When Chester Cricket accidentally finds himself in a New York subway, he is befriended by a worldly mouse and cat. Before returning to his Connecticut home, Chester becomes Mario Bellini’s special pet and helps save Bellini’s Times Square newsstand with his very special talent.
The Cricket in Times Square
The Emperor and the Kite
Run, run, run just as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man! After escaping the kitchen, the Gingerbread Man taunts a number of animals until he is eaten by a wily fox. But don’t worry about this Gingerbread Man, he’ll come back when you make your own gingerbread cookies!
The Gingerbread Man
Gilly is not a very likable girl, but then again, she doesn’t really like herself very much. She’s being placed in yet another foster home, with a fat and ugly foster mother. Gilly knows that her “real” mother is beautiful and that everything would be all right if she’d just come for her. Quirky characters, humor, and a poignant exploration of family are the hallmarks of this book that received many awards, including a Newbery Honor.
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Gracie Rose is an obedient dog who likes her home just as it is: comfy and quiet. When Gracie barks to tell intruding house painters to leave, she is put outside and so begins the Great Gracie Chase, which eventually involves the entire town! The illustrations use flat colors and rounded forms to convey the circular chase that’s led by an appealing dog who finds her way back home.
The Great Gracie Chase
Old Pat is on his way to a contest that will name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. On the way, his ill-spirited companion, Young Tom, begins to scheme for his own victory. But thanks to Old Pat’s willingness to come to the aid of a fellow traveler, a mischievous leprechaun intervenes, ensuring that both Pat and Tom are appropriately repaid for their actions.
The Leprechaun’s Gold
Martin is convinced that he’s lost his ability to hit when his favorite baseball bat goes missing. Can he get both his bat and his confidence back in time to help the team win the championship?
The Lucky Baseball Bat
The planetarium is closed for repairs, so the Magic School Bus blasts off on a real tour of the solar system. After their previous field trips, the children in Ms. Frizzle’s class are rather blasé about landing on the Moon, Venus, and Mars. A first-class introduction to the planets, fine for pleasure or purpose reading.
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
Jiro becomes an apprentice puppeteer during a difficult time in Osaka, Japan. Though clumsy for a puppeteer, Jiro has other qualities that help him overcome grave situations and solve a dangerous mystery.
The Master Puppeteer
The animals of Mud Flat decide to let the games begin in their unique version of Olympic competition. From the “Deepest Hole Contest” to the “River-Cross Freestyle,” readers will chuckle with the furry Olympians.
The Mud Flat Olympics
A cactus just isn’t much company, but it’s all Elizabeth has for a pet since her parents won’t budge on the issue; no dog, no cat, and a horse is just unthinkable. But then Elizabeth meets Doug, a bug found on the rug. Has she finally found the perfect pet?
The Perfect Pet
Arthur’s little sister, D.W., hates to eat many things, but most of all she hates spinach. When she joins the family for a special birthday dinner, D.W. is surprised that her delicious pot pie actually is made with – dread – spinach! Humor and wisdom abound in this engaging tale.
D.W. the Picky Eater
Fiestas often involve puppets, masks, and piñatas. Meet Tío Rico, the elderly piñata maker in a Mexican town, whose artful creations are shown from start to finish in this handsomely photographed book. The text is presented in both Spanish and English.
The Piñata Maker
Oh, The Places You’ll Go
The Sick Day
The Smallest Cow in the World
This straightforward introduction to the summer Olympics and their origins provides basic information and history for capable readers.
The Summer Olympics
A boy describes the trip he takes with his father to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Together, they look for the name of his grandfather, who died before he was born.
The Wall
The “beautiful 200-year-old mansion on 18 acres of land right in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.,” is better known as the White House. It’s where most, though not all, U.S. presidents have lived. Fun and fast, this lighthearted look at the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is presented in sound bites and illustrations reminiscent of political cartoons.
If the Walls Could Talk: Family Life at the White House
Ole Scamp learns to like himself better once he’s changed by a peculiar witch. This wacky story uses comic illustrations to convey a positive message in a lighthearted, Seussian way.
The Whingdingdilly
Lighthearted illustrations provide just the right tone for brief looks at what happens when children lose their teeth in various places around the world. The title indicates what is done in Korea while an American child awaits the tooth fairy’s exchange. A map provides a quick glimpse of this intriguing, quick world tour just right for browsing.
Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World
Can the youngest chick solve the problem and help the family get to their tasty meal of potato bugs and beans? Of course, for only she can run tippy-toe around the fierce — but leashed — dog! Young children will appreciate the youngest chick’s success in this brightly illustrated tale.
Tippy-Toe, Chick, Go!
Peter thinks his house is too noisy. The bed creaks, the floors squeak — it’s no wonder he’s having a hard time falling asleep! But when he follows the village wise man’s advice, he soon discovers that his house isn’t that noisy after all.
Too Much Noise
A young girl tells how her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother perform an everyday activity, whether gathering flowers or making tortillas, and how every time it was the same but different. The vivid illustrations evoke Central American folk art and complement the graceful text presented in Spanish and English.