jr. & Archambault, John. Knots on a Counting Rope. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1997.

Mayer, Mercer. There's a Nightmare in my Closet. The Dial Press, New York, 1968.

"Childhood fear of the dark and the resulting exercise in imaginative exaggeration are given that special Mercer Mayer treatment in this dryly humorous fantasy."--School Library Journal. Full-color illustrations.

Muir, John. Stickeen -- The Story of a Dog. Heyday Books, Berkeley, CA, 1909.

This adventure story, set on the top of an Alaskan glacier, is great reading just for the adventure. But in the telling, Muir shows us that our "horizontal brothers" are not merely intelligent, but share many of the emotions, fears, and joys that we have. Incidentally, this book is in the public domain, and a copy can be found on the Web at the following URL: http://www.sierraclub.org/history/muir/stickeen.html

Munsch, Robert. Love You Forever. Firefly Books, Ontario, Canada, 1986.

A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him "I'll love you forever, /I'll like you for always/ As long as I'm living/my baby you'll be".This is the story of how that little boy goes through the stages of childhood and becomes a man.

O'Neill, Mary. Hailstones and Halibut Bones -- Adventures in Color. Doubleday, New York, 1961.

Since its original publication in 1961, Hailstones And Halibut Bones, Mary O'Neill's renowned work of poetry about the colors of the spectrum, has become a modern children's classic. This newly illustrated edition features lavish full-color illustrations from an award-winning artist, yet the poems have been left intact with all the powerful rhythm and rich language of the original.

Service, Robert W. The Cremation of Sam McGee. William Morrow, New York, 1987.

Original publication of this poem was in 1907. A fabulous read-aloud!

Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends -- The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein. Harpercollins, New York, 1974.

The Giving Tree. Harpercollins, New York, 1986.

The Missing Piece. Harpercollins, New York, 1976.

Lafcadio -- The Lion Who Shot Back. Harpercollins, New York, 1978.

A Giraffe and a Half. Harpercollins, New York, 1981.

A Light in the Attic. Harpercollins, New York, 1981.

Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book, Harpercollins, New York, 1985

Smith, Doris Buchanan. A Taste of Blackberries. Scholastic Publishing, New York, 1973.

No one, least of all his best friend, dreamed that Jamie's exuberance and a harmless prank could end in his sudden death. But when it does, his friend must find the strength to bear his grief and his feeling that he might have saved his friend. ALA Notable Children's Book.

Spinelli, Jerry. Fourth Grade Rats. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1991.

In a funny, believable, pithy look at peer pressure and growing up, Suds enters fourth grade and is pressured by his friend Joey into becoming a true at- pushing first graders off swings, refusing to clean up his room. A terrific choice for the second- or third-grader just venturing into chapter books.

Crash. Knopf Publishers, New York, 1997.

Crash is a star football player. He torments Penn, a classmate who is everything Crash is not -- friendly, small, and a pacifist. When his beloved grandfather comes to live with his family and suffers a debilitating stroke, Crash comes to see value in many of the things he has scorned. Although not entirely convincing, Spinelli's fast-paced, lively novel is great fun to read.

Maniac Magee. Harpercollins, New York, 1992.

The 1991 Newberry Award winner. Also available in audio cassette format.

After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary as he accomplishes athletic feats and other extraordinary exploits that awe his contemporaries. Reprint. 1991 Newbery Medal. 1990 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction.

Wringer. Harpercollins, New York, 1997.

Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli tells a story of peer pressure so foul, so horrifying, that Wringer should be shelved along with Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. Nine-year-old Palmer dreads his upcoming 10th birthday. In his town, when boys are 10 years old they become "wringers," the boys who wring the necks of wounded pigeons at the annual Pigeon Day shoot. Palmer is sickened by the whole event. To make matters worse, his new buddies--Beans, Mutto, and Henry--have just discovered that Palmer has been hiding a pet pigeon in his room. What will Palmer do? Will he become a wringer to save face, or will he follow his heart? Wringer will appeal to preteens and younger teens who love to read suspenseful books on their own, but it would also be a good story to read aloud to spark discussion about the perils and nuances of peer pressure.

Space Station Seventh Grade. Little Brown, New York, 1982.

Seventh-grader Jason narrates the events of his year, from school, hair, and pimples, to mothers, little brothers, and a girl.

There's a Girl in My Hammerlock. Simon and Schuster, New York, 1991.

When eighth grader Maisie manages to get onto the wrestling team, her reputation and her life undergo a transformation for which she is hardly prepared. But the more abuse heaped on her, the tougher she becomes. The action zips along with plenty of lively, believable dialogue, and the first-person voice is engaging.

Who Put that Hair in My Toothbrush? Little, Brown and Company, New York, 1984.

The sibling rivalry between twelve-year-old Megin and her older brother Greg intensifies after she ruins his science project and he retaliates by throwing her favorite hockey stick into the pond.

Steptoe, John. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters -- An African Tale. Scholastic Books, New York, 1987.

This African tale evokes the Cinderella story in its portrayal of two sisters, spiteful Manyara and considerate Nyasha, and the young king who is searching for a bride. Steptoe has illustrated this modern fable with stunning paintings that glow with beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

Thaler, Mike. The Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1989.

The Principal from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1993.

The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1994.

The School Nurse from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1995.

The Librarian from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1997.

The Cafeteria Lady from the Black Lagoon. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1998.

Trivizas, Eugene & Oxenbury, Helen. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. Aladdin Paperbacks, New York, 1993.

Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-good, Very Bad Day. Antheneum Publishers, New York, 1974

"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday. Aladdin Publishers, New York, 1980

Alexander's grandparents give him a dollar on Sunday, but by the end of the day all he has left in his pockets are bus tokens. "A rather tongue-in-cheek introduction to money and finance illustrated with crosshatched drawings, which make the most of the humor."--The Horn Book. Full color.

I'll Fix Anothony. Aladdin Publishers, New York, 1988.

A little brother thinks of the ways he will some day get revenge on his older brother.

 

 

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For further information:

Dave Nettell
Cooperative Adventures
P.O. Box 1129
Sausalito, CA 94966-1129
415-998-1126

dgnw@well.com

 

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