Paul and Sebastian

Name of Book:  Paul and Sebastian Author:  René Escudié Illustrator: Ulises Wensell Translator: Roderick Townley Publisher:  Kane/Miller Book Publishers ISBN:  9780916291495 Audience:  Although, I think the book is appropriate for children ages 4-8, one review I read said that her five-year-old son became afraid when the boys were lost.  Summary:  Paul and Sebastian is a [...]

Come to the Great World

Name of Book: Come to the Great World:  Poems from Around the Globe Author: Wendy Cooling Illustrator: Sheila Moxley Publisher: Holiday House ISBN: 0823418227 Audience: Ages 4-9 Summary: A collection of thirty-one poems that were written by poets from around the world.  The collection represents an array of cultures and emphasizes the uniqueness of each [...]

Elizabeth Leads the Way

Name of Book: Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote Author: Tanya Lee Stone Illustrator: Rebecca Gibbon Publisher: Henry Holt and Company Audience: Ages 4 – 10 Summary: This is the remarkable story of a remarkable woman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  From a very young age Elizabeth felt strongly that ALL [...]

Don’t Laugh at Me

Name of Book: Don’t Laugh at Me Author: Steve Seskin & Allen Shamblin Illustrator: Glin Dibley Publisher: Tricycle Press Audience: All ages Summary: Don’t Laugh at Me is the poignant tale of children and adults who wear braces, are chosen last for teams, beg on street corners and yet plead for acceptance and understanding.  The [...]

Ophie Out of Oz

Name of Book:   Ophie Out of Oz Author:   Kathleen O’Dell Illustrator:  Rosie Winstead Publisher:  Puffin Books (Penguin Books) Audience:  Ages 7-10 Summary:  Ophie and her family have just moved from California to Oregon because of her father’s job.  Last year, in the fourth grade, Ophie had starring roles in her school plays, plenty of attention [...]

The Color of Me

Name of Book:  The Color of Me Author:  Linda L. McDunn Illustrator: Barbara Knutson Publisher:  Liturgical Press Audience: Ages 5-8 Summary: The author uses the story of creation in Genesis to begin this book.  Very descriptive language is used and along with the illustrations helps the reader to understand the many things that God created. [...]

Listen to the Wind

Name of Book: Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea Author: Greg Mortenson & Susan L. Roth Illustrator: Susan L. Roth Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers Audience: Ages 3-6 Summary: A story told from the perspective of the children present in the village when changes occurred, based [...]

Dancing Wheels

Name of Book:  Dancing Wheels Author:  Patricia McMahon Illustrator:  John Godt Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Audience:  Ages 9 – 12 Summary:  Mary Verdi-Fletcher was born with spina bifida in the 1950’s and her parents were given a grim prognosis.  However Mary’s parents refused to accept it, took her home, and had braces made for her legs.  [...]

Woof: A Love Story

Name of Book:   Woof:  A Love Story Author:  Sarah Weeks Illustrator:   Holly Berry Publisher:   Laura Geringer Books, Harper Collins Publishers Audience:  Ages 4 – 8 Summary:    “A dog is a dog and a cat is a cat…And most of the time it’s as simple as that.”  But what’s a dog to do when he falls [...]

Name of Book:  All the Colors of the Earth Author:  Sheila Hamanaka Illustrator:  Sheila Hamanaka Publisher:  Morrow Junior Books Publisher’s Intended Audience:  Ages 4-8 Summary:  Using rhyme, the story shows that even with outward differences (color, gender, race, physical challenges), children everywhere are basically the same and are all loveable. Literary elements at work in [...]